St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-12-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, Nov. 90, 1885,

most quiet one at the White House
since the fourth of March. The Presi-
dent has been busily at work on his
message, and has had few Interruptions.
He has seen Cabinst officers, heads of
Bureaus and divisions, for whom he
sent from time to time, in order to con-
suit them with regard to subjects treat
ed in his message. He also saw Mr..
COrcoran in reference to some local
changes. Presidents have long been
in the habit of consulting this venerable
citizen and philanthropist on questions
relating to the District of Columbia.
Then the President received General
Sheridan, and for several hours they
talked ever again the Indian question.
President Cleveland does great deal
more writing himself than any presi-
dent of recent times. He says he can
think what he wants to say on any inn
portant question better with his pen in
his hand than in any other way. The
message was originally wholly in Mr..
Cleveland's own handwriting.
What will the President recommend
in his message is the inquiry of every
thoughtful person who studies the signs
of the times, here and throughout the
country.
The message is completed, and the
manuscript is in the hands of the public
printer. The latter cuts the copy up
in takes and as each part is finished,
the copy and the type are returned to-
him, and the type is dumped upon a
galley on his desk. AS fast as a galley
is full, proof is taken, and the proof
and type are locked up in safe to
which printer Rounds alone has the
combination. Mr.. Rounds does all Of
the proof reading himself, and there is
no probability of the message being
stolen and published before its time,
as was one of the messages of each Of
the three previous presidents, Arthur,
Grant, and Hayes.
President Cleveland's message, it is
said, will be short and teIse, unlike the
annual Presidential communications of
the past.
Republican Senators have received |
an invitation from the President which
is calculated to disarm those who have
been talking war on his nominations.
He has asked those who intend to OPP
pose the confirmation of anyone who
has been appointed to Office during the
recess of the Senate, to call at the
White House and explain their reasons
to him, before he sends nominations
to the Senate.
Those who refuse to meet Mr.. Cleve-
land in this way, will have no excuse
for making factious opposition to his
He says his only desire
is to serve the best interests of the
IT any of his appointees are unfit he
wants to know it, and if objections are
we'll founded he will not send their
names to the Senate. He will not re-
cognize political antagonisms, but will
charges, and will withhold
The names Of any who are proved to be ,
lncompetent,or morally disqualified.
Since Speaker Carlisle has returned
10 the city, there is marked increase !
n the arrivals of Members of Congress. /
They have come to talk with him about s
heir places on the committees. Mr..
carlisle has already begun to make no
he committees, which he has 4 right d
o do, his reelection as Speaker being |
foregone conclusion. He will devote !
lis leisure until the meeting OF Con- +
ress to this, and time. will BIZ saved lii
" committees being ready to work at1
be beginning of the session. rs
Then it is to be hoped that the three III
7eeks of the session prior to the Christ d
las vacation will be devoted to revis- &
~ the House rules so as to facilitate !,
gislation. There is Disposition 81
nong members of tile House of Repre- n
,ntatives to liberate that body from =
e letters that have bound it for the ii
lst dozen years. These restrictive ii
extend so far that the last ol
was only able to act in two x
ys,-by unanimous consent and by 50
nsent Of the Committee on appro- W
iations. az
IL reforming the House rules an M NJ
lendment much needed is this; that th
notion to adjourn out of respect to or