Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-04
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Mar. 81, '63.

WASHINGTON, IL ", mar' ~ So'
Every day of the week, except Sunday,
President Arthur devotes the hour from i
until 2 O'Clock P. NJ, 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 ings 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 respects. then walks
about and talks to his business callers,
hut sits down with no one. He has a
business like 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 inter-
view with him by anyone who has any
real business to transact. On these occa-
sions he always wears a dark business
suit, the only color he allows himself
being red rose in his button hole.
It seems impossible for President Ar.
thur to get away from Washington on a
trip for recuperation. 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 neither gone to Florlds, Fortress
Monroe, nor Soldiers Home. His latest
fancy WAS for jaunt to New Orleans,
but postponement of this plan has been
rendered necessary by the death of Post
master General Howe. and as he has
already so long delayed starting, it 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 abont the
same condition as every other man in
Washington who has devoted SO many
hours both to work and to society. He
stills weighs two hundred and fifty pounds,
and cannot yet be looked upon as an
invalid.
Wednesday being the day on which the
obsequies of the late Postmas er General
Howe took place, all the executive de.
partments of the government were closed,
and their flags flying at half mast The
post office department is draped in mourn.
ing, and on Tuesday the clerks and EN-
ployees of the department met in the
record hall Of the auditors office to
express their respect for their late chief,
in the form of suitable resolutions, that
the family and frieuds of Judge Howe
might be assured of the sympathy for
them, and the admiration for him, enter
tanned by bis late subordnates.
The law relative to vacancies in the
executive office requires the appointment
of postmaster general within ten days
from the occurrence of the vacancy.
Rumor is rife as to who will be the next
head of the department, but with Presi-
dent Arthur's we'll known reticence 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 probable
republican candidate. His name is being
mentioned in quiet way among proml
nent 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 got 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 talked of as an available man.
General Sherman expects 20 start on his
summer trip to tho Pacific coast about
the Goth of June, and return near the LIST
of October. His party, which will be a
small one, will include Chief Justice
Waite and Justice Gray of the supreme
court. They will visit some of the army
posts, and it is to be Shermans last trip
west as general Of the army.
Ex-President Diaz of the Mexican
republic and party who are visiting
Washington, are quartered at the Airing.
ton Hotel. An elaborate programme 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 deceased
cabinet minister. These distinguished
visitors show much interest in seeing the
sights of the city. General Diaz is man
of strong characteristics, with soldierly
appearance, erect form and manly car
liage. He speaks but little English,
while his wife, an attractive woman not
more than Is 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 movements are in
progress for him, and he expects to enter
the race with the united vote of the
delegation from his own state, excepting
he support of Mr.. Abram Hewitt.
Ubiquitous Governor Butler of Massa-
chusetts 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 discovered
claimants.
At Rochester, one night last week, about
a dozen masked men went to the premises
occupied by T. L. Brink. broke into the
barn from the rear and commenced to
make disturbance. 1t seems that Brink