Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-12-05

|IARlES FOR 1886.
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
Hendricks NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Congressional Service.
Special Correspondence Of the Isrea0osAsl
WARRINGTON, Dec. 2.-The admins
tration is in mourning for Vice.Presi
dent Hendricks. Thanksgiving day
was . sad and quiet one ut the white
house. There were no callers, no busi-
ness transacted, and decorators were
busy outside putting up the Grape and
bunting that will shroud the columns
Of the executive mansion until the day
after Christmas. The capitol and gov.
ernment buildings are also draped in
black, the same designs being followed
that were used in memory Of Gen. Grant.
Mr.. Hendricks death gives the pres
idency Of the senate to the Republicans,
~ they arc majority in that body. Ii
is customary at the close OF a session of
the senate for the vice-president to leave
the chair for time and permit tho cleo.
ton Of president of the senate pro
tempore, in order that there might be a
succession to the presidency in case Of
the death Of both president and vice.
president. Mr.. Hendricks attended the
sessions of the extra session 80 closely
last spring, that no pro tempore officer
,uoo oloo.n.j ND,., A(.
ehould also die before congress meets,
the country would be without IL head
and difficult problem nigh. be offered
for solution. The country is now in the
same condition that it was during the
first month of Mr.. Arthur's presidency.
He also left the senate without having
it name pro temp"re presiding officer.
The situation naturally gives rise to dis
cussion Of proper laws TO regulate the
presidential succession, and it is prob.
able that the incoming congress will
be urged to make some enactment to
meet such contingencies.
Tie l"st vice president who died in Of
fee was Mr.. Wilson, OF Massachusetts.
His death w;.s a- sudden ~ that Of Mr..
Hendricks, occurring. it will be re:uem.
bered, while he was presiding over the
senate. When the d,ath of Mr.. Hen.
dricks was announced at the white
house, Mr.. Cleveland Immediately called
special session fthe cabinet. Action
Was taken in regard to the funeral,
which the president and cabinet will at.
tend. The senators and representatives
in the city also held meetings for the
purpose of deciding upon committees to
attend the burial services.
The people OF Washington obeycd the
terms of the presidents proclamation in
celebrating Thanksgiving dav. Govern.
ment business was suspended, depart.
men, clerks and school children were
set free, there were family reunions and
teasting and pleasure making. In the
chulch-s, sermons were preached from,
appropriate texts. Secretary Whitney
offered to give every officer and EN-
ployee Of the navy department Thanks.
giving turkey. Many of them ayailed
themselves of his courtesy.
Congress will convene in one week
from next Monday. There is a hustle
Of preparation at the capitol. II is true
the work Of cleaning up, repairing and
aAonihS Improvements uAS Uccll ktNU&
on there during the entire recess. Still
everything is getting another touch in
readiness for the event.
The president has nearly finished his
message to congress, and the cabinet Of
ficers have about completed their re-
ports. The majority Of them will be
published before congress meets. Only
that Of the secretary Of the treasury will
be withheld to 90 TO congress with the
president. message.
As to points in the message it may be
mentioned that the policy Of the admin.
istraliou will he very clear and direct in
advocating increased economy in gov.
ernmential expenditures and cutting
down tariff taxation in such way a.
will not hurt industries which have beer
built up under existing laws. The pol
icy outlined to congress will be consery
ative.
One Of the newly appointed civil ser
vice commissioners says that any expec
tations that tho reorganised commission
will be governed by partizsn considera
tions will be doomed to disappointment
He further said in all his consultation;
with the president, he was impressed
with tho sincere purpose Mr.. Cleveland
showed to enforce the law strictly and
impartially. The majority of the sena
tors Of both parties favor moderat.
civil service reform. They are pleasec
to be rid of the annoyance Of looking
after small places, but they would like
to obtain control ofappointments to thu
higher positions.