The Press., 1884-11-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

may safely be affirmed that it is not com ing to work. Indeed, with the present po- sitical outlook, could it be expected to set tie down composedly, for the short, second term. to a mass of unfinished business coming over from last summer? Mem bers will come fresh from the dlstractlag circumstances attending reelection or cs. feat. and there will be the excitement of an electoral count added to the usual rush of the latter end of congressional term. It will be late in January before congress will begin the necessary work of the ses- sion. the appropriation bills. All this IS as it should be; and if congress would do nothing more this winter than bring about reform as to the time of holding sessions, so that there might be proper dellberatlon on the measures before 1t, 1t would have met to good purpose.
 Active preparations for the opening of congress are in progress at the capitol. Many changes and improvements nave been made during the vacation, and SIX teen new rooms have beeu added by en- larsing the wings of the building. The hall of the house of representatives, has been newly carpeted and chairs aid, desks are in position awaiting thelr tld occu- pants. After necessary renovatIM em- ployes are adding the last touches, repalnt- ing and renewing defaced frescoes. In the the senate cloak room, each senator has been provided with wardrobe on which is printed his name in guilt letters. Another improvement is that washstands have been removed to an invisible corner of the cloak room, and senators will not be seen as heretofore, from the senate gal leries. in the act of washing their hands, and cl, aning their teeth.
 Between now and the re-assembling of congress. President Arthur will devote some time tosclearing off his appointment docket. His most recent important ap- pointment was that of MT. Clarke to be commissioner of pension, in place of MT. Dudley, resigned r SIIlI;;s next step will be to sel, ct & commissioner OSS labor statistics. As thero are more than fifty letters of ap- plication for this office, Inany of which are we'll endorsed, it is not safe to venture a prediction as to whom the president may name. as GGi5 ts
 Every member of the cabinet, and every important head of bureau is at present. in the city They are busy getting their re- ports to be submitted to congress. At cab inet meetings, the presidents message to congress, and the annual reports of the Ecabinet officers are the principal subjects discussed
 E Naturally there is much depression over Ithe result of the election. The thousands tofN men, women aud children who are de pendent on the government for food, cloth ing and shelter, feel that they will need every nickel they can scrape together ID order to get away from here. What to dc then, or where to go, half of them cannot t.H But 1t is clear they cannot live n Washington after their occupation IS gone.
 Experience has proved that whenever ard wherever the democrats have gains q political ascendency, they have seizs d all they could see and asked for more. They began their advance upon Washington long before the doubt of the presidentia contest died away. They can be seen now at any hour of the day reconoitering the departments and trying to find ont how places are to be obtained. Some have lg' norantly asked if applications for office are placed on file in the departments.
 The night the democrats were jubilatlne here United States senator remarked te me, ''Yes, this is a big procession, but just wait until the fourth day of next March The mob that will march in and take pos session of the city on that day will mash Grover Cleveland into the earth if he gets in their way They will pave their way to--with the good intentions he may bring on to Washington with him.
 Social life at the capital gives evidences of revival, number of prominent families having resumed their weekly receptions. Senator and Mrs. Don Cameron will again occupy their palatial residence, which was leased during their absenca abroad by Mir. Wasbburn. MT. Blaine will also return to Washington next week to spend the win. ter. His SOD is here in search of res
 dence for the family. It is MT. Blaine's intention to devote himself to literary work, his unfinished book, Twenty years Iof Congress. '