, 1889-05-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nav II, 1889,
lFrom our Regular Corr.snondentl

WASHINGTON, May II, 1889.
The office floor of the White House
resembles nothing so closely now
a. it does second hand furniture
store. Some of the rooms look as
though one family was moving out
while another was moving in.
Chairs, sofas and tables are scattered
around in confusion, and the office
seeker who calls while affairs con-
tinue in their present condition must
needs be skillful mariner, or he
will wreck his shins over some an
tique article of furniture which has
long outlived its usefulness and now
exists only TO act as a stumbling
block.
While scrub women and Iaborers
were intent on cleaning up the Office
room at the White House yesterday
Mrs. Harrison was engaged in simi-
lar duty behind the glass partition
which separates the private apart
ments of the executive mansion from
the gaze of the public. But it was a
preparation for an exodus SO far as
the mistress OF the mansion is con-
cerned, as it isprobable that in a few
days she will be comfortably estab-
lshed in cottage at Deer Park.
The president will join his family
every Saturday afternoon and spend
Sunday, possibly Monday, with his
family. Arrangements are being
made with this end in view by Mr..
). Il. Elkins and ex-senator Davis.
and special train will propabIy be
placed at the disposal of the presi-
dent for his trips every week.
Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys
are marching" would have been a fit
ting prelude to the incessant clatter
on the back stairway leading to the
library at the White House yester-
day, and the doorkeeper could not
find time to make out his customary
list of callers owing to the demands
upon his time and patience by Office
hunters and visitors who desired to
pay respects. 1t made no difference
that pedestrians were liable to a sud-
den dash of soapsuds from the
wooden buckets carried by the
scrub women who were scrubbing
the stairway and corridor. All were
intent upon seeing the president.
Finally the strain became too late
for human endurance and toe presi-
dent shut down on callers before
l o'clock.
Public Printer Palmer has not been
allowed to grow lonesome since his
introduction into Office. On the con-
trary his Office is thronged from the
moment the door is opened in the
morning until after his hour for re-
ceiving callers. At times there have
been long lines of anxious individuals
awaiting their turns to have q word
with the new official, and it does moi
have a very pleasing effect on them
when at different times members OF
congress drop in for an extended
chat with the new head of the gov.
ernment's big printing Office. This
makes them most impatient, and
when they have been accorded then
, interview with Mr.. Palmer, which is
necessarily brief. many of them Won
der whether their visit had done
them mach good.
OF course, very few of tho adpli
J cants for place have as yet thought
of preparing papers to present, and
in nine cases out of ten the public
printer disposes of the applicant by
directing him to go and prepare his
papers and place them on file. Oc'
casionally one makes SO bold as tc
try to argue his case, but he does moi
proceed far before the public printer
in a very diplomatic manner, passes
to the next applicant. When the
] hour arrived to close the office tC
callers yesterday there were many
waiting, but Mr.. Palmer very COZ
siderately allowed them to present
their cases.
Secretary Tracy is moving slowly
but surely in the matter of changes
in his official advisers, but before the
end of the present fiscal year there
will be two il not more of them sue,
ceeded by some one else. The secre-
tary is very careful man and is not
disposed to hurry matters. At the
same time he has his own fixed ideas
regarding the conducting of business
IN his department and the kind OF
men he wants about him. The poll.
cy of the navy department now is to
keep abreast of the times in many
new reforms which are being suggest
ed every day. The new navy cannot
afford to take any backward step and
the vigorous administration which
its building requires calls for the tai
ents OF the very best men in the ser
vice: The foreign powers are adding
to their navies, and the latest i'm
proved appliances are being used. To
thoroughly understand this impor-
tant work in conjunction with our
own service, calls for officers of the
highest intelligence. 1t is this class
of assistants that the secretary wants
to surround himself with and which
he fully intends to do at a very early
date. r.
4 ROMANTI STORY.