The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-10-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

I The Ca0lneC ministers are all OacR aI
their posts, and hard at work on their re.
ports to be submitted to Congress when it
meets again in December. At the Cabi-
net meeting held ON Thursday all the
Ministers we're present except Secretary
Manning. The Secretary is on duty,
but saving himself all that is possible.
Tt is believed that he will remain at the
head of the department, unless he finds
his health being injured by attention to
the duties of bis Office. He returned to
the city at this time to personally super
wise the preparation Of the annual fnan.
icial report OF the department, and will
see that nothing is contained in the re.
ports of any of the chiefs.o his bureaux
that is not strictly in harmony with his
financial views.
Although the Supreme Court of the
United States met on the second Monday
in October, as required by law, still
fewer cases were heard the first week
than for years before in the history of the
court. Immediately upon the opening
of the court, and after large number of
lawyers Of ability from the different
States were admitted to practice, the
Chief Justice announced that in keeping
with the long established custom the
court would adjourn that its members
might paw their respects in body 10 the
President of the United States, and that
the call of the docket would be proceed
ed with the following day. After hearing
argument in one case the court on
"Wednesday adjourned until the follow.
ing Monday ont of respect to the mem-
ory of Chief Justice Chase, whose re-.
mains were to be removed Wednesday
afternoon from Washington to Ohio.
Several of the Justices attended as an
escort to the body. ,,s.!a. ~ ;.
Notwithstanding the widely circulated
stories that none zof our shipbuilders
would bid for the construction of the new.
cruisers, representatives Of all the prin.
cipalI shipbuilders in the country have
been here the past week consulting with
Secretary Whitney, and getting points to
be used in submitting bids for the work.
The: fight for the position of Surgeon
General of the: Army still continues. It
seems that the President had determined
at last to appoint Assistant Surgeon
General Perrin to the Office, but Chief
Medical Pnrveyor Baxter turned up
again with the claim Of seniority, which
has delayed the appointment until the
.justness aud legality Of the claim can be
Inquired into. It is believed, however,
that the question will be disposed of in a
New days, aud thai. Perrin will get the ap-
pnintment. ..s. .zG, a.;1i,s,,l :.
Among the Presidents callers this
waek was the Magician Hermann, who
has been giving exhibitions Of his magic
art, for a week past in Washington. The
magician performed several of his best
tricks during the short interview with the
President, and the latter intimated that
he would be pleased to have. the wizard
give & soiree ! some evening during the
week at the White House. The soirce
was given, and the distinguished company
present was highly entertained and let
into some OF the secrets of the art.
Now that Secretary Lamar has ap;
pointed the board of appeals in pension
cases, composed of ak, members and
provided for by an act of the last Con.
gress, meritorious pensioners will not be
kept long in waiting for action on their
claims. A great many meritorious
claims are refused by the Pension Office,
because of the ignorance Of the princi.
Piles Of law and rules of evidence by the
clerks who pass upon the claims. The
newly appointed board of appeals is
composed of men who are learned in the
Law, and justice will now be done the
pensioner.
The action Of the President in requir-
ing the son of Senator Harris and also
the son of Senator Pugh to resign has
caused much unfayorable comment
among politicians now at the Capital.
The peculiar ideas of the, President, not
only. about retaining Republicans in
Office, but now in DISTINGUISHING compe.
tent men because they are the relatives
of Democrats prominent in national
politics, are not at all relished, and elicit
very severe criticism from most Demo.
Gratis that meet here from the State.
Senators Harris and Pugh have hereto
fore given the President their most cor
dial support in the Senate chamber in
furthering his civil service policy, but
this winter may show marked change
in their views and sense cf duty concern
ing the subject. FL.