Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-15
WASHINGTON,
Red Tape-Belkuap--Pre Preparing for tho
Inuguration.
son Christ, the solid rock stand !;
All other ground is shifting sand.

Red Tape-Belkuap-Prepa for tho
Inuguration.
Special to the Register.
WASHINGTON, December l4.--The Su.
preme Court of the United States is the
only department of our Federal Government
in which the traditions of pompous red tape
are still maintained, and it is easy to see
that even here they are exceedingly CALLING
to men like Chief Justice Waite who, outside
Of his official gown, is a very business
like person, and Justice Fled
of California, whose straight, upright
manly figure, is i'll set off, from an aesthetic
poiLt of view, by those habiliments Of BY
gone day. The Supreme Court room is very
seldom the scene Of any dramatic event or
dramatic gathering. In it the ab!est law
yers of the United States appear daily to ar
que their cases on points of law, but no mat
ter what the ability of the man be, no display
Of rhetoric is tolerated from a counsellor.
Belknap.
One of the figures to be noticed in a
stroll about Washington is the somewhat
aged form Of General Belknap, the Secre-
ts1y of War appointed by General Grant,
who resigned and had his resignation ac-
ceried in order to prevent an impeachment
&c is a moderately tall man, with whitened
gray beard and an eye that glisteas like a
diamond He has become one Of the most
skillful and successful lobbyists in the capi-
tai. He has many friends about this city,
who still insist that he was more sinned
against than SHINING.
at the Ebbitt House during the present
week the most striking figure to be seen
about the institution has been the massive
form of Silas B butcher, Cornelrs former
canal Superintendent, who was here on busi-
ness which, as he SAYS, is not connected in
any way with the Senatorship. Experience
has toned down Mr.. Dutch rssomeEhat fiery
devotion to the fortune Of the Ex-Governor
and he sees no reason why he should make
any effort to keep alive factional devisions.
He is therefore warm, consistent supporter
of Levi P. Morton, the present Minister to
France, and one Of the closest friends OF
General Arthur, tor the position of United
States Senator.
An Army of Them.
Democrats in this city are already be,
ginning their preparations for big affair
on the 4th of March and expect to make
the welkin ring with the shouts OF at least
$4,000 invincibles. They are not in favor
of civil service reform, so called, and they
don't pretend to be. At the same time nc
shrewd or far-sighted Democrat &C
krowledges that he is in favor ot
putting men in Office on account oI
political services. He merely asserts tha,
there are Just as good men for the filling o'
every Office in his own party as IN thai
which has held the reins Of power for the
last twenty.four years. Be this as 1t may
no Republican ofiiceholder has the slightest
doubt that his place will be filled with
Democrat as soon as it Is convenient OF
practicable for the incoming administrations
| 10 get rid of him. 1t is hard for one whc
has never lived in Washington to usder
stand how this fear permeates through ever
class il society here and comes to be Ia
| general disturbing clement thst makes
impossible for shJ one interested, to De per
fectly happy. Those Sho are only indirect
| " interested are not - disccnsotste
| Tradesmen, mechanics aud pf'fesaona
men know that the change cannot mar
them in any way uniss
! Il be By making it impossible for them u
collect the money due them on past &C
| coapts. And TO DO the clerks full Justc
there are very few Of them outstanding 10
any length Of them. 1t has been genera
rule here with the heads of executive a:
partments, that clerk must live within n
income, and evidence that he did not pa
| his grocery bills was sufficient ev,desi
10 produce his summary discharg'
So the less of the tradesmen ca
potbe very serious througha change
administration. but it viii be found ait'
three years Of Mr.. Cleveiands term that !
. least one-half Of the fixed population
, Ibis city will have removed 10 the mort
and that the places Of those who have go