The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-12-19
Washington News and Gossip.
From our Special Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 10, 'S5.
The President did not Withhold any of
his message in order to reduce its length
and he has not laid aside parts of it, re-
ported to have been chopped out, to be
submitted to Congress on some future
occasion. The message was not begun
until after the Presidents visit to Buffa-
10 to vote, and all the writing was done
at night, after the President had les
ceived visitors on business and con-
versed with heads of departments upon
the advance reports which they furn-
ished him of the condition of affairs in
the several branches over which they pre-
side. That part of the message upon
the tariff was read to Mr.. Carlisle sever
al days before 1t was made public, and
the Speaker expressed his satisfaction
with it, Mr.. Waterson was allowed to
hear the passage read on Monday night,
and he also expressed his satisfaction
with it then, although he Is understood
to have modified his approval since.
The gossip about the difference of opin-
ion In the Cabinet about the treatment
of the tariff and other subjects, and the
assertion that the President ovcrruled
the opposition of several of his advisers,
is promised to be utterly groundless.
The President is very much gratified
with the reception of the message by the
press generally. lie looked for criticism
but scarcely expected so much praise as
he has received from many journals
speaking for the party opposed to his
own.
Both the time aud manner of holding
the White House levees are to be
changed, resulting in greater convent
ence to the household, and also to the
public. 1t is definitely settled that on
the occasion of evening receptions, guests
will not go up stairs, as warning came
from the settling of the west stairway
last spring that the weight of the solid
phalauX of humanity along the upper
corridor was dangerous. The stairway
was Strengthened and braced. so that
now no ordinary burden can displace it,.
This was the main objection to continu-
ing the custom of throwing the whole
house open. The other was that the
extreme curiosity of so many of the
\ euaSts y,,oIo 70 na,aeeo,-,- 10 Iitorall,, di.
mantle the rooms up stairs to which ac-
cess was permitted Of all the small things
which could be injured by handling. 1t
actually left no spot private for the fam
| lily. For the future the cloak-room will
be provided on the lower floor, and a
very excellent plan is suggested by a
gentleman in authority, which seems TO
be the best triedyet 1t is to use nearly
all the space between the front door and
the glass partition for cloak boxes for
gentlemen and the small reception room
on the right of the entrance and private
dining room for the ladies. Gentlemen
may pass into the inner corridor and
meet their ladies in the hall at the foot
of the private stairway; the line then to
start for the upper door OF the state din
ing-room near the conseryatories, enter
by that room the red parlor and then
the blue room. The diplomats who al
ways enter by the southern portico
would find ample space on the other side
of the table in the state dining-room for
their wraps, and would as usual cong-e-
gate in the red parlor.
The social features OF the week have
been mainly home reunions, pleasant
little parties for the children, aud quite