The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-04-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 81.

WASHINGTON, March3l.
Every day of the week, except
Sunday, President Arthur devotes
the hour from | until O'Clock p. m
to the reception of unofficial callers:
They are received in the library OF
the White House, a long and oval
shaped room where the cabinet meet
inps are held. His business callers
seat themselves in a line around
tbis room. The President first
shakes hands with the people who
have come to pay him merely their
respects. then he walks about and
talks to his business callers, but sits
down with no one. He has a busl-
ness like way of dealing with his
callers. and devotes his entire atten-
ton for the minute to the person adj
dressed. He has no time TOR lndl-
rect words. still there is no difficulty
in securing an interview with him by
anyone who has any real business
IN transact. On these occasions he
ALWAYS wears a dark business suit,
the only color he allows himself be-
ing a red rose in his button hole.
1t seems impossible for President
Arthur to get away FROM Washing
ton on a trip for recuperation. he
has not yet been able to do any OF
the things be has proposed to do IN
the way of seeking rest. He has
neither gone to Florida, Fortress
Monroe. nor Soldiers Home. His
latest fancy was a jaunt to New Or
leans, but a postponement OF this
plan has been rendered Necessary by
the death of Postmaster General
Howe, and as he has already so
long delayed starting, 1t is probable
he will give up the project finally.
Still he is not half SO sick as some
have represented him to be. The
round of political and social duties
during the past winter was arduous.
He is only feeling its effect now, and
is in about the same condition as
every other man in Washington who
has devoted so many hours both to
work and to society. Hestill weighs
two hundred and fifty pounds, and
cannot yet be looked upon as an In
valid.
Wednesday being the day on
which the obsequies of the late
Postmaster General Howe took
place. all the executive departments
of the Government were closed, and
their flags flying at half mast. The
Postofice Department is draped IN
mourning, and on Tuesday the clerks
and employees of the Department
met in the record hall of the audi.
tors Office to express their respect
for 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 for him.
entertained by his late subordinates.
The law relative to vacancies IN
the executive office requires the ap.
pointment of a postmaster genera
within ten days from the date OF the
occurrence of the vacancy. Rumoi
is rife as to who will be the mex
head Of the Department, but with
President Arthur's well known retl'
cence it would not be safe at TIN:
writing to forecast his choice.
The latest Presidential prophecy
is by Jere Black, who looks upof
Senator Conger, of Michigan, as the
most probable Republican candi.
date. His name is being mentioned
in a quiet way among promlnen
men, some of whom think he ha'
the elements of a leader. Hi
friends do not claim that he is al
eloquent or a brilliant man, but tina
he has got the stuff" in him, Will
he has no enemies, and that his re
cord, both private and public,
clean. On the Democratic side, Nc
Donald is still talked of as an avail
able man. f.
General Sherman expects to stal
on his summer trip to the Pacifi
coast about the both of June, an
return the LIST of October. His pa
ty, which will be a small one, WI
include Chief Justice Waite an
2 Justice Gray, of the Supreme Cour
t They will visit some of the Arm
Posts. and it is to be Sherman's la;
: trip west as General of the army.
| Ex-President Diaz, OF the Mex
can Republic, and party who ar
visiting Washington, are quartere
Lat the Arlington Hotel. An elabc
rate programme for their entertain
ment is being carried out, thong
some formal attentions that were
have been shown them have bee
omitted through respect to the d
ceased Cabinet Minister. These di
tinguished visitors show much II
terest in seeing the sights of the cit.
General Diaz is a man of stron
characteristics, with a soldierly a
V pearance, erect form and manly ca
rage. He speaks but little Englisl
/ while his wife. an attractive woma
not more than eighteen years OLE
speaks it fuently.
Representative S. S. Cox, of Ne
York, is in Washington, and
working earnestly to secure Il
Speakership of the next House. h
l says active movements are in PR
e gress for him, and he expects to el
ter the ace with the united vote
the delegation from his own Stat
excepting thesupport of Mr.. Abrai
Hewitt.
Ubiquitous Governor Butler,
:, Massachusetts,, is in the city lookir
/ after his financial interests. His [
d tie deed to the groud on Capt.
: Hill Cd which stands the large pi
e of granite erected by him is beir
disputed by some recently discove
ed claimants.