The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-16
MINOR MATTERS.

The House Territories Committee Votes
Against Division CT Dakota.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-The House committee
Territories considered to-day questions re-
lating to the admission States Of Dakota.
Montana, Washineton and New Mexico. It WAS
decided to formulate an omnibus enabling act
for the four Territories and the preparation of
the bill was referred TO Subcommittee consist
ing Of Messrs. Springer. Mansur. Hayes. Stru-.
BILE and Symes. During the session votes wers
taken upon ordering favorable reports upon MIR.
Gifford's bill for the admission of South
Dakota and Mr.. Bakers bill looking to the
recognition of North Dakota \ State The
result in each case unfavorable to the bill.
A reporter asked Delegate Clifford. of Dakota,
this afternoon what he thought of the action of
the committee. and he replied: $50 far as my
Territory is concerned. 1t will be highly unsats-
factory TO our people. do not care anything
about how many Democratic Territories are
brought into statehood; am not concerned
Dakota firstly. and statehood secondly. If we
cannot get division we don't want statehood.
Division is the most importans, and the majority
of the House committee on Territories knowing
this, acts In bad faith have no idea the om-
nibus bill will 60 through the Senate hope
not"
Poorly Managed Presidential Receptions.
Washington Letter
If / had the arrangement OF those White
House receptions I think should make i'm
pfot0meut In deuoral 1Taut6 tstuo Tue IIe8l~
dent gave. on about four Saturday evenings dur
ing the winter, public receptions. at which
everybody was welcome. There was of course,
q terrible crowd of people of all kinds. Tho
President, Mrs. Grant and the wives of the
Cabinet officers received fhem-as was very
proper. This winter four evening receptions
arc given at the White House. in honor Of
the diplomatic corps, enc to the judges of tho
Supreme Court, and Senators and Representa-
tivss, one to the army and navy. and one to the
public. The invitations to the first three in
prominent department. officials. etc. Bat
while members Of Congress, Supreme Conrt
judges and foreign ministers, for instance. were
invited to meet the officers OF the army
and navy. no provision for their meeting
them was made any more than at any other
reception; The receiving party consisted
ladies' Of the Cabinst circle. I saw General
Sheridan standing in the next room fer half an
hour, sosne of the time alone. There wa: no.
quainsanoss greeted him. and persons who saw
him for the first time stood off and stared az
him as they would at dime-museum mon
strosity. General Sickles escaped this staring
ordeal because his face aud figure not
known to this new Washington generation.
didn't see the Admiral Of the Navy at all-
scribed how General Sicklss Jared, and wns
unable to discover that any moro attention was
shown tho distinguished officers OF the army
or foreign ministers. When the reception
over. the lunch upstairs was spread for tha
Cabinet officers and their wives and few other
favored guests, but the General OF the army
and the officer of highest rank in the navy were
left to jostie with the crowd in the cutting wind
the White Houss pcrtco in an almost hope
less effort to find their carriages
OF course / would do nothing to deprive the
wives of Cabinet officers of any social prece-
dence to which their position entities them, but
what reason is there in ranging them in line be-
yond Mrs. Cleveland 1t reception given IN
honor of the army and navys Nobody is intro
duesd to them. They simply stand there for ths
people TO look at they pass by. How much
more appropriate it would have been to have
had General Sheridan stand next to Mrs. Cleve-
land then Mrs. Sheridan, then Admiral Porter
and tho lady accompanying him, and in another
room the maioreenerals and vice-admrals. with
q proper officer to introduce the guests Then
the officers Of the army and navy would feel 40
though reception had been given in their
honor, and the poople who attended would kave
met our distinguished soldiers and sailors !n
fact "a uels as ia nama