News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-10-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. C.,
Sept, 80, 1885.


WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Sept. 80, 1885.
Another comparatively uneventful
week has passed. Nothing of spec
ial interest has occurred at the White
House or in the departments presided
over by the different cabinet officers.
Exciting political contests are going
on, in Virginia, Ohio and New York,
but, owing to the policy of the adj
ministration to avoid interference In
State politics these contests do not
excite their usual interest here. The
President said recently, in conversa-
ton with some intimate friends, that
he had refused 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 Pres
ident recognizes, that it is difficult
task for such men as Manning and
Whitney to keep out of the New York
canvass. Still, Mr.. Cleveland said,
with some satisfaction, that Secretary
Manning declined to visit Albany this
summer, although his private bust
ness required his personal attention,
lest his presence there might be mis-
construed and connected with some
political movement. Secretary Whit
ney remarked, just before the Presi-
dent left Washington, that he was
quite convinced the administratio n
had larger matters to attend to than
looking out for State political connec-
tions. You may put it down as a
certain fact that the administration
viii not bother with the local politics
of the States, and all talk about
Hoadly being renominated in Ohio to
please the President, is without foun-
datIon. The President recognizes
that keeping the State machines well
in hand is no part Of the business of
the administration.
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 concerted eff
fort or combination with this end in
view, but undoubtedly some one
would offer such a bill. If his plan
for a horizontal reduction should not
find favor, probably perpendicular
scale might be presented and adopted.
One thing was certain, however, there
wonld be some tariff legislation by
the Forty-ninth Congress, but just
what plans would be formulated he
must decline to answer at present.
Some of the persons who had been
growing at him for his views On the
tariff would he given an opportunity
to suggest something better, for this
question could not be evaded by the
lawmakers of the United States.
Secretary Lamars clerks very much
regret the Seeretary's illness. 1t has
doubled their work. By being at
home under the care of his physician,
he escapes all the interviews that take
up most of his time in the office, and
consequently gets through with vast
amount of real work. During the
few days he has been at home he has
gone through small wagon load of
official papers. He has kept his stem
ographer and half dozen type-writ-
ers busy, late and early. By the time
the Secretary RECEIVERS he will have
wiped out most of the work that had
accumulated on his hands before his
illness had commenced.
Prof. Alexander Agassiz, of Cam
bridge, who has been offered the po-
sition 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 personal comfort.
Prof. Agassiz has been a munifcent
benefactor of Harvard College, CIV
ing 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 Hec-
la mine in Michigan, which has yield
ed him millions. He has recently {
taken much interest in the coast sur
vey, and in the columns of the New
York Evening Post has defended its !
in manner which shows G
that he has the interests of the pub 6
lie service entirely at heart.
Senator Edmunds has forbidden his 1
architect and builder to give any in =
formation to the papers about his new +
louse on Massachusetts avenue. 1t a
: an odd looking affair, and neither C