The Delta independent., 1886-11-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

washington Is increasing daily, ana up
at the Capital there are many indica-
tions that the opening of the session is
the Committee rooms have been open
ed for business already. and here ccr-
tain Senatorial chairmen. among them
Senators Edmonds and Morrill, of Yer
mont. spend some hours daily. Chair
man Randall. that stilunch projections
ist who presides over the House Ap-
preparations Committee, is also busy at
his Committee room desk. lie is de-
termined TO have IA bill ready bv the
time Congress meets, provided lie can
get Il quorum of his men together long
enough for that purpose. Because of
precedence that is allowed all money
bills. lie may drop his bill upon any
measure of revenue reform that may
venture 10 lift its head.
1t is Il wonder that Mr.. Randall, with
his Appropriation exting,risher watch
ing for somebody trying To reduce the
tariff, has not served for Il cartoon. In
II nation of politicians who divide
| themselves under the banners of De-
inocracy and RepublicaDism, Mr.. Ran
dali enjoys the unique distinction of
being ciassed us . Republican 10y many
Democrats. Ind ;is Il Democrat by
most Republicans. He has claimed 10
| exercise in his Committee room more
power than the Chief Magistrate in the
Executive Mansion, and 10 have made
Presidents. even if he has never hini-
self occupied the White House.
NJ Randall's Washington residence
is on Capital fIill, only few squares
from the Capital. This he occupies
during the session of Congress. but
when they close le goes with his large
family to his country home near P,oii.
about seventeen miles from Phiiadel-
phia, where lie leads IL quiet. domestic
life.
The Presiden: is in close retirement
now. lie sees no uniinpurtant callers
and is busy at work on his message 10
Congress. Each Of tile Cabinet officers
has laid before him the advance sheets
of their annual reports. and Col. l.a-
mont has been assisting him in ar
ranging the matter. But now the
President is doing double duty, for
his faithful secretary WIS summoned
on Saturday 10 the bedside of his f'.-
ther. who Was seriously i'll.
The Presidents country home. which
is no longer lied Top" bnt "ptk
View after the owners own chrisien-
ing. is expected 10 be ready for occu-
pancy in about two weeks. The Pres
idemt and Mrs. Cleveland do not intend
| 10 reside there NOW. nor do iney con-
template living there permanently al
ALL For the present Oak View is TO
| be the residence OF Mrs. Cieveland's
mother. and 1t will always be available
| Tor tile President and his wife TO go
| admirable resor, for the President
nuw. willie he wants privacy for the
preparation of his message. lie could
shut himself up there withou, being
intruded upon. rs the place is four
miles from the White House.
The ups and downs of life Iiud many
! Illustrations ia the Government De-
parluient here. In the past few days a
| grandson of President Tyler entered
ou duty rs a watchmau at the Interior
\ Department. He is fur,y-siN years
old. was educated at the Virginia Mill
| iary Institute. aud served in the Com
! feder,te Army AS an officer in Gen.
| .Iacssun's corps. The reyerscs that
come To the fortunes of men are facts
of every day experience. of course. ane'
| IL is not surprising 10 find men who
have held high positions under the
Stat. aud National Government dis
charging in their old age the rulher
| humble duties of watchmcu here. liut
\ it is. rather IA remarkable thing wiien !,
| number of sucl. cases may be selected
| from the personnel OF the watch force
Of one Department, us is the case.
The question Of absorbing interest
just now to the Republican Senators
who are here, is whether Mr.. Van
Wyck is Ia be re-elected. II he is To
hold the balance of power Jointly with
Mr.. Rildieberger, the crrat'c senator
from Virginia. they admit that it will
lie extremely uncomfortable. The Sen.
ate is now compostd of thirty-sev-n
straight out Republicans. and these
twa above mentioned Senators. who
vote with either party MS it suits them.
Consequently tn. issue in Nebraska
will he watched with very great iutrr-
est There are now as many Senators
rs Representativesln N the city. although
there are hut seven,y-six members in u
full upper house. while the lower con-
sists Of three hundred and twenty-five
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