The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-05-28
Our WASHINGTON Letter

Washington, May q, 1856.

The gossips have had much to say about
the Presidents purchase of bridal home
near this city. The alleged purchase was
made through another man. ard the affair
is veiled in secrecy to the extent that no
one really knows much about it. The
country seat in question is known as ''Pret-
ty Prospect" and it is reached by one of
the most pleasant drives in this vicinity
the road from Georgetown to Tenleytown,
through the beautiful scenery of Rock Creek
valley. 1t is a two story stone house with
an old fashioned hip roof, commanding an
extensive view of the su urrounding country,
including the Washington Monument the
Potomac river almost as far down as Mount
Vernon, and nestled among old forest trees,
in paradise OF suburban homes.
If the President has bought this place he
will have Secretary Whitney for near
neighbor during a portion of the year The
wealthy Cabinet officer keeps up about half
doze n establishments, and one Of his sum-
mer homes is near this spot.
This is the only Capital in the world, l
believe, where the chief ruler lives in the
building assigned to executive business.
And, indeed, the White House is as much
public office now as the Treasury, or the
War, State, and Navy builings. There is
no privacy there, such as every man desires
for himself and family out of business hours
President Arthur once said that no one.
without personal experience, could have any
idea of the distressing effect of living, day
in and out, in the same house where YOU
have been busy all day with affairs of rout-
inc business.
There is good deal of opposition to the
Senate's plan for extending the Executive
Mansion. Many think that it should be
left Just as it is to be used for an office, and
that the President should have a separate
house. They hold that it is no more reas-
enable TO compel the President to live at
the White House than it would be to re-
quire the Secretary of the Treasury to live
in the Treasury building They also urge
that the States recognize the necessity of a
separate residence for the Executive. mas
much as no Governor of any state lives in
or near his office.
Congress is discussing subjects that in.
volve the expenditure of money, such as
pensions, aubsidies, and the regular appro-
p:iation bill which always provoke great
day of debate. Whether it will legislate
radically for Utah this session, or not, is a
question no one can yet answer. The House
Judiciary Committee has been listening
patiently for weeks, to arguments for and
against the new Edmunds bill that passed
the Senate some monts ago.
The Mormon church has had every chance
to he heard in its behalf have appeared
Jeff Chandler, lawyer from Misouria
George S. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, ex-
Secretary of the Treasury, and ex-senator;
A. NJ. Gibson, one of the shrewdest of lobby
yist; John T. Coine, Utah's delegate to
Congress. and others. The Gentiles were
represented by Mr.. Boskin alone, promi-
nent Democratic lawyer from Salt Lake
City, who has lived among the Saints for
twenty years. During that time he has
spent SIS 900 from his own pocket in at
tempting to bring about such legislation as
would Americanlze The Territory. He is
h ere to-day, without compensation, fighting
single-handed the battle against polygamous
hierarchy.
1t is felt now he should have had support;
that had some clever apostate Young men
been sent to Washington several months
ago; they could have done much to circum.
vent the powerful Mormon lobby that is
ceaselessly at work mere The Gentiles of
Utah forget that men indifferently in the
right are no match for men aggressively in
the wrong. 1t is the business OF the Nor
mon lobby to discover every mans rec and
to pay it if necessary. Mormon women
have been here besieging Senators and
Congressman in behalf of their "persecuted
people," and journalists have been offered
thousands Of dollars to keep quiet on the
burning question.