St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

work on his first message to Congress. |
He has had frequent consultations with |
different members of his Cabinet, but
has seen few other people than those |
having the most urgent business with
him.
The present week will be one of equal
seclusion, he expects by the close of it
to complete this document, and have it
ready for the printer. The message is
pretty well under way, and parts of it
are now being copied on this typewriter.
1t is said he has touched upon many
with his characteristic vigor. A good
deal of space has been devoted to COM
mereial relations and the steamship
controversy, and it is believed the
President will sustain the Postmaster
General. The Navy will also be given
due consideration, and Congress will be
urged to appropriate largely for new
vessels.
A Democratic Congressman who has
just returned to Washington was asked
what would be the tendency of legisla-
ton this session. He replied; We.
cannot tell until we see what the Presi-
dent will ask us to do in his message
Still he thought there were several mat
ters that were certain to come before
Congress for action. The Army and
Navy continued he both require a
good deal of legislation. There is
sentiment among Democrats that this
Administration must re-create the
Naval Service, and that it must be re-
stored to the position it occupied in the
worlds fleet before the war.
tits easy to note upon the faces of
Republican Congressman as they gather
in Washington an expression of dis
cOuragement. They feel that the party
in power will stay. The Republican
party has had taken away from it the
power Of its Federal officers and it's
ability to raise assessments from office
holders. The Democratic party came
very near beating it with all of this
artificial strength, and the recent cleo
items have proved that the Democratic
party can stand alone, and needs no
Federal patronage to back it. You
hear no more now about war in the
Senate, and nothing about Democratic
revolt even from Republican Congress
men.
The Presidents order excluding
office seekers and public men from the
White House except when they have
public business with him will probably
be revoked at the end of the month.
It was made to give Mr.. Cleveland time
to prepare his message, and he has said
that he feels no inclination to restrict
public men in their visits to him or to
require them to specify their business
in advance. A few days ago some
prominet Congressman we're protesting
against the order in the Office of Pri-
vate Secretary Lamont. Presently
they were admitted to see the Presi-
dent. and finding him alone once was
such an unexpected convenience, that
that they went away thinking well of
the lace order.
The event at the White House on
Saturday was the arrival of IFS long
absent hostess, Miss Cleveland. She
has been at her home in Oneida County,
New York, and returns to resume her
social duties here.
The White House was thoroughly
Overhauled and cleaned during her alb
aence, and now it is in order again for
the coming season. Carpets, pictures,
and bric-a-braek were all taken cat and
subjected to the processes familiar to
good housekeepers, and replaced. The
window are draped in lace and dainask
as Of old, and the only change in the
whole arrangement from that OF last
year is the substitution of full length
portrait of ex-President Arthur for
that of Gen Grant in the Red Parlor.
The portrait of the latter has been
placed in conspicuous position in the
corridor.
During the week several Republican
officials here were reiegated 20 private
life. Nearly all the higher officials in
the Treasury Department now are new
men aud Democrats, and the good
work of the new broom goes on steadily
If not rapidly.
Secretary Manning seems to grasp
his whole coaplieated Department, aud
his energetic business methods are
felt through every branch Of it. he