The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-06-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
How the President LOOks-Public Land
Restored to the People.
rom our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June /

FROM our rCOrTeSpOnucuC.
WASHINGTON, June l5th 1885.
The rear portico of the White House looks
an artificial lake to the Washington Monument
and beyond down the broad Potomac, command
ing view seven miles IN A., extent For fifty sum
stood on this portico of Saturday afternoons,
chatted with their friends, and listened to the
music of the Marine band from the green sward
below President Cleveland honored the custom
for the first time last Saturday and hundreds of
the Neutrality-suspicious. got their first glimpse of his
strong rugged face and non-Apollo-like figure.
1t was a curious sight to see several hundred peo
pie standing below looking up ut the President
on the portico above. The gazers were mostly of
the Government clerk class, and their faces wore
an expression of anxiety, curiosity, hope and
fear. | looked in vain for an expression of res
ignaton in their government pap-fed faces. 1t
may be said with emphasis that they will not re-
sign. II ey were trying to read their fate in the
face of the President and with curiosity that
was more natural than polite they stared in s-
lence by the hour.
The reader who is not an ofIice-seeker or Office
holder will be more interested in the appearance
of the President than of the crowd. He looks
ruddier and healthier than when he delivered his
inaugural on the 4th of March. His manners are
unaffected and pleasing. He greets those whom
he knows with an unstudied grace-cordial but
not etfusive. Hewore Il Prince Albert coat and
a fashionable silk hat. In greeting those who
called he would remove his hat, and while talking
to ladies, would stand uncovered for few min
utes. But the rays of the sun made 1t necessary
for all the gentlemen to wear their hats most of
Mr. Cleveland adheres to his early hours and
habits of hard work and in these respects he is
initiated by all the heads of Department.
Visitors have no trouble in seeing the Cabinet
officers. 1t is only those who come late who have
any trouble. Two of the best business men in
the Cabinet are Manning and Whitney. There
was some criticism at the time of their appoint
ment because two members from New York were
placed in the Cabinet. Tried by the test Of ex
perience they have proved to be among the best
selections that the President has made. tits fur
Their proof of his good judgment that these two
men were personally known to him. His weak
est selections have been those which We're re-
commended to him by other people. The Treas
ury Department is now in better hands than it
has been for number of years. Mr. Whitney is
athorough man of the world and has his depart
nent on very good footing; He is polite to
every one and does not annoy his callers with the
constant declaration made by some of the new
officials that his time is excessively occupied and
that it is with only the greatest difficulty that he
can afford to give few seconds of his time to
any individual. Any one to see him with his Wis
tors would think that he was the easiest going
and most thoroughly good.natured member OF
the Cabinet
Gen Sparks, the new Democratic Land Com
missioner, has issued an order FORGETTING the bulk
of the fraudulent Maxwell land grant This Will
throw open to public entry over 100000 acres.
Through fraudulent surveys and corrupt official
bargaining at Washington this grant was stretch
ed so as TO include 1.7O0,000 acres of land. This
order of Mr.. Sparks cuts down this grant to its
original dimensions. II Mr.. Sparks could never
do anything more in his office beyond striking
down this gigantic fraud, he would be entitled to
monument ut the hands of his fellow country
men. This grant has been backed by some of the
most powerful financial and social influences ever
known in the history of Washington intrigues.
Gen. Sparks would not BIO able to strike this blow
If he were not firmly supported by the Secretary
of the Interior. OF course furious appeals Will
be made to Secretary Lamar to suspend the
order. but the Secretary will be found as immov-
the facts in the case and will sustain the Land
Commissioner. This Order taken with previous
ones releases over 2,0OO,00O acres of land which
have been fraudulenty claimed by dishonest
SDeculatOrs