The National tribune., 1886-04-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOiRgs at the Ma
tiOHal Capital
ILLNESS OF SECRETARY MANNING.

TO the Treasury from OaDiEcJ meeting. CtCie-
tary Manning was Frustrated by stroke OF an
apoplcctic nature. He was removed to his
residence and has since that time been con-
fined to his bed. under the aSsiduOuS care OF
several physicians. For nearly week there
was scarcely perceptible change IN his condl-
ton, which excited grave apprehenSloBS as 10
the result 4 second attack was apprekended,
which, il was feared, might prove fatal. Dur
ing the past two or three days he has improved
somewhat and his friends are more hopeful.
The Secretary's illness, so serious in Its IA
ture as TO render quite possible the necessity
OF his retirement from the Cabinet, has occa-
stoned a very widespread and sincere feeling Of
regret. The Secretary course during the past
year as the head of the most important Depart
nent OF the Government, has fairly won for
him the respect Of all classes. irrespective OF
politics. He has shown himself TO be possessed
of executive ability of high order, and his
financial policy has been approved by rs large
a portion Of the business meu of the country
as could be expected among so many men OF
many minds" He has been conscientious and
consistent in his management of the interests
c0nfided to him. He is Democrat, and one OF
the chief advisers of a Democratic President,
and if his partisan zeal has sometimes asserted
itself in the matter of appointments, ruflilng
the fur of Republicans and MugwumpS. let
that politician who is sure that he would be
proof against such temptations cast the first
stone at him. But ali unite in the earnest de-
sire that he may speedily and fully recover.
1t IS greatly TO be feared, however, that this
feeling is one of hope rather than OF expeota-
tion. lis nalady is of the brain, and of the
kind that is slow to yield to medical treatment.
Time and nature alone can 90 the work. Par
tial recovery in similar cases have been fre-
Quent, but entire restoration to health rare
after such attacks. Salmon 2. Chase was pros
trated in much the same way. lie SO lar re-
poynrad ~ Ia Sit uDnn the SuOrpmp bench wears
afterward, but the disease finally caused his
death. Mr.. Manning physicians advise against
q resumption of his duties as Secretary OF the
Treasury, and the opinion very generally pre-
walls that he will deem it the part Of prudence
and wisdom to resign his position. In social
circles both the Secretary and his accomplished
wife are very popular and they will be missed
when they leave Westinghouse they VIII, at
least for time, as soon as the Secretary can be
moved with safety.
SEATS FOR STATESMEN.
The desk in the Senate occupied by the late
Senator Miller has been moved over to the
Democratic side OF the chamber for his sue
cessor, who is of that political faith. Sena-
tor Dolph, of Oregon, has moved into Millers
old place, and Senator Teller, Of Colorado, &C.
cupies Dolplls former seat. Whenever a Sena-
tor moves he takes his desk with him. He
becomes attached to it, and considers it his in
diyidual property Speaking of the Senate
desks it may not be generally known that the
original ones made for and occupied by the
Members of the first Senate that ever assembled
in the Capitol, arc still in use in the Chamber
They are made OF solid mahogany. To all ap
pearances they are good for a hundred years yet
At least they show as yet very little effect of the
ravage Of time, and it seems likely that when
they do 90 the way of earthly Things they will
go all at once, as did
1.-THE wonderful one-hoss shay,
That ran a hundred years, to a day"
As the number Of Senators has been increased
from time to time by the admission OF new
States, additional desks have been made of the
same material, and with rigid adherence to
the old form and style. For this reason the
Senate desks have a very old fashioned look
There is a great deal of old-fogyism about the
Senate. 1t is welded to the customs and forms
Of half a century ago, and all modern innoVa
tons are looked upon with disfaYor. In the
House the desks have been changed several
times, and furniture of modern style is in use.
Any Senator who should have the temerity to
propose such thing would be Immediately
impeached. The same rule would be applied to
the chairs were this possible, but for obvious
reasons this cannot be doHe,-chairS will wear
out. If al the Senators were, physically, like
Evarts and Malone the chairs might indeii-
nitely prolong their period of usefulness, but
they cannot long endure the pressure Of such
ponderous men as David Davis, Of Illinois; Lap
ham, of New York; Sawyer, of Wisconsin, and
many Others OF large corporal development.
Several generations Of chairs have been laid
aside, in all stages of decrepitude. These Grip
pied chairs, which have held the great States
men OF the country, all have historic interest
and are carefully kept by Capt. Bassett, the
Senate iactotum, locked in room in the loft
OF the Capitol. Senators are as fond as other
people Of personal ease and comfort. 1t is
probable that the Improvements enabling the
sitter TO reVolvc or tip back at WILL have had
something TO do with the revised edition of
chairs now used. But the desks are there and
not likely TO be changed. Those Senators
count themselves fortunate who occupy the
original ones, that date back nearly a hundred
years. Such take great pride in the pedigree Of
their desks. They have carefully traced their
history, and know who have successfully oc-
cupied them from the beginning. Bassett
knows all about them, but will not give word
OF information TO curious persons who often ask
him which belonged to Clay or Webster or
Sumner. He justifes this refusal by saying that
if they were known to the public they would be
hacked to pieces and carried off by the vandals
who are always hunting for relics Bassett
would defend them against the spoilers with
his life.
Bassett was appointed page in the Senate
50odd years ago, securing the place through
Daniel Webster. In his mind Webster ranks
next to the Deity. Bassett has served contin-
uously IN the Senate ever since. He is one of
the kind of which few die and none resign.
His beard is long and white, aud so is his hair
The latter is always combed with exactly the
same mathematical precision, ending in great
roll that hides his cars. His principal function
is to sit hour after hour in a big chair, OF a
platform foot and half above the floor, at
the left Of the presiding officer. Whenever a
messenger from the President or from the
House Of Representatives appears Bassett goes
TO the door TO receive him; announces, with a
low bow, the character of the embassy; receives
the message and delivers it to the Secretary of
the Senate, and then goes back to his seat.
On state occasions he is master Of ceremonies,
and proclaims, i'll a manner that fills the be-
holder with the profoundest awe, the arrival OF
the President of the United States, the Justices
of the Supreme Court, and other distinguished
personageS. Bassctt never smiles, and looks
like bishop. His practiced eye always detects
anything that is cut of joint. His ear catches
the slightest squeak in the machinery OF that
body. He pulls the ears Of the pages if they
are iuattentiye 10 duty or indulge III unsecmly
levity. Bassett does everything automatically
lie IS as nearly a machine rs il is possible
for human being 10 be. He does things Just
as they were done 40 years ago, and will con-
tinue TO do so rs long as he stays there which
will probably be while he lives. He thinks
the Senate could not possibly exist without him
and the Senate seems to have very much the
same opinion, rs the mutations of politics have
never affected the tenure Of his position. He
got his military title Of " Captain " by serving
q couple Of days as Captain of a company Of
Government employees who were put into the