Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-09
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
The New Presidential House.
 hold.
Opinions of MT. McPherson and Repre- sentative BreckenridGe-Perce of Army Assertions Cabinet Meeting. A1askans Complain of Otter Hunters.

Alaskans Complain of Otter Hunters.
 WASHINGTON, Nov 9-Mrs. Harrison has many friends in Washington who will gladly welcome her as the mistress of the White House. One of her enthusiastic admirers said: "You may be sure that she will have a reign of straightforwardness in all matters, social and domestic at the White House."
 The immediate family of the president elect will comprise a group of charming women. Mrs. Harrison herself has held the esteem of her Washington friends after absence from them of years; Mrs. Mckee, who was pretty Mamie Harrison when here, is a universal favorite; Mrs. Scott Lord, who lives here, is an older sister of Mrs. Harrison and is an affable and attractive woman, and her two daughters are charming and beautiful young woman. Mrs Parker, the wife of Lieut.. John F. Parker ot the navy, is blonde of good figure and fascin- ating manner. Mrs. Dimmick, the other daughter of Mrs Lord, is a young widow, the opposite of her sister, being lovely bru- nette. Mrs. liar rison, ill describing to friend by letter the condition of her house, which has been thrown open to the excur- sionists and visitors all summer, said that if they should not be sent to the White House their only alternative would be the poor house, as their own home is not fit to live in until it IS thoroughly renovated and fur nished.
 CONGRATULATIONS BY PROXY.
 There is a venerable gentleman now re- siding in this city who has been con graduated over the election nearly much as the successful candidate himself This is the Rev. Dr. William H. Scott, MT. Harri- sons father in-law. Dr. Scott is clerk in the pension office From the door of the room where he sits he can look out over the vast court, with its columns and arcades, that was used for President Cleveland's in augural ball, and may be used for President Harrison's if the city postoffice does not take possession of 1t soon pr. Scott is over 30 | years old, but wonderfully well preserved He is tall and stoops little. His face has Q l good color, and the lower part of it is covered with a snowy beard. When asked if he knew anything about Gen. Harrison's movements he said: II know nothing now It Is hardly l likely they will come here before inaugura~ | tion; though he may come, for there are mat | ters here that he may want to look after" | ESTIMATES ON THE NEXT CONGRESS. | Mr. Edward McPherson said: All of the information obtainable justifles me in ex- pressing the opinion that the next house will consist of 173 Republicans and 152 Democrats. ! There is a possibility that the Republican majority may be reduced ny later advices to nineteen or twenty, but have made liberal | cratic gains"
 | Representative Breckenridge, of Kentucky, a Democratic member of the ways and means 1 committee, expresses the opinion that the Re publican majority in the next house will be very slender, and is confident that it cannot exceed ten ill any event. According to his calculation the Republicans must show gain of nineteen to secure ma jority, and he does not believe that they have much exceeded that figure
 | COMPLAINT OF ALASKANS.
 The treasury department has been informed by the collector of customs at Sitka, Alaska, that the natives engaged in taking sea otters in Cooks Inlet and Shelnoffs Straits com plain that white hunters cruise along the shore there, using firearms and soaring the ottsrs to sea beyond the reach of the natives, who use bows and arrows only, and thus de- prive them of their only means of support. As the killing of sea otters by other than natives is expressly prohibited by law and regulations the collector has been instructed by the secretary of the treasury to bring the matter to the attention of the governor of Alaska with a view to prosecuting marauders.
 PERCENTAGE OF ARMY DESERTIoNS.
 Adit Gen. Drum, in his annual report, speaking of the military prison at Leaven. worth, Kan, says the number of prisoners remaining in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, June 30 1887, was 496 During the year following that date the gain and loss were represented by 349 and 357 respectively, leaving 4SS in the prison June 30, 1888.
 Prison statistics for the past few years in, dicate that, with the army at its present standard, the prison will receive from $50 tc 400 prisoners annually, unless some means oi checking the crime of assertion shall be dis | covered.
 l GEN. PLEASANTON RETIRED.
 The secretary of war issued the official order placing Gen. Alfred Pleasanton on the retired list of the army, his retirement tc date from Oct. g past.
 CABINET MEETING.
 The president was at the White House al day yesterday. Shortly after Il o'clock the members of the cabinet arrived, all but Sec retary Villas and Postmaster General Dickn son being present at the meeting. It lasted nearly two hours.
 Weather Indications.
 Threatening weather and rain; slightly