Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-11-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. is, 1886

Although the approaching session
OF Congress will be short, there are
indications that it will be an active
and busy one. Many Senators and
Representatives have arrived
during the week, and some OF
them have gone to work in their
committee rooms, while others are
getting ready for business. Indeed
there is sufficient number OF
Senators here for a session of the
Upper House, and it is the intention
Of several Chairmen Of Senate
committees to call special meetings
before congress opens.
Senators Sherman, Morrill,,
Edmunds, and others may be seen
at the Capital every day now, busy
at work, if one will take the trouble
to walk around and glance into
their committee rooms. Many of
the Capitol employees, too, have re-
turned from their vacations, and are
gradually assuming their accustom-
ed duties. Both wings of the
Capitol are rapidly progressing in
the work of renovation, and the
carpets, seats and desks are being
laid and placed in position in the
Senate Chamber aud Hall of the
House.
The President is behind barred
doors preparing his annual mes.
sage. In order to find time for this
duty, he was compelled to slam the
door in the face of visitors and
Office seekers, but now he is in even
more serious trouble, for his right
hand man has been called away to
the bedside of his aged father, and it
is possible that the Colonel may be
detained some time. In that event
the President might be compelled,
through lack of time and assistance,
to cut his message short, for which
Congress would be grateful. 1t
would also stand a chance, unlike
his ponderous document, last
December, of being read through by
some people.
Mr.. Cleveland has not been in a
good humor for the past few days.
Some prominent politicians from
New York have been to see him, and
he heard some very plain talk about
his Civil Service policy. When he
last appeared in the East Room to
shake hands with his callers, on his
face plainly indicated an annoyed
state of mind. He couldn't smile,
and was not cordial, and the people
went away with a feeling that the
ceremony was decidedly farcical.
Althoug the President has order
ed that his country home be called
coax View" instead of {. Red Top y
it is not certain that he has more
Influence as a chIistener than a
knight Of the quill. "Red Topn,
because the roof of the house was
painted red, was the name started
by one of those disrespectful news
paper men whom Mr.. Cleveland
would like to obl,terate, for
+" desecrating his domestic privacy
OF course no Administration people
will hereafter speak of this country
place as Red Top", but the name
is very popular, and if the President
does not stop disgruntling the boys
in newspaper row, it will be cred
Top" TO the end of the chapter.
The apathy over the result Of the
elections is such as has scarcely
been witnessed here since the war
ended. Democrats are Disguised
with the Administration, and al
though hundreds of Virginians and
Marylanders residing her are legal
voters in those States, very few
went home to vote, although free
passes were provided for those who
would accept them. When a
Virginia Democrat, speaking of the
Republican victory in his State,
says ~ am glad of it," he must be
deeply demoralized. And yet many
OF them say it. AS to the Republi-
can officials and government employees
here, they are very much pleased
with the result, but do not dare to
enthuse over it to any naked ex-
tent, for fear of being dismissed for
pernlcious activity, or offensive
partisanshlp.