Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 6, 1886.

both ends of the Capitol. They
called to order more than a quorum
of Representatives in the House,
and nearly the full number of Sena-
tors. AS usual, there were crowds
of people at the Capitol long befare
the appointed honr, and every inch
of standing room in the visitors
galleries was taken an hour before
the opening.
The Capitol was in complete read
mess for Congress, aud all of the of
ficials were at their posts. The
Senate Chamber looked very sombre
draped with the Arthur mourning,
but otherwise the Senate wing III
side and out looked bright and fresh.
The Presidents and Vice-President's
rooms, the reception and marble
rooms, have all had renovation
during the recess, and look better
than ever before.
Two new Senators were sworn in,
ex-Gov. Cheney, Of New Hampshire,
and Mr.. Williams, of California, and
in the House, three new members
took the oath of Office, namely: Mr..
Bacon in place of Mr.. Beach and
Mr.. Rusk in place of Mr.. Cole. AS
to what legislative business either
the Senate, or House will first give
its attention, it is impossible to
indicate. The Senate is body
which follows the judgment of the
hour IN such matters despite
special orders for fixed dates, and as
for the House, it's vagards are
proverbial.
There is a vast amount of work
that ought to be performed this
session, but most of it must inevi-
tably fail to receive consideration
Waste of time during the long ses-
sion is the chief cause of this
discreditable situation. Still this is
not the first Congress that has
wasted time aud neglected duties,
nor is it likely to be the last that
will call for such censure.
Affairs at the White House have
been quiet during the week with
Mrs. Cleveland in New York city
buying Christmas presents, and the
President confined indoors with
rheumatism. The Hungarian ar
fist Mr.. Mumkacsy was the lion of
the week in the social world, and
Consul Stewart of Antwerp, one of
the oldest and most popular consuls
in service was treated with marked
kindness at the Executive Mansion
during his sojourn in the city. He
dlned several times with the Presi-
dent, was his guest at the theatre,
and at soak View" and finally
accompanied Mrs. Cleveland to New
York.
The Presidents rheumatic pangs
did not prevent his making some
important changes id the Treasury
Department during the week,
amounting to almost clean sweep
OF the Republican officials. Speaker
Carlisle assisted the President upon
that part CT his message relating to
the Tariff reduction, and while so
engaged the White House was
beseiged by mem bers of Congress
who we're anxious to get to the
President in order to influence him
in the preparation of the document.
Some Democratic anti-Civil
Servic reformers are much disguised
that Secretary Lamar should have
a Republican for his private secre-
tary. They complain that he thus
gives comfort to the opponents of
the Administration by confirming
he campaign declaration that the
Democrats are incapable of control.
ing this country. So delicate and
confidential are the relations be-
tween a private secretary and his
chief that the choice would seem to
be Mr.. Lamar's affair exclusively,
but it proves a source of great
humiliation to the party which voted
for a change Of Administration
Doubtless if the whole truth were
known, it would be that the Secre.
tary carefully, looked over the whole
field and failed to find Democrat
fitted to the position.
There is no doubt that there
would be great decrease in the
fashion OF Senators and Represen.
tatives living in hotels and board
ing houses here while they leave
their families at home, were it not
that political capital is, likely to be
made out of their purchase of prop.
erty in Washington. Many of them
find it more economical to buy than
to rent house for the term of resi-
dence here, but no sooner does Sen.
ator or Member purchase a house,
than political opponents circulate
among his constituents the unpopu-
lar report that he is living at the
Capital, in princely style. 1t was a
good reply that Congressman
Butterworth made during the recent
campaign to an attack upon his
modest Washington home. Sub
stantially he said, off more mem
bers of Congress lived under the
restraining influences of family life
IN Washington, it would be better
for them, for their families, and for
legislation
DON'T EXPERIMENT.