The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-04-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 81, IS,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 81, 1855.
Every day of the week, except Sun
day, President Arthur devOtes the hour
from until o'clock p. Nj. to the re-
ceptiOn of unofficial callers. They are
received in the library of the White
House, long and oval shaped room
where the Cabinet meetings are held.
His business callers seat themselves in
line around this room. The President
first shakes hands with the people who
have come to pay him merely their re-
spects, then he walks about and talks to
his business callers, but sits down with
no one. lie has business-lke way of
dealing with his callers, and devotes his
entire attention for the minute to the
person addressed. He has no time for
indirect words,still there Is no difficulty
in securing an interview with him 10y
anyone VINO has any real business to
transact. On these occasions he always
wears dark business SUIT, the only
color he allows himself being IA red rose
in his button hole.
1t seems impossible for President Ar
thur to get away from Washington on
trip tor regeneration. He has not yet
been able to do any OF the things he has
proposed to do in the way of seeking
rest. He has neithor gone to Florida,
Fortress Monroe, nor Soldiers Home.
His latest fancy was tor .jaunt to New
Orleans, but postponement OF this
plan has been rendered necessary by the
death Of Postmaster General Howe, and
as he has already SO long delayed start
ing, it Is probable he will give up the
project finally. Still he is not half so
sick us some have represented him to
be. Theround OF political aud social
duties during the past winter was ardu
Gus. He is only feeling its effect now,
and is i'll about the same condition as
every other man in Washington who
has devoted Sd many hours both to work
and to society. lie still weighs two
hundred and fifty pounds, and cannot
he looked upon AS an invalid.
Wednesday being the day on which
the obsequies of the late Postmaster
General Howe took place, all the eXecu-
tive departments of the Government
were closed, and their flags flying at
half mast. The Postotfice department
is draped in mourning, and Oh Tuesday
the clerks and employees OF the Depart.
ment met in the record hall of the audi
tors Office to express their respects tor
their late Chief, in the form OF suitable
resolutions, that the family and friends
of Judge Howe might be assured of the
sympathy for them, and the admiration
Tor him, entertained by his late subordi-
mates.
The law relative to vacancies in the
executive office requires the appoint
ment of u postmaster general within ten
DAYS from the date of the occurrence of
the vacancy. Rumor is rife as to who
will the next head of the Department,
but with President Arthurs well-known
reticencc it would not be safe at this
writing to forecast his choice.
The latest Presidential prophecy is
by Jere Black, who looks upon Senator
Conger, of Michigan as the most proba-
BILE Republican Candidate. His name
is being mentioned in quiet way
among prominent men, some OF whom
think he has the elements OF leader.
His friends do not claim that he is an
eloquent or brilliant man, but that he
has rot the STUFF in him, while he has
no enemies, and that his record, both
private and public Is clean. On the
Democratic side, Mcdonald is still talk.
ed OF as an available man.
General Sherman expects to start on
his summer trip to the Pacific coast
about the Goth OF June, and return near
lst. of October. His party, which will
be a small one, will include Chief JUS
tice Waite AID Justice Gray of the Su-
preme Court They will visit some OF
the Army Posts, and it Is to be Shcr.
mans last trip west as General OF the
Army.
President Diaz, of the Mexican
Republic and party who are visiting
Washington, are quartered at the Ar
linpton Hotel. An elaborate program
for their entertainment is being carried
out, though some formal attentions that
were to have been shown them have
been omitted through respect to the de-
ceased Cabinet Minister. These distin-
guished visitors show much interest in
seeing the sights of the city. General
Dlaz is man of strong characteristics,
with a soldierly appearance, erect form
and manly carriage, He speaks but
little English, while his wife, an attract
i've woman not more than 1S years old
speaks it fluently.
Representative s. s. Cox, OF New
York, is in Washington, and is working
earnestly to secure the Speakership of
the next House. He says active move
ments are in progress for him, and he
expects to enter the race with the unit
ed vote of the delegation from his own
State, excepting the support of Mr..
Abram Hewitt.
Ubiquitous Governor Butler, OF Mass.
is in the city looking after his financial
interests. His title deed to the ground
ON Capitol Hill on which stands the
large pile of granite erected by him Is
being disputed by some recently dis
covered claimants.