Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-14
From Our Regular Correspondent ]
Washington letter.
WASHINGTON. n. Mar.

II
forlorn. There is no appreciablc diminu-
ton in the number of gayly dressed
promenaders on the avenue. The atten-
dance at the theatres is as large as ever,
the churches are full of the faithful and
| fashionable, the even tenor is not broken,
nor will it be, for while Washington enjoys
having congress here, she long since
became used to its intermittent peculari-
tiles, and has survived this same calamity
many times. Landlords and boarding house
keepers are most bereaved, and have just
flooded the market with houses. The
inscription Furnished rooms for rent''
tells the story of recent desertion.
If one needs proof that congress has
vanished, visit to the capitol will be
convincing. The light in the dome has
been extingushed, the stars and stripes no
longer doat from the eastern and western
wings, and once within the marble portals
tho dreariness is complete, and in striking
contrast to the hustle and turmoil that
have regned there for the last few weeks.
One of the events of the week was the
resignation of Mr.. James Gil6lan, treas
urer of the United States. Mr.. Gilfllan has
been treasurer since July first 1871, and you
will find his signature to all bank notes
issued since that day. His resignation
caused much surprise, and he has been so
efficient in the discharge of his responsible
duties, and so courteous and obliging to
all who have approached him, that he
leaves his position with the regrets and
best wishes of every one. He was a friend
and schoolmate of President Garfield, and
during Garfeld's brief administration was
prominently mentioned for cabinet
position. He retires from public service
to become the treasurer and manager of
the Mutual Trust company of New York
city. His salary will be twice that of U.
s. treasurer. The vacant Office will most
probably be filled by Mr.. A. U. Wyman,
assistant treasurer.
Secretary Fofger of the treasury is in
very feeble health, and it is only by a
strong effort of will that he goes through
the daily routine of business. 1t is feared
he will break down entirely under the
strain of additional work the new tariff
law will impose upon him. The revised
classification ofarticles, and the rearrange-
ment of duties, will make it necessary for
the secretary to 60 through the law with
the greatest care, and subject every
paragraph to the most painstaking
and thorough analysis. He will be called
upon to define the law, and give rulings
on thousand points involving vast
private and public interests. Business
men will want the law interpreted their
own way and will try hard to make black
appear white and vice versa. Secretary
Folger dreaded TO see any bill become a
law which necessitated revision of the
tariff.
Washington is seldom without distn-
guished foreign visitors. There is at
present stopping at the Arlington Hotel a
party of japanese officials whose sole
object in this country is recreation, and
lesire to see the principal!,cities of the
nation. The party comprises four members,
the vice minister of the imperial household
department, tho secretary Of the foreign
office, and two attaches. The first
mentioned is the late minister to the
Hawaiian islands. They are all men Of
education, culture, and marked ability.
They have been presented 10 the president,
have made some pleasant acquantances
here, and speak enthusiastically of the
beauty of tho city. An embassy from
Madagascar arrived yesterday, and is also
at the Arlington. This consists
of six persons, the chief ambassador
bearing the unpronouncabe name of
Observation-Disclosures. He speaks his own
name with fuenoy and ease, but no one
here is bold enough to attempt it. The
object of the embassy was to confirm the
treaty between Madagascar and the U. s.,
but as congress had ratified the treaty
before they reached the American shore,
they have only to sign the necessary
papers.
The priest who OBLIGATED! at the late |
Senatorial wedding here. on learning that |
both bride and groom had been divorced,
re urned to the latter the handsome fee of
s2o0 received for performing the m ,rriage
ceremony, aud declared, so far as the
Catholic church was concerned, it was no
at all. The Rev. father did not rel |
ish being led into such trap 1t is said that
Senator Tabor and Miss McCourt were
previously in St. Louis by a
Justice of the peace, S, in spite of the
priest, they have Individually and collect
vely been married enough.