Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-18
[From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. G., April IS, 'S3.

ARLINGTON, ~. ", Aprii 10, oo'
Postmaster General Gresham arrived in
the city Tuesday. and in accordance with
his expressed wish his reception was quiet
and in keeping with the occasion OF
succession to high office by reason oil
death. He assumed his new official
duties Wednesday. On entering the
department., he went to the rooms of the
postmaster general, which had been closed
for long time, where the oath of office
was administered to him by the notary
Judge Lawrenson, who made the short
ceremony impressive, although it was the
twentieth time he has OBLIGATED, having
sworn in every postmaster general since
1916. After this formality department
reception followed, which occupied about
an hour. Heads of bureaus, clerks,
messengers, and watchmen came in and
were presented to their new chief by
Assistant Postmaster General Hatton. BY
Judge Gresham's kind presence and pleas
ant manner, many employees who felt an
excusable degree Of uncertainty before
they went in, as they do whenever there
is change at the head, were reassured by
this momentary contact that tho new
cabinet officer was not their natural
enemy, and retired with a stronger sense
of security. After the clerks had returned
to their desks, General Gresham had a
conference with his assistants, and thus
pleasantly, personal and official acquain-
lance began. One of Judge Gresham's
first official acts will be to make selection
from the designs sent by the American
bank note company of New York for the
new two cent postage stamps. After the
two cent law goes into effect the three
cent stamps in stock will be used for
packages of third and fourth class mail
matter, and for Canadian mail, and if the
demand for them will warrant it the
department will continue to print three
cent stamps.
The society of the army of the Potomac
will hold its next annual reunion in this
city, and as the event approaches much
interest is felt, as it is expected to attract
a very large number of visitors to Wash
ington. These throngs of people are of
course conducive to the business interests
of the city, and there will be an effort on
the part of citizens to contribute to the
pleasure of the occasion and thereby
make Washington popular place for
these gatherings, as it is really the most
appropriate place. In its campaigning
days, this army for a long time made
the capital the centre of its operations,
while around it are many of the battle
fields and bivouacs of its dead. The
society has held thirteen annual reunions
in different cities before returning to hold
one here, where every spot is familiar to
these old soldiers and suggestive of martial
memories. The formal features of the
are business meeting, and
Grafton, poem and banquet. But the
veterans have high old time shaking
hands, renewing friendships, strengthen
ing ties, reviewing past scenes, and living
over together the events of a period so
,hrillingly forcibe in the memories of
zach other.
Twenty-Five senators still remain in |
Washington, among them Senator Kellogg |
If Louisiana, who was recently indicted |
or completely in the star route cases.
Hon. Roscoe Conkling always attracts
attention when he appears in Washington.
lie has just been here argueing in an
electric light patent suit. He spoke with
lis characteristic facility 10 room full of
listeners and warmed up with his subject
ntil the perspration ran down his face.
lie is growing old rapidly but seemed TO
,e healthy and cheerful. lie Is always
tared at on the avenue by those who are
m the qui uiUe for lions, and Conkling is
no less leonine lion than Blaine or
Butler.
The civil service commission is estab-
ished in its rooms in the annex of the
gricultural building. These quarters
re not regarded as necessarily permanent,
hough they answer all present require.
nents, and will be occupied until the
government furnishes something better.
The examinations will not begin for about
hirty days. The room is large enough
D examine sixty applicants at one time.
he answers will all be in writing, and
ne marking will probably be done by
xperts from the departments assigned to
ne duty, with every precaution necessary
} insure fairness, even to the extent of
he reconsideration of cases where there
hould be any complaint of unfairness.