, 1889-07-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, July 3. 1884

There was genuine political t.ikl
at the White house, Taesday morn. /
ing, not about the filling of pos.
offices and consulships and The ys,.
atlous claims of rival candidates, bn, /
about the Republican party and 4, /
future, and what Its leaders ought
to do to insure success in the nsrt
elections, as we'll as in its conduct oi
affairs IN the next congress. Soms
of the talk was done by the prs.;.
dent, but the larger part by thrs.
senators, who had the president a.
an attentive and interested Listener
The three were Senators Allison
Chandler and Cullom. They d5
not go to the White House together
and thereby set everybody to won,
dering what their visit might mean
but singly, and as if only the feder,I
appointments in their states brougbt
them there. But the same subisct,
were discussed by all of them
These subjects were the calling Of
an extra session of congress, and tbs
election in the new states.
The general opinion was that an
extra session OF congress should b.
called about November Ist, and no.
in October, as had been preyiously
supposed would be the time il on.
was called. The reason for postpop.
ment was that at the later date Ii.
Republicans would have the adj
vantage of the members from th,
west, If not all of the new states
who would give them fair majority
instead OF the extremely small ons
winch they now have, and which
might. through death or accident, b
entirely wiped out between the tim.
OF calling the extra session and as.
sembllng of the members. It is not
understood that this course was de-
clded upon, but that three party
leaders and the president favored
it.
1t was with reference to this
greater or smaller majority in the
house that fthe elections IN the new
states became most important in tbs
opinion of these gentlemen. and The
question of what could be dons
about them occupied their attention
Tuesday. All that was talked over
and it was agreed that the national
committee, while not taking an aes
tive part in the campaign in the nss'
states, should keep a watchfnl eye
on them. see that nothing was omit.
ted that should be done to insurs
success, and generally give TO tbs
local managers the benefit of all the
experience sthe national COMMITTEES
has.
The old house with history-bet.
ter known as Seward Mansion
situated on the east side of Lafayetts
Square or Jackson place, Is rapidly
being put in repair for the occu.
pancy of the secretary of state.
This house-if 1t could speak-could
tell many tale as full of intrigue
and the passions that rule men 6s any
storied house in this city. In it Bee
retary Stewards beloved daughtsr
sickened and died, and the assassin
sought his life. Uncle Sam took il
out of social life to serve the syery.
day uses of a government ONCE,
which it did under lease and protest
for several years. Like others who
have seen "better days." it grew
quite seedy and time-worn, whsp
once more it is thrown upon the
market to be rescued from Oblivion
by being leased to the secretary Of
state, who is having it put into .
more habitabie condition as to con
veniences than it was ever in its frst
estate.
Soon, newly appointed, it viii BE-
come home again, and within is
walls will go on the weaving of life's
story.
Commissioner Roosevelt is gain
ing golden opinions everywhere for
the manly way in which he has laid
his grip upon the frauds mssquerad.
ing in the guIse of civil service rs-
form. His conduct has been inds.
pendent and unselfish enough to
draw tiattering comments from
sources whose enmity was 20 hsys
been looked for through oysr-zeal-
GUS partisanship. That is as i
should be. Civil service reform %
only in its infancy now. 1t will con
tinue to grow In Importance as an 10
sue, the better the people get &c.
quainted with its merits. One day
1t may reach q point whore prea,
dental election will actually turn
upon it, and then all parties viii
search for candidates whose past
records give the best earnest OF Their
future. policy.
Forty-two stars constituted tho
constellation In the blue field OF The
national ensigns displayed on the
senate and house wings of the capl-
tol yesterday.