Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-10-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 80, 1885

!
WASHINGTON, Sept. 90, 1885.
Another comparatively uneyent-
fnl week has passed. Nothing OF |
special interest has occurred at the /
White House or in the Departments
presided over by the different Cabl-
net officers. Exciting political con-
tests are going on in Virginia, Ohio
and New York, but, owing to the
policy of the Administration to avoid
interference in State politics these
contests do not excite their usual
interest here. The President said
recently in conversation with some
intimate friends that he had refus-
ed and would continue to refuse to
take any active part in any state
campaign, and the members OF his
Cabinet have pursued the same
course, but not without some hesita-
ton. 1t is easy to see, and the
President recognizes, that it is a diff
ficult task for such men as Manning
and Whitney to keep out OF the
New York canvass. Still, Mr.. Cleye-
land said, with some satisfaction,
that Secretary Manning declined to
visit Albany this summer, although.
his private business requir-
e Il his personal attention, lest
his presence there might be miscon-
strued and connected with some
political movement. Secretary Whit
ney remarked, just before the Presi-
dent left Washington, that he was
quite convinced the Administration
had larger matters to attend to
than looking out for state political
connections. You may put it down
as certain fact that the Admins.
tration will not bother with the local
politics of the states, and all talk
about Hoadly being renominated'in
Ohio to please the Presidents with
out foundation in fact. The Presi-
dent recognizes that keeping the
State machines well in hand is no
part of the business ofthe Admins
tration.
Representative Morrison is in the
city and in conversation yesterday
said that there would be an effort
made in the next Congress looking
to a reduction of tariff taxation. AS
far as he knew there was no concert
ed effort or combination with this
end in view, but undoubtedly some
one would offer such bill. If his
plan for horizontal reduction
should not find favor, probably a
perpendicular scale might be pre-
sented and adopted. One thing
was certain, however, there would
be some tariff legislation by the
Forty ninth Congress, but what
plans would be formulated he
m u t decline to answer "a t
present. Some Of the persons
who had been growing at him for
his views on the tariff would be CIV
Ell an opportunity to suggest some
thing better, for this question could
not be evaded by the law makers of
the United States.
Secretary Lamar's clerks very
much regret the Secretary's illness.
1t has doubled their work. By be-
ing at home under the care of his
phy'cian, he escapes all the interviews
that take up most of his time in the
office, and consequently gets through
a vast amount of real work. During
the few days he has been at home
he has gone through a small wagon
load of official papers. He has kept
his stenographer and half a dozen
type-writers busy late and early. By
the time that Secretary RECEIVERS he
will have wiped out most ofthe work
that had accumulated on his hands
before his illness had commenced.
Prof. Alexander Agassiz, of Cam.
bridge, who has been offered the
position of Superintendent of the
Coast Survey, is the richest scientific
man in America, with the possible
exception of Alexander Graham
Bell, and if he accepts the place it
will be at much sacrifice to his per-
sonal comfort. Prof. Agassiz has
been munificenJ benefactorof Har.
ward College, giving hundreds of
thousands of dollars to sustain that
institution when its revenues have
been reduced from time to time.
The source of his great wealth is
the Calumet and Hecla mine, in
Michigan, which has yielded him
millions. He has recently taken
much interest in the Coast Survey,
and in the columns of the New York
Evening Post has defended it's man
agement in manner which shows
that he has the interests of the pub
lie service entirely at heart.
Senator Edmunds has forbidden
his architect and builder to give any
information to the papers about his
new house on Massachusetts avenue.
1t is an odd looking affair.and Meth
er the exterior or the interior ar
rangement would suit tue average
taste, but the Senator made many
OF the designs himself, and is very
well pleased with his success in
architecture. The entrance appears
to be the most Objectionable feature
and would be more suitable for
fortress than private residence, as
it lacks the suggestion Of hospital
ity.
Destructive floods have swept
away life and property in Bengal.