Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-07-25
JULY Is, 1885.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
" AsH1NGToN. July Goth. 1885.


Not every citizen of the United
States is aware that the District of
Columbia, which includes the Capt.
tai of the United States and about
250,000 inhabitants, has q govern
ment different from that of any 9th
er district or municipality of the
Nation. Washington is ruled W a
triumvlrate appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States. The in
habitants of this city suffer from no
suffrage, cast no ballots, and know
no local politics in the ordinary yul-
gar sense. The three men appoint
ed by the President govern under
law, have charge of the police, pub
lie schools, parks, streets, water
works and city improvements. They
make a pretty good local government,
and some other cities might profit by
example.
On the 18th Of this month the
term of one of the Commissioners,
Ex-senator West, of Louisiana expir-
ed and the President promptly APP
pointed as his successor Mr.. VIM.
Webb, lawyer and an old resident
of this city. The appointee is one
of the best that could have been Sc
lected, and the community without
regard to politics, are rejoicing that
so good selection has been made.
Mr.. Webb, like his predecessor, is a
Republican, he is sixty years of age
and is identified with the best social
and business interests of the Capt.
tai. Early yesterday morning he
received a note from the White House
requesting him to call at once, as
the President desired to see him.
and at about / O'Clock, in accordance
with the request, he called. when the
President rendered him the appoint
ment. Mr.. Webb said he was taken
by surprise, and would like few
days to consider whether he could
afford to accept. He has since con-
suited with his friends, and has de
termined at their request and al
their earnest solicitation to accept
the office.
There has been great deal Of
gossip in the papers during the week
on the subject of the Presidents pol
icy about official changes. First il
was announced that the President
had ordered a practical halt in the
old business of removing Republican
Office holders on the charges of Of
fensiye partizanship. This was
speedily denied, and the result seems
to be that things are going on much
as usual. The President does al
that he can do on any given day
and stops when he gets through
There has been no change in the pol
icy Of the Administration and there
is not likely to be any.
Miss Cleveland took her departure
-Trfees-the snlnmer on Thursday, and
the White House will hardly have
her for mistress again before Octo
Der. She will spend much of the
intervening time at the family home
at Holl and Patent, n. Y. She has
now considerable income from the
sale of her book. 1t is reported that
she does not intend to use this fol-
any personal purpose, but will de-
vote it to educational objects.
very much doubt the truth of this
report. Miss Cleveland is not wealthy
and she has lived long enough to
know the sweetness oEindependence,
and to enjoy the fruits Of thrift.
With the departure of Miss Cleve.
land there will be q cessation of the
regular Saturday afternoon gather
ings on the portico. There has been
q thorough overhauling Of the man,
sion in the past few days, and the
curtains and carpets have been put
away until cold weather, and the
floors are now covered from base
ment to attic with cool, attractive
mating.
Nearly all the leading society peo-
pie of Washington called upon the
mistress of the White House before
she left Washington, and exchanged
notes as to their plans for the sum-
mer, and expressed the hope of meet
ing her next winter. Something was
said at one of these gatherings about
the rumor that Miss Cleveland had
been offered and would very likely
accept the Presidency of Vassar
College, denial was given to this
story by Miss Cleveland, and she in
formed her callers that she would be
in the White House during this Ad-
ministratioh.
| When the President goes off for
his summer vacation he will not be
accompanied by any member of his
Cabinet, and although Col. Lamont