The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-02-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

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WASHINGTON, Feb'y. 0. 1885
The Capital during the week seems
to have been shifted to New York city
AT least New York has been the cen
tire of political interest, but not half as
many Democratic Congressman went
to see the President elect as were re-
ported to have gone. A few who went
have returned and seem to be one and
all much pleased with what they had
seen OF the coming man, who is praised
as courteous listener and frank talk
er. Affectation and mystery are not
among the faults of Mr.. Cleveland.
Nothing has been learned about the
cabinet; it is evidently the intention of
the president TO take all the time the
law allows him to build it, and since
his Cabinet can do nothing until after
the fourth of March, this deliberation
would seem to be proper and polite.
A certain class of government clerks
are quietly preparing to go. They are
the chiefs of Bureaus and their chief
clerks, also large rumber who are
conscious of their shady political ante
cedents. A large majority are hoping
that they may avoid that fell sweep of
the new broom. The opinion of those
who have practical knowledge of af-
fairs in the Government offices is that
there can be no real improvement in
government work until moe tenths Of
the clerks, who are drones and polti.
clans, have been swept out and been
replaced, not necessarily by Democrats
exclusively, but by competent men and
real workers.
There is great deal of local talk
about the inauguration, which is now
only three weeks distant. The Demo-
Gratis, of course, desire that the parade,
the ball, the fire works, the decorations
and the crowd, shall compare in re-
spectability, taste and splendor with
any previous similar occasion. l think
their vanity will be grati6ed. There
will be fine parade of citizen soldery
and civic organizations The night
will be painted in all the hues of the
rainbow by fire works and the ball in
hall large enough to accommodate
10000, and which any one can attend
for the consideration of five dollars
will be simply stupendous.
General Hancock declined to lead
the parade from the White House to
the Capitol on the ground of recent
death in his family, and General Nc
Clellan, TO whom the honor was next
rendered, declined on account of en-
gagements 1t is well enough, for
neither of these old gentlemen can sit
horse as well as he could twenty-five
years ago, and the leader of this parade
must bestride goodly steed. General
Slocum has accepted the command of
the ephemeral army, and there is no
doubt that the briet campaign will be
successful.
AS it is anticipated that a greater
number of military organizations and
civic associations will be in line on the
fourth of March than were ever assem-
bled here on Inauguration day, the task
to be assigned to General Slocum is
not an easy one. -Four years ago Gen
eral Sherman, with a large number of
aids, found the labor of marshalliny
and moving the parade greater one
than he had anticipated. 1t is nomi-
nally an honor, but in fact a very la
borious responsibility to assume the d.
rection and movement of vast collec-
tion of organizations in the brief time
allowed for such parade.
On Wednesday the formal counting
of electoral votes for President will
take place in Congress.
OF the thirteen appropriation bills,
but one, the Military Academy bill,
has passed its last stage in Congress
1t awaits the action of the President.
The condition of business in Congress
is such that minority of either house
can easily force an extra session But
it is not apparent that there is any pur-
pose to do So , The leaders of both
houses express the opinion that the ap-
preparation bills will be passed before
the 4th of March, in which case no ex-
ira session will be necessary.
Gen. Sheridan the Marshal of the
Monument dedication has issued his
orders and appointed lis aids, The
first division of the procession will be
commanded by Gen. Ayres, the sec
ond by Gen. Eitzhugh Lee of Virgin
ia
The City troop of Philadelphia will
come on special train and bring their
horses and grooms with them. They
will wear their old revolutionary uni
forms and will bring the standards car
rled at the battles of Princeton and
Trenton.