News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-02-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
TFrom our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Feb. Il. 1883.

The difficulties of the treasury
under the numerous rules
adopted have never been told. The
laws were supposed at first to be with
out any exceptions, but it was soon
that discretion" was to be
used in admitting people after two
Now here was the rub. One
day a poor fellow would be censured
for not using O wise "discretion," and
the next day he would be lectured for
some one in who had a big
title, but who proved to be a great
bore. One Waterman was, for in
stance, resolute in his refusal of a
on the 9Th day of March,
who the day before, as a Member of
had unquestioned entered
the Department at any hour of the day
he chose. Complaint being made, it
was determined to put on the favored
list, ex-members of Congress. Then
applied late in the afternoon an ex-
Governor of one of our States. The
Waterman hesitated, consulted his
discretion" and declined to admit
him. The Ex-Governor, irate, swore
that he would get in or be refused adj
mittance at every door of the build
ing. The case was reported to the
Captain of the Watch, who approved
the course taken by the Waterman,
and who began to patrol the Treasury
to punish any one who would admit
the person in question. The ex-Gov-
ernor overawed the very next door
keeper to whom he applied. The over
awed d%oor-keeper was well lectured
by the Captain for breaking the rules,
and was severely told that another
such offense would cause him to be
placed on the dreaded "midnight
watch" The very next day this poor
had to refuse admission to a
distinguished gentleman who claimed
to have urgent business with the Sec
Fearing, however, that it
be a case of discretion, he in
quired if the visitor held any office
whether he was a member Of Con-
gress or anything like that. No, he
was not a member, but, Frightening,
he was United States Minister to
France, and he must see the Secreta-
nv. The Waterman vas troubled,
but was obliged TO reply that he had
never heard Of ministers" being al
to come in, and feebly inquired
whether the Minister was not even an
ex-Congressman. mo" was the re-
ply, shut 1 am Ex-Governor of Mary
"Oh," exclaimed the watch
man, as he turned from the bars of
The door, ''that ends it. Ex-Govern-
ors," he added, as the ~''midnight-
threat still sounded in his ears,
get in here after 2 o'clock"
In the room Of the Senate commit
lee on private land claims there is a
handsome sideboard which not many
years ago was provided with all the
accomplishments and appurtenances
of such a piece of furniture-decant-
ers, glasses of different shades and
sizes. 1t was placed in the room when
Senator Bayard was Chairman of the
committee. The Delaware Senator,
now chief of the Cabinet, dispensed d
hospitality that was often gladly ac-
copied by Senators on both sides of
the chamber. The decanters were
set aside or only used for ornamental
purposes, but there were always black
bottles within the recess of that side
board which never seemed to run dry.
Senator Bayard's invitation to par
take of the refreshments of this COM
mittee room was invariably, Wont
you join me in a glass of whiskey? 2"
As the leader of the minority of the
Senate for some time, Senator Bayard
was called upon to bestow hospitable
attentions upon all prominent party
leaders who visited the Senate, and
that little committee room has echoed,
amid the tinkling of meeting glasses,
the voices of many of the great men
of the country.
The regular reception at the home
Of the Secretary of the Navy, on last
Friday evening, was more than usual
ly thronged and brilliant. Mr.. Whit
ney stood by his wife's side as she
greeted her guests, and the frank and
unaffected cordiality of both host and
hostess was one Of the principal
charms of this entirely delightful re-
union. AS 1 pointed out the notable
men and women 1 knew, perhaps only
by sight, to a member of one of the
Spanish American legations, he ex-
pressed great surprise at finding such
a happy intermingling of lately bitter
political opponents-Senator Eugene
Hale in amiable conversation with
Two of his Southern and ex-rebel COL
leagues Mr.. Robert r. Hit, seated
by the side of the wife of n Texan
representative, and Walter Phe lps,
the strong champion of the ''PIumed
Knight" promenading the salon arm
in arm with Mr.. Whitney, one of the
chief stays of his successful rival.
LENox.
THE TUNNEL AT LIBBY PRISON.-The
March Century will contain the story OF
= - it, IL