St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Yesterday was the day or eA-Ilesl-
dents Arthur's funeral, and all OF the
Executive Departments were closed
and the clerks had holiday. The
Uuited States Supreme Court adjourned
from Friday until Tuesday for the same
reason. All of the public buildings in
Washington are draped in black for the
dead ex-President and flags are dis
played at half mast. President Cleve-
land and several members of his cab
met attended the funeral and Congress
was represented by a committee OF
Senators and Representatives.
Since the black draperies have been
hung on the front portico of the White
House, the President and Mrs. 'Cleve
land take their carriage at the south
entrance when they go out for a drive,
and all the projected gayeties at the
Executive Mansion will be postponed
for the thirty days of mourning. Then
the black bunting will be taken down
and folded up and laid away to do ser
. Eice again at the death of the next high
and the gay social season will begin.
The custom of shutting down on pub
lie work, and turning fifteen thousand
employees loose whenever President,
ex-President, Cabinet officer or ex-
Cabinet officer happens to die, is a ques-
tionable way Of showing respect to the
distinguished dead. 1t is picnic for
the clerks and time Of congratnlation
and they would be glad to multiply by
a hundred fold the occasions of public
sorrow that give them day off and out
There is no doubt that the custom
would be more honored in the breach
than in the observance, but it is one of
those things that long line of preced- |
emit has established and it would be |
difficult to decide where or with whose
demise it should end.
President Cleveland has been much
displeased at efforts to get him to inter-
fere in the now widely discussed Wash
ington Police scandal. He does not
feel, in the present condition of affairs,
that he would be warranted in taking
hold of the matter, although the time
may come when he may be called upon
to take some action. The President is
still deeply absorbed with the prepar-
alton of his message, and although he is
subjected to some unavoidable inter-
rnptions, the approaches to him are
closely guarded.
The Presidents appointment of Mr..
Fulton as Paymaster General Of the
Navy was very gratifying to naval
officers, and his appointment of Col.
Moore as Surgeon General Of tile Army
was received with satisfaction among
officers Of the Army.
The regular Army officers who haveI
been examining the militia Of the States
and Territories have reported com
mending the efficiency Of the respective
organizations. They think, however,
that the armed militia of the county
would be doubled if Congress would
appropriate annually a much larger
sum to be distributed among the States
for improved arms and accoutrements
In the latter case it is estimated that
the militia would consist Of 100000 well
drilled men, who could be called into
active service at a moments notice, and
who would be almost as effective at the
outset of war, as the regular Army.
Many conventions and associations
%for, hnE
to Washington during the next year.
The National Grange has decided to
hold all future meetings of that order
in Washington, and a committee has
been appointed to take measures for
The erection of a suitable building here
For its officers and it's sessions.
Soon after Congress meets there will
be large gathering of notabilities here
20 discuss the proposed Exposition at
Washington in 1889 and '9s. And later
here is to be a convention of an educa- +,
ional character which will attract a
rood many people. It will be in the
interest of Federal aid to common
ch0ols and will be composed of school
uperintendents from the various States 4
nd Territories.
Lit has been proposed that each State
f the Uuion shall erect in this city
andsome building to be used as State {
eadquarters, and perhaps as resi-
ence for the Senators of the respective {
tates. The plan, which is likely to be 4
arried out some time, would prove