The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-24
Our Washington Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Sept. 81, 1886.


Now that the summer is over, the absen.
tees are returning to Washington. Every
day one meets more familiar faces on the
streets. No one knows the exact date when
the President will return, but the principal
Government officials expect him back some
day this week. 1t is over month since he
left, but no application for an extension of
vacation has yet been received at the State
Department. This Administration has
created many reforms in regard to leave
taking, and under these new rules Mr..
Cleveland's extension of leave over month
will probably be withou: pay. (?)
Mr. Bayard is the only Cabinet officer
who has not yet taken any vacation. The
Vice President being dead, he is, under the
late Presidential Succession bill, the i'm
mediate representative of the President dur
ing the latter's absence. There has also
been an unusual pressure Of business at the
State Department. This summer has been
a great str ain on him, but he has managed
10 keep his health. He takes daily rides
on horseback. He is looking paler and
thinner than he did before the warm wealth.
er began, but will take a vacation after the
President returns.
Secretary Lamar has been away from
Washington for over two weeks now, and
as he makes it a rule never to be long alb
sent from his Office, he is also expected to
return during the week.
OF all the members of the Cabinet, with
the exception of Secretary Bryard
Secretary Whitney has taken the
least vacation during the summer.
He left the city about the middle of August,
but he has been inspecting navy yards and
naval stations along the Eastern coast, and
is in constant daily communication with
his Department. His correspondence on
some days is quite voluminious. He says
that August and September are the worst
months 10 spend in Washington, and so he
is not expected for about ten days yet.
Attorney General Garland differs widely
from the Secretary of the Navy in his way
of taking vacation. He is in Arkansas, en-
joying his favorite amusement, shooting.
He has only written to his Department
once since he left.
So much has been said about Secretary
Mannings health, and the probabilities of
an early or late resumption by him Of the
difficult duties of his Office, that those not
behind the scenes can scarcely venture an
opinion. 1t is now six mont his since he has
been at his desk; the first few weeks were
spent at his residence here, under constant
medical attendance. Since then he has
been at Warm Springs, Va, at the seaside,
and lately he has been at his home in AL.
bany and moving about from place to place
in New York State. He has undoubtedly
improved very much, and it is probable
that he will ultimately recover his hea lth.
But it is feared that if he attempts to re-
sumo his onerous duties at his desk in the
Treasury. he will break down, and his fam
lily do not wish him to take any risks
The question then naturally arises, "Who
will take the portfolio that Mr.. Manning
resigns?' The general opinion is that the
next Sec: etary of the financial bureau vii |
be Mr.. Fairchild who has leen Acting Sec
retary of that department during Mr.. Man
ning's illness. He is one of the most indie.
fatigahle workers under the present admin
istration. He has not taken any vacation
this year, and does not expect to do So Ev-
cry morning at half past nine o'clock he is
promptly at his desk, where he remains,
conducting the business of the great institu
tion over which he presides, until about five
O'Clock in the evening He says his duties
do not seem arduous to him, and the only
recreation he needs is his morning and ev-
ening equestrian exercises. Since coming
to Washington Mr.. Fairchild has enjoyed
the best of health and proudly declares
that he has not hs d a touch of the much
talked-of malaria. He has mastered every
detail of the Treasury Department, and car
ries the portfoliy of the Secretary of the
Treasury to every Cabinet meeting which
the latter has not been abe to attend.