Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-22
From Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. 90, 1886.
Correspondence of the SPECTATOR

Mr.. Editor The weather during the
week has been cool and its monotony some
what varied by occasional showers. Wash
ington is always dull in the summer, but
seldom as quiet as at the present time.-
| The President and all but one of the Cabi-
net officers are absent upon their vacations,
and there is absolutely nothing going on in
either official or social circles. Secretary
Bayard is the only member Of the Cabinet
who has remained at his post throughout
the season, and he finds himself sadly in
need of rest and recreation, and will leave
for few days soon after the return of the
President.
Notwithstanding the reports that have
been published concerning the alleged con-
duct of Mr. Sedgwick in Mexico, Mr.. Bay
ard says that he does not believe that they
contain a word of truth. AS to the resolu-
tions adopted by the Americans in the city
of Mexico, so far as they relate to Mr..
Sedgwick, he has not the slightest respect
for them, as he believes that the story was
started to injure Mr.. Sedgwick's represen-
tations to the Department. in regard to .: e:
Cutting case. His personal character has
been assailed, he says, and when he at
tempts to vindicate the conduct of the State
Department in the Cutting case he expects
that the story will be revived in order to
break the force of his report or injure his
credibility.
| The new ten-dOllar silver certificates have
made their appearance. The clerks in the
several Departments receiving them for the
| first time on the 18th inst, in payment of
| their salaries. The design is a very hand
| some one and has vignette of the late
| Vice-President Hendricks. The Bureau of
| Engraving and Printing is now engaged in
printing the one dollar silver certificate,
and supply was turned over to the Treas
ury on Saturday. The present capacity of
the Bureau is about 5000 notes day, but
after some changes now in progress are
completed the daily output will be increas-
ed to 10000 1t will probably be several
| weeks before certificates of the denomina-
tions of two and five dollars are ready for
circulation, as the designs for these notes
have not yet been fully decided upon.
The series of oleomargarine stamps has
been issued and is being supplied to col
| lectore of internal revenue as rapidly as
they can be printed. The designs of these
stamps are spoken of as characterized by
neatness of execution which meets with
| general approval from official quarters.
| The personal friends of Secretary Man.
ming assert positively that he has finally
decided to retire from the Cabinet The
| President is adverse to losing Mr.. Manning
from his official family, but realizing the
true condition of his health he cannot con-
scentiously insist upon his remaining. 1t
is of course impossible to predict at this
| time as to who his successor will be, but it
is thought that the President has decided
| the question iI his own mind and that the
appointment will be made soon after the
LIST of October.
| The War Department is still uncertain
how to deal with Geronimo, the Apache
Chief and his followers. Although Gen.
Miles was not authorized by the Depart
ment to accept conditional surrender, it
is thought by the officials that the surren-
der was accompanied by condition that
the Indians should be spared their lives
1t has been decided that in any event they
cannot be tried by court-martial. The Of
fences were against the civil laws, and the
civil courts should have jurisdiction over
each of the cases.
The work of repairing the White House
has been practically completed, and the
building will be thrown open for the inspec-
ton of visitors today. The spotless white
ness of the exterior walls is likely to be
marred by the swarms of caterpillars which
seem to be attracted by the white lead, and
cover the walls so thick in places that none
of the white can be seen. II.