News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-08-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., l
July 27, 1885. [

| culy Il, 1000.
| The public buildings of the city are
more deliberately swathed in black
than they ever were before, except or
the death of President Garfield. The
Interior Department, presided ovel
by Secretz-.sss
draped than any other, and the ma
tional flag over the pension office is
bordered with Grape. There is much
dissatisfaction here on account of the
selection of New York as the buria
place of Gen. Grant, and an effort
will probably be made to have the
place of interment changed to this
city.
The President has made a change
in his plans for summer vacation.
1t is quite likely he will not visit the
Adirondacs until the middle of Au-
gust, and then remain away from
Washington through the month OF
September. 1t was his intention to
leave the White House next Saturday
evening for New York, but the death
of Gen. Grant caused him to change
his mind, and he will thus be enabled
to give little more time to public
matters. During the next week he
will not receive visitors outside of the
Cabinet Ministers and the Bureau
Chiefs, as there are a number of i'm
portant matters to be settled before
he can get away from the city.
Among other problems is that Of a
fixed policy for the protection and
support of the Indians. 1t may be
deemed judicious to transfer them to
the War Department. There is no
question that the President is very
much pleased with the result Of Gen.
Sheridan's trip to the scene of the
trouble with the Cheyennes. He is
convinced that strong measures alone
have any weight in dealing with the
aborigines. The matter will be set
tied by the President during the next
week at one of the Cabinet meetings.
There will be few important Of
fees filled before the President goes
away, as he considers that the neces-
sites of the country. for the present,
have been met. There will conse-
quently be no haste in this matter.
DR.. Ward, of Albany, has accept
ed the Presidents invitation to 60
fishing, and will meet his host in New
York after the funeral of Gen. Grant.
1t is not likely that Miss Cleveland
will accompany her brother at the fu-
neral ceremonies, as she finds it indis-
pensible that she should obtain all the
rest and quiet that she can in the
country. Although not seriously in
disposed the duties she was called
upon to perform at the White House
fatigued her very much. The family
physician prescribed plenty of pure
air for a few weeks.
Cabinet ministers and heads of bu-
reaus generally spend considerable
time away from Washington in sum-
mer. This has been carried to an
extent of actual abuse, since public
business of all kinds and of all de-
grees of Importance must wait upon
their action. The absence of a head
of department always perceptibly
lightens the work of his clerks, and it
is absurd to hold or act upon the doc
trine that the chief can take his ease
as he pleases, but that the subordi-
nate must stick to his desk, even
when the chiefs absence leaves him
TO do there.
When Congress is in session there
is much the most work for the depart
ments. Innumerable reports are
called for, and business of all kinds
is brisk. Clerks who could easily be
spared in August are often absolutely
indispensable in December. The whole
matter of leaves of absence should
be settled upon common sense princi-
piles.
The committee appointed by the
Secretary of the Treasury to investi-
gate the affairs of the coast and geo.
detic survey will inquire into the gen.
eral management of the bureau as
we'll as the methods of expanding the
funds and keeping the accounts. They
were busy at the work all day yester-
day, and they expect to be ready to
report within a week. The report |
made by first auditor Chenoweth, upon
which Superintendent Hilgard was
and four of his assistants
absolutely dismissed, will not be made !
public until the investigation by the
has been completed. The
chief officials concerned in the matter
are reticent; but it is known that the
charges made by Mr.. Chenoweth are
strong and emphatic, and that other
wise the sudden suspension of Prof.
the superintendent, and the
summary dismissal of his four assis-
ants would not have been made so
promptly.