St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-20
SOCIAL SPOILS.
Cabinet Ladies Claim An Honor By
Right of PRECEDENCE,
But the Advantage of Numbers Lies
With Senate Laoies.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The ladies of
the cabinet and the ladies of the senate are
living together in peace and amity at the
capital. To say that there is the slightest
ripple of feeling manifest upon the calm
surface of official society caused by the ques-
ton OF the ranking of the two official
bodies, raised by the passage of the Hoar
| Dill. would be to miSrepreSent the situation.
| There is much difference of opinion in the
matter. but that is to be expected. 1t is
certain that the ladies of the senate wish
for themselves the immunity from return
ing calls that he cabinet ladies enjoy. It
is now remembered that Mrs. Blaine
NEVER MADE VISITS OF CEREMONY
to any one when Mr.. Blaine was in the
senate. She sent cards upon all occasions.
1t is told OF Mrs. Carlisle. the wife of tbs
speaker of the house, who remarked when
the cabinet ladies decided last year to re-
turn calls by cards, that they were making
a great mistake. Mrs. Carlisle now SAYS
they should not be expected to send cards.
In any case it is a meaningless fOrmality.
1t is related that when Mrs. John f. Stock
toms husband was here as senator from New
Jersey that she always regarded the cabinet
with contempt, did not call upon the ladies,
the hour" The ladies of the present eabi-
net are not disposed to take steps in the
matter They think the question should
be settled according to the apparent legal
rights in the matter. not by feeling or tradi-
ton, but right. 1t is interesting to know
that the bill changes the order of preced-
ence in the cabinet. The new order ranks
the officials as follows Secretary of state,
secretary of the treasury. the attorney
general, the secretary of war, the post
master general, the secretary of the navy
and the secretary of the interior.
THE SENATE LADIES
who have been seen expressed an opinion
most frankly. Mrs. Teller. of Colorado
comedies that the first call to the cabinet
should be made by the senate. Mr.. Teller
was secretary of the interior under the late
Gen. Arthur and Mrs. Teller knows
whereof she speaks. The cabinet ladies
received a hundredfold more calls i'll a
week than the senate ladies do, and in that
day the cabinet ladies had to make
some fifty-two-there were that many
senate families in the cty-be-
fore returning one of their own calls. and
found it most iaborOus. Mrs. Sherman,
of Ohio, has also been on the cabinet side
of the question, and thinks it more prac-
ticable that the senate ladies should make
the first call. Mrs. Sherman has been in
Washington thirty two years. Mrs. Morrill,,
of Vermont, who is second in point of time
only to Mrs Sherman, cannot see that
the new bill changes the ranking IN
any particular The senate has the power
of confirming. and. therefore. takes prec-
edence Of those they make or unmake, as
it were. Mrs. Don Cameron said immedi-
ately that it was quite right that the cabi-
net should take precedence. They do SO
actually, and should in theory OF etiquette
as well. Mrs. Voorhees,. of Indiana and
Miss Voorhees, said the idea of giving the
cabinet precedence over the senate is
ABSURD AND SILLY.
They thought that if the president wished
to so honor the members of his official
household he should make a special proc
lamaton to that effect. The matter lies in
his hands entirely. Mrs. Sherman felt
that the secretary of state should write a
decision on the case, and is willing
to abide by that. Mrs. Cockrell,
of Missouri, said it had occurred
to her that the bill might make a
change in the sociac ode. Il am stickler
for all that pertains to the dignity of the
senate, and would be the last to make an
unwarrantable concession; but as we are
neither senator nor member of the cabinet
for life, presume we might waive mere
personal considerations and decide this
MOST MOMENTOUs QUESTION.
If the senate, however. should make the
concession. why should not the supreme
court, for the same reason, do as we do?
They are not nearer the throne than We"
Mrs. Cockrell hopes the stability of the
government will not be shaken by the dis
cussion of the question. Mrs. Endi-
oott wife Of the war minister and Mrs
Villas have already made some Of
the senate calls. Mrs. Mcpherson. of New
jersey, and Mrs Eustis, of Louisiana, have
signified their Willingness to conform to the
new law by making first calls upon the
cabinet ladies' The end is not yet, but it
is clear that the women must decide it.
One strong aggressive woman on either
side could carry the day for her followers.
1t was Miss Kate Chase who changed the
Judiciary from third to second place in
official rank.