Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-05-27
Washington Letter.
From OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
Washington, May a, 1886.

The gossips have had much to say
about the Presidents purchase of a
bridal home near this city. The al
legged purchase was made through an
other man, and the affair is yelled In
secrecy to the extent that no one real
ly knows much about it, The country
seat in question is known as "Pretty
Prospect" and it is reached by one Of
the most pleasant drives in this vicin-
ity, the road from Georgetown to Ten
allytown, through the beautiful scenery
of Rock Creek Valley. 1t is a two
story stone house with an old fashioned
hip roof, commanding an extensive
view of the surrounding country, in
cludir g the Washington Monument, is
The Potomac river almost as far down
as Mount Vernon, and nestled among
old forest trees, in a paradise of subnr-
ban homes.
If the President has bought this
place he will have Secretary Whitney
for near neighbor during portion of
the year. The wealthy Cabinet officer
keeps up about half dozen establish.
ments, and one of his summer homes
is near this spot.
This is the only Capital in the world
! believe, where the chief ruler lives
in the building assigned to executive
business. And, indeed, the White
House is as much public Office now
as the Treasury, or the War, State, and
Navy buildings. There is no privacy
there, such as every man desires for
himself and family out of business
hours. A President once said that no
one, without personal experience, could
have any idea of the distressing effect
Of living, day in and day out with affairs
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
There is a good deal of opposition to
the Senate's plan for extending the
Executive Mansion. Many think that
it should be left just as it is to be used
for an Office, and that the President
should havea separate house. They hold
that ii is no more reasonable to COM
pei the President to live at the White
House than it would be to require the
Secretary Of the Treasury to live in the
Treasury building. They also urge
that the States recognize the necessity
Of a separate residence for the Excu
tive, inasmuch as no Governor of any
State lives IN or near his office.
Congress is discussing subjects that
involve the expenditure Of money,
such as pensions, subsidies, and the
regular appropriation bills which al
ways provoke great deal of debate.
Whether it will legislate radically for
Utah this session, or not, is a question
no one can yet answer. The House
Judiciary Committee has been listen,
ing patiently for weeks, to arguments
for and against the new Edmunds bill
that passed the Senate some months
ago.
The Mormon church has had every
chance to be heard. In its behalf have
appeared Jeff Chandler, Il lawyer from
Missouri; George S. Boutwell,, of Massa-
chusetts, x-secretary of the Treasury,
and ex-senator; A. M. Gibson, one of the
shrewdest Of lobbyists John T. Came
Utah's delegate to Congress, and 9TH
ers. The Gentiles were presented by
Mr.. Bosllln alone, prominent Demo
crat lawyer from Salt Lake City, who
has lived among the Saints for twenty
years. During that time he has spent
$4,000 from his own pocket in at
tempting to bring about such legisla-
ton as would Amercanize the territory
He is here to-day, without compensa-
ton, fighting single handed the battle
tgainst polygamous hierarchy.