Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-12-10
WASHINGTON LETrER,
WASHINGTON. Noy. %. 1886

dent Arthur's funeral, and all of the
Executive Departments were closed
and the clerks bad holiday. The Uni.
ted 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 deal ex President and flags are
displayed at half mast. President Gle
veland and Congress was represented
by committee of Senators and Repre-
sentatives.
/ S'saes The black drapeiies have been
| hung on the front portico of the White
House, the President and Mrs. Cleye-
land take their carriage at the south
entrance when they go out for drive.
and all the projected gayeties at the
Executive Mansion will be postponed
for the thirty days of mourning. Then
the black bounting will bc taken down
and folded up and laid away to do SER
vice again at the death of the next high
official or ex-official of the Govern
ment, and the gay social season will
begin.
TIE 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
questionable way of showing respecHto
the distinguished dead. 1t is picnic
for the clerks and time for congratu.
lation and they would be glad to multi
ply by a hundred fold the occasions of
public sorrow that give them day off
and ont. There is no doubt that the
custom would be more honored in the
breach than in the observance but il is
one of those things that long line of
precedent has established and it would
be difficult to decide where or with
whose demise it should end
President Cleveland has BEEN much
displcased at efforts to get him to in
terfere IN the new widely discussed
Washington 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 deeply absorbed with che
preparation of his message, and ais
though he is subjected to some un-
avoidable interruptions, 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 the
Army was received with satisfaction
among officers of the army.
The regular Army officers who haye
been examining the militia of the
States and Territories have reported
commenting the efficiency of the re-
spective organizations. They think,
hewever, that the armed militia of the
country would be doubled if Congress
woald appropriate annually much
larger sum to be distributed among the
States for improved arms and ac-
coutremcnts. In the latter case it is
estimated that the militia would con-
sist of 100000 well drilled men, who
could be called into active service at
moments notice, and who would be
almost as effective at the outset of
war, as the regular Army.
Many conventions and associations
more than ever before re-want to
come to Washington during the next
year. The National Grange has de-
cided to hold all future meetings of
that order in Washington, and a com
mittee has been appointed to take
measures for the erection of a suitable
building here for its officers and its ses.
sions.
Soon after Congress meets there will
be large gathering of notabilities
here to discuss the proposed Exposi.
ton at Washington in 1889 and 90.
And later there is to be convention
of an educational character which will
attract good many people. 1t will
be in the interest of Federal aid to
common schools and will be composed
of school superintendent from the va
rious States and Territories.
1t has been proposed that each state
OF the Union shall erect in this city a
handsome building to be used as a
state headquarters, and perhaps as a
residence for the Senators of the rep
resentative states. The plan, which is
likely to be carried ont some time.
would prove a great convenience to
each state, and would add mnch to
the grandeur of the National Capital.