New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-02-11
WASHINGTON LeTTeR.

week, and has called the yeas and nays
several scores of times, but as usual,
very little real business has been ac-
complished. The Nicaragua treaty
was killed in the Senate; there was
oratory against dynamiters, and talks
about Pacific Railway debts and Inter-
State Commerce. In the House APP
preparations were in order, notably the
River and Harbor bill, the counting of
the electoral votes was fixed. for the |
eleventh instant, and there was no lit.
tie filibustering for the precedence of |
bills.
The River and Harbor bill embraces
feature that provokes fierce opposi-
ton. It practically creates two offices
for the benefit of Capt. Eads, one as
superintendent of Mississippi river i'm.
provements and another as chief en-.
glneer of the work on Galveston har-
Dor. Some Western Members COM
plain that there is too much Eads in
the bill, that it lavors too strong y of
favoritism.
The business of Congress this session
nas been much delayed, and much leg
islation will be defeated because Demo-
cratic members are afraid of doing
something that mil ht conflict with the
plans OF the new administration. The
party was never more unsettled in it's
purposes than now. 1t is simply drift
ing, drifting, without helm or compass.
Inc Republicans rather enjoy the di-.
lemma of their opponents and are will
ing to help them do nothing, thus leav-.
ing some troublesome questions to be
settled after the fourth of March. Some
Democrats are alarmed at the situation
and think it will be necessary to have
an extra session of Congress. The fact
is that the Democratic factions are so
bitterly opposed to each other that
neither will move for fear the other
will raise row. The recent confer
ence invited by Mr.. Cleveland with Mr..
Randall and the Speaker of the House.
provokes the remark that the President
elect lacks the decision with which he
has been credited. 1t shows he does
not enforce policy of his own in spite
OF dlscordant leaders. It is thought
there will be quite an exodus of Demo-.
cratic Statesmen from Washington to
New York City this week for the pur.
pose OF giving Mr.. Cleveland the bene.
tit OF their advice. What is the Par
able about the blind leading the blind?
Various delegations are preparing to-
call on him in behalf of favorite aspir-,
ants for Cabinet positions.
Executive session leakings are much
commented upon, and complained of
by certain secretive Senators who
wonld not, for their lives, ,divulge what
occurs in secret session. One of the
guarded Statesmen said, the other day.t
Il consider it highly dishonorable for
Senator to Indicate either the subject
or the matter Of debate that takes
place during an executive session.
Comment is unnecessary continued
he' 'but somehow or other the public
manages to find out things that happen
within our closed doors. Somebody
gives it away"
When President Arthur gives up the
White House to his successor on the
fourth of March. he will be the guest
OF Secretary Frelinghuysen until he
leaves Washington. At present the
White House is we'll filled with guests,
intimate friends of the President and
his sister Mrs. McElroy. A new plan
has been adopted at the Executive
Mansion of having the cloak rooms up
stairs. In descending to the ..presence
chamber guests must go the full
length OF the mansion on the first floor
and half its length on the second In
a densely packed throng of ladies and
gentlemen the agony Of jam is pro-
tracted and fatigue much increased as
compared with the old way of having
all down stairs. Last Tuesday evening
three quarters of an hour was consutn-
ed by some Of the guests in going from
the cloak room up stairs to the Blue
Room below, where the President and
those receiving with him stood. In the
unavoidable crush such sad havoc be-
falls handsome toilets, especially those
OF gossamer, tulle, lace and bugles.
that full dress reception is no longer
an event to BE- rejoiced at by the ladies.
! Preparation for the inaugural hall
at the new Pension building are going
steadily on. 1t is great and expen-
slve undertaking to get the vast en-
closure, merely surrounded now by
rough, naked walls, no floors beneath
or roof ABOVE, ready for the festlyal.
The cost OF fitting it up will be mucu
greater than attended the arranoe-
ments for the inaugural ball four years
ago. The National Museum in whcn
that was held, was then nearly COM
pleted, and in this instance ball room
must be evolved from an apparent
chaos OF bricks and mortar. This will
be the grandest in size, however, and
perhaps the most imposing in effects
that was ever before provided for a
similar occasion.
1 MINNESOTA aEns.
". s. Gilkey found dead man !
rev days ago near Mortified, and took