News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., |
Nav IL 1885. {

May IL, 1885.
The past week has been an excep-
tional one in some respects at the
White House. Monday, the occasion
of the Presidents excursion to Get
tysburgn, was the first day he has
spent away from the mansion since he
entered it. Saturday was the first
day he has closed his doors to callers
and declared himself invisible. He
decided some time ago that he would
have to reserve one day of the week
for himself, when he would be mac
cessible to office seekers, autograph
beggars and other bores. Saturday
last he rigidly kept his day. Visitors
besieged the door-keepers in crowds.
Senators and Members of the House,
individual Office seekers and office
seekers in delegations, called in as
large numbers as if there had been no
announcement given of Mr.. Cleve-
lands intention to have closed doors.
The door-keepers, however, were
equal to their orders, and no amount
of indignation availed caller in his
efforts to ascend the staircase or send
up card. The cabinet members
were the only ones who could pass
the portals, and make further prog
ress than the East Room.
There has been much excitement
among Democratic politicians about
their conference held at Wizards ho-
tel the other evening. 1t was an in
dignation meeting to protest against
the so-called hardness cf the admins
tration in turning the Republicans out.
Since then it has been stated by some
of his advisers that President Cleve-
land has experienced a change of
heart, which is to be followed by a
change of policy in making appoint
ments. However this may be, it is
really true that those nearest the
President are now asserting that the
''clean sweep" promised during the
last campaign is coming. They say
that it may continue to be too slow
for many who are worn out with wait
ing, but that it will be none the less
sure.
Some of the Presidents friends
have tried to console him by the as
surance that when he moves out to
the Soldiers Home for the summer, he
will be comparatively free from the
intrusions of office hunters. Mr..
Cleveland has no faith, however, in
the power of hot weather or distance
to overcome this tireless class. His
summer cottage will be only two miles
from the White House, and he knows
that the patriots who have travelled a
thousand or more miles for spoils will
not mind adding two miles more to
their journey.
There has been no falling off in the
number of office seekers during the
past week. Some Senators who went
10 their homes a fortnight ago have
returned. They left in order to get
i'd of their constituents who were
lere, and now they come back to get
nd of their constituents at home.
Among the daily visitors at the White
House and Executive Department, it
S noticed that there are three gentle
men who receive special attention and
10 very little waiting in corridors and
lnte-rooms. They are ex-Speaker
Senator German, and Chair
nan Barnum.
A large number of persons went to
he White House grounds on Saturday
expecting to hear an open
.ir concert by the Marine Band, and
we're disappointed. During several
ormer administrations, it has been
he custom to have these concerts
given to the public weekly, beginning
IN the first Saturday in May and con-
,inuing until late in September. Mr..
Cleveland is disposed to frown upon
hese delightful entertainments, which
lave received the sanction of former |
Presidents, and it is doubtful if he or
iers them to be resumed.
1t has been stated that Mr.. Cleve-
and would remove his residence to
he Presidents Cottage in week or
wo. He could not find more de-
ightful place to live than the Execu-
i've Mansion will be for at least six
weeks yet, and he has no intention of
eavirg it until the beginning of the
leated term. Thanks to the good
aste of ex-President Arthur, both
he White House and the Presidents
cottage never looked so attractive as
hey do now. Whatever Mr.. Cleve-
and's individual tastes may be, he has
lready shown that he appreciates the
aste of his predecessor in his desire
o make no change. He intends to
How his surroundings to remain just
s he found them. Mr.. Arthur made
be cottage habitable and cosy by TAX
ng the old carpets of the East Room
nd Blue Parlor and having them
1ade into rugs for it. Then he gath
red up old pieces of furniture that
7ere in hidden corners of the mansion
nd put them in the poorly furnished
ottage. The result has been to
lake it attractive and comfortable.