Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-01
AUG. 1, 1885.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w ASHlN6ION, July = I'LL, 1000.
The public buildings of the city are
more deliberately swathed in black
than they ever were before except
OH the death of President Garfield.
The Interior Department, presided
over by Secretary Lamar, is more
heavily and artistically draped than
any other, and the National flag
over the Pension Office is bOrdered
with Grape. There is much dissatis-
faction here on account of the selec-
ton of New York as the burial place
of General Grant, and an effort will
probably be made to have the place
of interment changed to this city.
The President has made change
in his plans for a summer vacation.
1t is quite likely he will not visit the
Adirondacs until the middle Of Au
gust and then remain away from
Washington through the month of
September. 1t was his intention to
leave the White House next Satur-
day evening for New York, but the
death of Gen. Grant caused him to
change his mind, and he will thus be
enabled to give little more time to
public matters. During next week
he will not receive visitors outside of
the Cabinet Ministers and Bureau
Chiefs, as there are a number of i'm
portant matters to be settled before
he can get away from the city.
Among other problems is that of a
fixed policy for the protection and
support OF the Indians. 1t may be
deemed jndicious to transfer them
to the War Department. There is
no question that the President is
very much pleased with the result of
Gen. Sheridan's trip to the scene of
trouble with the Cheyennes. He is
convinced that strong measures
alone have any weight in dealing
with the aborigines. The matter
will be settled by the President dur
ing next week at one of the Cabinet
meetings.
There will be few important offices
filled before the President goes away,
as he considers that the necessities
of the country, for the present have
been met. There will consequently
be no haste in this matter.
DR.. Ward, of Albany, has accept
ed the Presidents invitation to go
fishing, and will meet his host in
New York after the funeral Of Gen.
Grant. 1t is not likely that Miss
Cleveland will accompany her brother
at the funeral ceremonies, as she
finds it indispensable thatshe should
obtain all the rest and quiet that she
can in the country. Although not
seriously indisposed the duties she
was called upon to perform at the
White House fatigued her very much.
The family physician prescribed plen-
ty of pure air for few weeks.
Cabinet ministers and heads of
bureaus generally spend considerable
time away from Washington in sum-
mer. This has been carried on to an
extent of actual abuse, since public
business of all kinds and of all de-
grees of Importance must wait upon
their action. The absence of a head
of a Department always perceptibly
lightens the work of his clerks, and
it is absurd to hold or act upon the
doctrine that the chief can take his
ease as he pleases, but that the sub
ordinate must stick to his desk, even
when the chiefs absence leaves him
nothing to do there.
When Congress is in session there
is much the most work for the De-
partments. Innumerable reports are
called for, and business of all kinds
is brisk. Clerks who could easily be
spared in August are often absolute
ly indispensable in December. The
whole matter of leaves of absence
should be settled upon common sense
PRINCIPLES,