Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-21
WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington, June 18th.

ISSUED ~ the president and Mrs
Cleveland for the card reception on
Tuesday evening, and it is expected
to be a very brilliant affair, as it is
the first opportunity for many of
those invited to meet Mrs. Cleveland
and congratulate the president on
the recent felicitous event. Outside
the cabinet ladies Mrs. Cleveland is
almost unknown to Washington So
eiety, and she will make her official
debut at the reception on Tuesday.
The families of justices of the su.
preme court, and OF congressman are
nearly all absent from the city. The
diplomatic corps will also be but
slimly represented, as many of the
foreign ministers and their wives are
in Europe; but in other respects the
reception will he one of the largest
ever known in the White House.
Among other items about the pres
ident's marriage that have excited
considerable comment here, is the
statement that he gave DR.. Sunder-
land crisp new one hundred-dollar
note as a wedding fee, and that he
tossed new fve-dollar bill into the
contribution box when he went to
church at Oakland. Some people
think he must have had his wedding
money made to order like his clothes.
But the fact is, the president always
uses new money. He never gets
any old notes except in change when
making purchases. His salary is
paid him in monthly instalments-
81, 1866 on the last day of each
month, and the treasurer is always
careful to send him notes of the very
latest issue. Mr.. Cleveland, as his
predecessors have done, keeps pri-
vate bank account with Riggs & Co.,
and makes deposit the first of every
month, reserving enough for his cur
rent expenses, and setting good ex-
ample by putting The rest aside for a
rainy day. While Mr.. Cleveland has
lived generously during his stay at
the White House, and has not stiul-
ed himself IN any way, he has no
luxurious tastes, like those of his i'm
mediate predecessor. When he en-
tered the White House he was worth
about 5000, and he has already
increased that amount considerably
by profitable investments and by the
surplus Of his salary. Now that he
has married, his expenses, of course,
will be largely increased, as he will
entertain more. A state dinner sell
dom costs less than $500, not count
ing music and flowers. But Mrs.
Cleveland's grandfather has left her
fortune of 100000, and when the
president retires from public life, as,
it is rumored, he intends to do at the
expiration Of his present presidential
term, he will be able to live in a
princely manner. He is so pleased
with Washington and its environs,
however, that he will not return tc
Buffalo, bnt will occupy permanently
the house 'Pretty Prospect" which
he purchased recently, and which is
now being put in readiness for him
In spite of the usual talk about the
dllatoriousness of congress-, goot
deal of work has been quietly accom-
plished during the session. In thu
house of representatives, 9,125 bill
and 178 joint resolutions have beer
introduced-a larger number of bilI
than has ever been introduced at an,
previous session. Of these the hous
has passed Y public and 3S4 privat
bills, which Is certainly not bat
showing. In the senate there hav
been $3.50 bills and 68 joint resolu
tons introduced, of which 157 pub
lie and 323 private bills have bee
passed. The house has passed 3
public and 81 private bills whic
have passed the senate. Altogethe
in the two houses there have been in
troduced II ,95l bills and resolutions
of which go have been passed b
both bodies of congress.
One of the best bills passed dun
ing the session, and to which not
shadow of objection can be offered
is the erection OF national library
Another bill now pending is of a
most equal Importance. The idea c
constructing grand memorial bridg
across the Potomac connecting OF
servatory Hill and Arlington, is da
ly gaining support. 1t is quite tin
for the great Improvement to
made, and it is thought that befol
the end of the present session an al
preparation can he secured for built
ing fine bridge to connect the eli
of Washington with the other side
the river. There is no really gre
J city in the world lying wholly on OF
side of the river, and WashingtC
: will not be an exception in this +
~ rpect. Should the appropriation f
this splendid enterprise be carri
through congress this session, al
should the item of $500,O00 for co
- tinuing the improvement of the E
:, tomac Flats be passed by both house
:, the present year would be marked
one of the most noted in the anna
49, of the city.
nd The new town of Vancouver,
lat terminus of the Canadian Pac