New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Oct. 1. 1886.

AS the leaves begin to fall the Capital
City begins to scintillate with returning
society. Washington is the most popu
lar autumn resort in the country. TIC
be sure, at no time in the year is thi:
city entirely out of season. 1t is the
winter Saratoga, while Congress sits.
Throughout the summer months, time
when the habitants of most cities seek
sea or mountain breezes, Washington is
inever empty. At this time of the year
a special class come to this city, taking
advantage Of the summer excursion
rates. But the autumn season is becom-
ing the most fashionable of the year,
and more wealthy people are found here
then than at any other time.
The Presidents vacation seems to
have spoiled him for.swork. There was
good deal awaiting him on his return,
but he seemed little inclined to attend
to it. Every day, accompanied by his
wife and mother.in-law, he drives out
in his stylish Victoria, drawn by a
dashing chestnut team. Usually his
! drives are in the direction of his country
home, which will be finished about
Christmas. 1t is whispered that it is
Mr.. Cleveland's intention to present
this house, when completed, to Mrs.
Folsom, and to build himself another
near Arlington Heights.
Mrs. Cleveland, it is said, has for
room mates canary that was Matched
on the day that President Cleveland was
nominated, and a white mouse. She
amuses herself with these. and with
driving and shopping. An efficient
house keeper makes it unnecessary for
her to be concerned about the cobwebs
| and a-polishing the handle of the big
front door. Her more arduous duties
of shaking hands and smiling for three
consecutive hours, and of reiterating
for the thousandth time agreeable no.
things, have not yet begun. 1t has been
| chronicled that Mrs. Cleveland's first
remark on seeing the White House, on
her return from her vacation, was {:
They have painted it white ! 1t has also
been painted in the interior, as some
unfortunate newspaper reporters dis
covered at the Presidents last recep-
ton. Their elegant cut away coats can
now be had at half price at a second
hand Dealers.
The President intends to hold the re-
gular Cabinet meeting tomorrow, and
expects Secretaries Bayard, Lamar, En-
dicott, Whitney, Postmaster General
Villas. Attorney General Garland. and
acting Secretary Faiychild to be present.
The absence Of some Of these gentlemen
has been so long continued that their
presence will be almost a surprise.
Notable among these delinquents is the
Secretary of War. It's matter Of no.
tority that his absenteeism has actually
thrown the control Of the War Depart
ment into the hands of its employees for
several months past. There has been
no serious hitch in the work, because
the routine business Of the Department
goes on as we'll as ever, under the care
full management Of experienced Repub-
lican clerks, just as it would go on ii
there were no such person as the Hon.
Secretary Of War, at a salary of So, 600
per annum. But there are a number Of
important public matters that the off
Gals of the Department have not autho.
rity to attend to, and in consequence
the public business must suffer.
If some employe Of the War Depart
ment were to absent himself from his
desk for a few days over his regular va
cation, he would be promptly dismissed.
And yet Mr.. Endicott remains absent
for months at time, paying only hur-
ried visits to his office, and spending
the greater part Of the year in New
York or at his home in Massachusetts,
and the President seems to take no no.
tice CT this unprecedented state of af-
fairs. ~
Mr.. Cleveland has certainly not made
a fortunate selection of men to fill pub
lie offices. Mr.. Bayard has been, in Sc
veral instances: strikingly ill-slarred in
his appointments for the diplomatic and
consular services. Mr.. Manning's health
has been found unequal to the duties OF
his office. Mr.. Garland has been i'm
plicated in a notorious scandal. Mr..
Endicott has abandoned his duties to
his subordinates. Commissioner Of Pa.
tents Montgomery spends much OF his
time devising how to escape the per
Torrance Of his work and there are
scores of instances, far toe many to be