Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trrom our Regular corrcspondent)


WASHINGTON, DC. 9, 1886.
To-day at precisely twelve o'clock the
gaveIs fell simultaneously at both ends
of the capitol They called to order
more than quorum of Representative
in the House, and nearly the full num-
Der OF Senators AS usual there were
crowds of people at the Capitol long be.
fore the appointed hour, and every inch
OF standing room in the visitors gallery
was taken an hour before the opening.
The Capitol wns in complete readiness
for Congress, and all of tho officials
were at their posts. The Senate Cham.
Der looked very sombre draped with the
Arthur mourning, but otherwise the
Senate wing inside and out looked
bright and fresh, The Presidents and
Vicc-Presidents rooms, the reception
ana marble rooms, have all had a reno
walton during the recess, and look bet
ter 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.. Cox in place
of Mr.. Pulitzer, Mr.. BAG on in place of
Mr.. Beach, and Mr.. Rusk in place of Mr..
Cole, As to what legislative business
either the Senate or the House will irst
give its attention to, it is impossible to
indicate. The Senate is body which
follows the Judgement of the hour in
such matters despite special orders for
fixed dates, and as for the House it's va
gories are proverbial.
There is vast amount OF work that
ought to be performed this session but
must inevitably fail to receive consider
alton. Waste of time during the long
session is the chief cause of this discred-
table situation. Still this is not the
first Congress that has wasted time and
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. Cleve-
land in New York city buying Christ
mas presents, and the President confin-
ed indoors with rheumatism, The Hun
garian artist 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 kind
ness at the Executive Mansion during
his sojourn in the city He dined seve-
raj times with the President, was his
guest at the theatre, and at coax View
and finally accompanied Mrs. Cleveland
to New York.
The Presidents rheumatic pangs did
not prevent his making some important
changes in the Treasury Department,
during the week amounting to almost a
clean sweep of the Republican officials,
Speaker Carlisle assisted the President
upon that part of the message relating
to tie Thrift reduction, and while SO en-.
gagged tue White House was besieged by
members of Congress who were anxious
to get to the President in order to inllu-
ence him in the preparation of the doc.
ument.
Some Democratic and Auti.Civil Ser.
vice reformers are much disguised that
Secretary Lamar should have a Republi-
can for his private secretary. They
complain that he thus gives comfort to
the opponents of the Administration by
confirming the campaign declaration
that the Democrats are incapable of
controlling this country. So delicate
and confidential are the relations
between a private secretary and his
chief that the choice would seem to be
DIr. Lamar's affair exclusively, but it
proves source OF great humiliation to
the party which voted for change of
Administration. Doubtless if the whole
truth were known it would be that the
Secretary carefully looked over the field
and failed to find Democrat fitted for
the position.
There is no doubt but that there
would be great decrease in the fashion
of Senators and Representatives living
in hotels and boarding houses here while
they leave their families at home, were
it not that political capital is likely to be
made out Of theirpurchase of property in
Washington. Many of them find it more
economical to buy than to rent house
for the term of residence here, but no
sooner does Senator or member pur-
chase house than political opponents
circulate among his constituents the I'M
popular 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
house. Substantially he said, "If more
members of Congress lived under the
restraining influences of family life in
Washington, it would be better for
their families and for legislation"