Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-08-01
(From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July 81, 'S5.

w ASHlNG1ON, Ouiy AtJ Cc'
The public buildings are more elab-
orately swathed in black than they
ever were before except on the death
of President Garfield. The Interior
Department presided over by Secre-
tary Lamar, is more heavily and ar
tistically draped than any other, and
the National Flag over the Pension
Office is bordered with Grape. There
is much dissatisfaction here On account
of the selection of New York as the
burial place of General Grant, and an
effort will probably be made to have
the place of interment changedfo this
city.
The President has made change in
his plans for summer vacation. 1t
is quite likely he will not visit the
Adirondacks 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 Saturday
evening for New York, but the death
of General Grant caused him to change
his mind and he will thus bes enabled
to give more time to public matters.
During next week he will not receive
visitors outside of the Cabinet Minis
tiers and BureaF Chiefs, as there are
number of important matters to be
settled before he can get away from
the city.
Among other problems is that OF
fixed policy for the protection and
support of the Indians. 1t may be
deemed iudicious to transfer them to
the War Department. There is no
question that the President is very
much pleased with the result of Gen
eral Sheridan's tri p to the scene OF the
trouble with the Cheyennes. He is
convinced that strong measures alone
have any weight in dealing with the
aborigines. The matter will be set
tied by the President during the 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 iii this matter.
DIR. Ward, of Albany, has accepted
the Presidents invitation to 60 fishing
and will meet his host at New York
after the funeral ofGeneral Grant. Ii
is not likely that Miss Cleveland will
accompany her brother at the funeral
ceremonies, as she finds it indispensi
BILE that she 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 prescrib
ed plenty of pure air for few weeks
Cabinet ministers and heads of bu
reaus generally spend considerable time
away from Washington during the
summer. This has been carried on t.
an extent of actual abuse, since public
business of all kinds and Of all degree!
of Importance must wait upon theil
action. The absence of head of {
Department always perceptibly light
ems the work Of his clerks, and it i
absurd to hold or act upon the doctrine
that the chief can take his ease as h
pleases, but that the subordinate mus
stick to his desk, even when the CHER
absence leaves him nothing to do
there.
When Congress is in session there
is the most work for the depart
ments. Innumerable reports are call
ed for, and business Of all kinds i
brisk. Clerks who could be spared
very easily in August are often abso
lutely indispensable in December
The whole matter of leaves of absence
should be settled upon common sens
principles.
The committee appointed by tn
Secretary of the Treasury to investi
gate the affairs of the Coast and Geo
detic survey will inquire into the gen
eral management of the bureau as wei
as the methods of expanding the funds
and keeping the accounts. They wert
busy at work all day yesterday, ant
they expect to be ready to report with
in week. The report made by FRS
Auditor Chenoweth, upon which Sup
erintendent Hilgard was suspended
and four of his assistants absolutely
dismissed, will not be made public
until the investigation by the commit
tee has been completed. The chic
officials concerned in the matter are
reticent; but it is known that the
charges made by Mr.. Chenoweth are
strong and emphatic, and that other
wise the sudden suspension of Profes
sor Hilgard, the Superintendent, and
the summary dismissal of his four
assistants would not have been made
so promptly.