The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Mrs. Morton a Great Social InfIu-
ence at the Capital.
Correspondence Of the Press

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Again the peo-
pie of the capital city and of the country
have vice president. They were re-
minded of that on New Years day, when
for the first time in sixteen years the
wife of the vice president stood in the
line of ladies at the presidents right
hand on the occasion of the annual re-
ception at the White House, and for the
first time in many years the vice presi-
dent and his wife gave q grand reception
at their own residence. The people are
likely to be often reminded of the exist
ence of the vice president and his wife,
for one easily perceives determination,
a very praiseworthy one, on the part of
Mr.. and Mrs. Morton to make all that
can be made of their Office and station.
A singular fatality has attended the
Office of vice president for long time.
Mrs. Schuyler Colfax was the last vice
presidents wife who was able to take
her proper place In the social world.
She was a lady much admired here, and
from the day of her debut in Washing
ton society, New Years, 1869, till her
husbands retirement from office, she
bore prominent part The next three
vice presidents-Henry Wilson, William
A. Wheeler and Chester A. Arthur
were widowers. Vice President Hen
bricks did not live long enough to en-
able his family to contribute much TO the
social activity of the capital. Mrs. Nor
ton comes. therefore. to fill an aching
void. She brings great wealth, album
dant culture. long experience and rare
tact to her task of taking the social lead
ership of the new administration which
Secretary Whitney's wife bore in the last
one.
On going from the White House to the
Morton mansion on New Years day |
could not help contrasting the two build
ings, to Tic formers disadvantage 1t is
fact that a private house in Washing
ton seems better adapted to social and
ceremonial events than the presidents
house, in which the whole public should
take SO much pride. There may be a
little more room in the White House
than i'll the Morton mansion, but the lat
ter excels in beauty and conveniences.
At the White House an amusing incident
occurred just as the annual reception
was at its height. The diplomatic corps
was passing along in brilliant line of
gold, silver and gay colored trappings
and uniforms, greeting the president and
the ladies of his court, when some one
IL the blue parlor, where were congre-
rated the members of the cabinet and the
beauty and fashion of the city, COM
planned of the temperature.
And what do you suppose then hap
pened9 Postmaster General Wanamaker,
who is very jealous about proper ventila-
ton of rooms, called one of the servants
of the house, the veteran Pendell and
Pendell presently appeared bearing in
his hands a long pole with hook on one
end-such pole as is used in some old
fashioned churches to pull the windows
down. That is what Pendell had it for,
but in order to get into the blue parlor
he was compelled to drag the long stick
through the line of diplomats and over
the heads of the ladies of the cabinet
and special guests in the rear of the
president and his assistants. Count Arco
Valley, the German minister, was pass.
ing just then, and he looked up at the
pole and at Pendell with his one eve
glass in half surprised manner which
was very suggestive. 1t was well he did
SO, for at that moment Pendell turned
from the passageway to the blue room,
and the count came near having his sin
gle optic knocked from its roosting place
to the floor.
In the Morton house there were two
entrances, conveniently arranged as to
the drawing rooms and the cloak rooms.
People could come in by one door and
go out the other. But at the White
House the arrangements in this respect
were most miserable. Only one door
was open. Through this people were
arriving constantly, SO, of course, it
could not be used as an exit Shortly
after greeting the president, the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps had to take
their carriages and drive to the resi-
dence of Secretary Blaine, where they
were to partake of the annual diplo-
matte breakfast. But in order to leave
the building they found it necessary to
go out through window and walk
across Il temporary bridge. Here they
emerged right in the thick of crowd of
grand army veterans who were coming
to pay their respects to the president.
The veterans had been standing for an
hour in the rain, and many fine costumes
were soiled, and many pretty tempers
temporarily ruined by the enforced con-
tact.
or course the vice presidential recep-
ton was great success. The diplomatic
people seemed particularly delighted,
and, as is well known, they are inclined
to be somewhat critical They fingered
by the hour in the beautiful parlors.
Mrs. Mortons experience as wife of the
minister to France was seen to stand her
good service on this occasion. She not
only speaks French like French wo-
man, but is thoroughly familiar with
those countless little things which make
up the sum of perfect breeding and man
agement. AS one of the diplomats was
heard to say on surveying the great din
ing room, with its Louis XVI ceiling, its
fireplace and grand mantel of the Renais-
sance, and it's sumptuous appointments
and collation., "Ah, this is like home
again" 1t will certainly be something
if the Mortons can satisfy our friends
from across the sea that we rude western
ers do know something about society,
after all.
But the Mortons want to do much
more. They want to lift the vice presi-
Dental office up to all the dignity of
which it is capable. 1t is not much Of
an Office anyway, considered as politi-
cal factor or from its influence upon leg
islation. 1t is an Office Of great possibili-
ties and very small power. The only
authority the vice president can claim is
that of making the distinguished mem
bers of the American house Of lords be-
have themselves with becoming dignity
and respect for the rules while on the
floor Of the senate. He can call sena-
tor to order, and he can rap on the oak
desk with his gavel, and he can sign
bills, and that is about all he can do.
He has not the power to appoint the COM
mittees of the senate, as the speaker of
the house appoints the committees in
that body. If he had this power. the
vice presidency would be actually instead
of nonlinally the second Office in the gov
eminent. The only appointments the
vice president can make are those of SEN
ate telegraph operator and his own pri-
yate secretary. That is all, and for many
years it has not been the custom for the
president to consult the vice president
other matters Of patronage,