The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-06-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ON our Regular Correspondent

. WASHINGTON, June Is, 1885.
The rear portico of the White House
looks soulhward over half mile of
green sward and an artificial lake to
the Washington Monument and beyond
down the broad Potomac, command
ing a view seven miles in extent. For
fifty summers the Presidents of the
United States have stood on this port
leo of Saturday afternoons, cEatted
with their friends, and listened TO the
music of tho Marine Band from the
green sward below. President Cleve-
land honored the custom for the first
time last Saturday and hundreds of
Washingtonians got their first glimpse
of his strong rugged face and non
figure. 1t Was curious
to see several hundred people standing
below looking up at 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. l
looked in vain for an expression of res
igation in their government pap-fed
faces. 1t may be said with emphasis
that they will not resign. They are
trying to read their fate in the face Of
the President, with curiosity that
was more natural than polite; they star
ed in silence by the hour.
The reader who is not an office seek.
er or office holder will be more interest
ed 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 pleas,
ing. He greets those whom he knows
with an unstudied grace-cordial but
not effusive. He wore Prince Albert
coat aud fashionable silk hat. In
greeting those who called he would
remove his hat, and while talking to
ladies, would stand uncovered for a
few minutes. But the rays of the sun
made it necessary for all the gentle
men to wear their hats most of the
time. .....,r
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 appointment because two mem.
bers from New York were placed in
the Cabinet. Tried by the test OF ex-
perience they have proved among the
best selections that the President has
made. 1t is further proof of his good
judgment that these two men were
personally known to him. His weak.
est selections have beer those winch
were recommended to him by other peo-
pie. The Treasury Department is now
in better hands than it has been for a
number Of year. Mr.. Whitney is a
thorough man of the world and las
his department on very good footing.
He is polite to every one aud
does not annoy his callers with the
constant declaration made by some Of
the new officials that his time is ex-
cessively occupied and that it is with
only the greatest difficulty that he can
afford to give a few seconds OF his
time to any individual. Any one to
see him with his visitors would think
that he was the easiest. going and most
thoroughly good-natured member of
the Cabinet.
Gen. Sparks the new Democratic
land Commissioners has issued an ori-
er forfeiting the bulk of the fraudu-
lent Maxwell land grant. This will
throw over TO the public entry over
100000 acres. Through frau lulent
surveys and corrupt official bargaining
at Washington this grant was stretch
ed so as to include 100000 acres of
land. This order of Mr.. Sparks cut,
down this grant to its original dimen
sions. If Mr.. Sparks could neyr do
anything more in his office boy ond
striking down this gigantic fraud, he