The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. .,

From our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 0, 1885.
The Capital during the week seems to
have been shifted to New York city.
At least New Y ork is the centre OF po-
Iitical interest. but not half as many
Democratic Congressman went to see
the President-el6ct as were reported TO
have gone. A few who went have re-
turned and one and ali seem TO be well
pleased with what they have seen
of the coming man, who is praised as a
courteous listener and frank taIker.
Affectation and mysterlousnesS are
not among the faults or Mr.. CleVe-
land.
Nothing has been learned about the
Cabinet it is evidently the intention of
the President to take all the time the
law allows him to build it, and since his
Cabinet can do nothing until after the
fourth of March, this deliberation would
seem to be proper and polite.
A certain class of government clerks
are quietly preparing to go. They are
the chiefs of bureaus and their chief
clerks, also a large number who are
conscious of their shady political ante
cedents. A large majority OF them are
hoping that they may avoid the fell
sweep of that new broom. The opin-
ion of those who have knowledge of af
fairs in the government offices is that
there can be no real improvement in
government work until nine -tenths of
the clerks, who are dTones and politi-
clans, have been swept out and replaced,
rot necessarily by Democrats exclusive
ly, but by competent and willing work
eTs.
There is a great deal of local talk of
~ =
weeks distant. The Democrats, of
course, desire that the parade, the ball,
the fire works. the decorations and the
crowd, shall compare in respectability,
taste and splendor with any previous
similar occasion. l think their vanity
will be gratifed. There will be fine
parade of citizen soldiery and civic or
ganiZatiOn. The night will be painted
in all the hues of the rainbow by fire
works and the ball, in a hall large
enough to accom- modate 1000, and
which anyone can attend for the COLI
sideration of five dollars, will be simply
stupendOus.
Gen. Hancock declined to lead the
parade from the White House 10 the
Capitol on :he ground of recent death
in his family, and Gen, Mcclellan, to
whom the honor was next teEdered, de-
clined on account of engagements. 1t
is well enough, for neither of these old
gentlemen can sit On a horse as well as
he could twenty-five years ago, and the
leader of this parade must bestride a
goodly steed. Gen. Slocum has accept
ed the command of the ephemeral army
and there is no doubt that the brief
campaign will be successful.
As il is anticipated that a greater
n har nf military and
civic associations will be in line on the
fourth of March than were ever assem-
bled here on an Inauguration day. the
task assigned TO Gen. Socum is not an
easy one. Four years ago Gen. SheT
man, with large numb Der of aids, found
the labor of marshalling and moving
the parade a greater one than he expee-
ted. 1t is nOmiually an honor, but in
fact very labOrious responsibility TO
assume the direction and movement of
vast collection of organizations in the
short time allowed for such parade.
On Wednesday the formal counting
of the votes for President will take
place in Congress.
OF the thirteen appropriation bills,
but one, the Military Academy bill, has
passed its last stage in Congress. 1t
awaits the action of the President
The condition of business in Congress
is such that a minority of either house
can easily force an extra session. But
IL is not apparent that there is any dis
position to do So. The leaders of both
houses express the opinion that the ap-
preparation bills will all be passed De-
fore the fourth of March. In this case
no extra session Will be necessary.
Gen. Sheridan, the marshall of the
monument dedication, has issued his or
ders and appointed lis aids. The first
division Of the procession will be com
manded by Gen. AyTes, the second by
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, OF Virgirtfa.
The city troop of Philadelphians will
come on special train and bring their
horses and gT0Oms with them. They
Will wear their old Revolutionary uui-
forms and will bring the standards car
ried at the battles or Princeton and
Trenton. X