Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Y0Sllinnfnn Nna..A 2,.d

tration ana of the forty-eighth con-
gress are nearly over. At the pres
ent writing, neither has more than
twelve hours to live. In the cabinet
meeting held to-day, President Ar
thur and his advisers met for the last
time. His official duties. over. the
remainder of the week will be a sea-
son of comparative ease to Mr.. Ar
thur. He will entertain Mr.. Cleye-
land this evening, if the latter arrives
in the city in time, and will attend
him Tomorrow through the inaugural
ceremonies. After Wednesday, the
ex-president will retire to the resi-
dence of the secretary of state where
he will spend week before finally
leaving the city. He has called a
special session of the senate to con-
vene at noon, on the fourth of March,
and his last official act will be to sign
bills passed by the present congress.
He will be engaged at this in the
presidents room at the capitol to-
morrow, up to the time for the dis
solution of the forty-eighth congress,
which will be instantaneous with his
term of office, at twelve O'Clock m.
The extra session of the senate will
be devoted first to the consideration of
the new president, and it is expected
that such time as is not consumed
will be given to the discussion of
pending treaties. AS to an extra
session of the house, certain leading
members say a congressional dead
lock is imminent, and that the situa-
ton points more strongly to an extra
session now than at any previous
time this winter Still it is not safe
to venture a prophecy in regard to
the happenings of congress. The
most intricate disagreement may be
amicably adjusted by tomorrow
noon. Legislative and imaginative
interests are badly mixed just now,
and the ''toilers' on capitol hill,
have, for the past week, been dis
cussing the event of tomorrow as
industriously as they have the silver
question or the appropriation bills.
Preparations for the great fete
have advanced so far that nothing
can now prevent its complete success
except perhaps the weather. At the
dedication of the monument on the
21st ult., the recommendation was
made in Mr.. Winthrop's Grafton that
the date fixed for the Inauguration
of presidents of the United States
should be changed by an amendment
of the constitution to the 30th of
April, the day upon which George
Washington first took the oath of the
presidential office. 1t is a PROPOSE
ton in favor of which much can be
said, and it is possible that the new
congress may take some initiatory
steps toward bringing about the
change. Bad weather is the one
thing feared on each recurring in
auguration day, and as there was no
special reason for originally deciding
on the fourth of March, none exists
now for retaining the day. To adopt
the 30th of April would both secure
more clement season for the cere-
monies and fifty commemorate an
historic event.
The city is thronged with visitors,
and the trains that arrive, especially
those from the North and West, are
crowded with people bent on enjoying
the inaugural festivities and seeing
the sights of the capitol. Pennsyl-
vania avenue, from the white house
to the capitol, a distance of a mile,
is dressed for the occasion in gay
bunting, flags, pennons, shields, gild-
ed eagles, stars, erescents and other
devices. Everything is hurry and
hustle with preparation for the day.
Everybody on the avenue wanted a
reviewing stand in front of his place
of business, some for speculation,
others for their families and the ac-
commodation of their friends. Stacks
of lumber are still lying here and
there and the busy carpenters are
mailing away to finish one section so
as to get at another. Some of the
stands that have been erected on the
parking along the line of march have
been covered and carpeted, and for
view of the procession from such van
tage ground from 81. 80 to $500 will
be charged.
Mr.. Cleveland will, be escorted
from the white house to the capitol
by military and civic pageant five
miles in length, and after taking the
oath of office and delivering his in
augural address, will be escorted
back to the white house, where he
will review the immense parade.
The oath will be administered to Mr..
Hendricks in the senate by acting
Vice President Edmunds, and he will
thus be inaugurated before Mr..
Cleveland.
The decoration for the evening
, festivities. of the grand hall of the
pension building, has been compile
ted, and the scenic effects are very
, beautiful. 1t covers more than an
acre, and the vistas are, if possible.
, finer than those in the National Mu-
, scum four years ago.
4 shocking case of grave robbery is re
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