The Washington critic., 1890-02-11
WHITE HOUSE GOSSIP.
SECRETARIES BLAINE AND TRACY
ATTEND THE CABINET.
Pardons and Comm utations by the
Executive--AfIairs i'm the Depart
ments Adjacent to the Presidents
Home-Leaves of Absence.

Home-Leaves of Absence.
An atmosphere of dullness pervaded
the halls in the uptown Departments
today The only showing of
any material amount of life
was at the White House, and more
than the usual number of callers
to see the Chief Executive presented
their cards to Chesterfield Charles
Loeffler. Among the most prominent
were Senators Stockbridge, Jones of
Arkansas, Platt. Chandler and Moody.
Congressman who called to pay their
respects and satiate their curiosity
and that of accompanying friends
were: Henderson of Illinois, Finley
of Kentucky, Strube of Iowa, Wilson
of Kentucky, Dorsey, Hill, Owen,
Yoder, Spooner, Lawler, with e. II.
Reibold and wife of Newark, N. j.;
Washington and Post
Assistant Secretary Pruden, with his
usual amount of urbanity, spread
open very formidable looking
book before the young representa-
tive from THE CRITIC, which
contained the signatures of President
Harrison opposite short inscriptions
headed "Pardons and Commute.
uons. According to the big
book, Lewis Williams, of Arkansas,
who has been imprisoned for
dispensing backwoods whisky without
permission from the Government and
was sentenced, in November, 1889, to
several years Imprisonment was under
the Pardon" head, and now Lewis
can vote once more.
l.. Sanders, another Arkansas trav-
eler, sold some of the same kind of
whisky, and followed Lewis to Jail
just one month later, but his
whiskey was good from all
accounts and his reputation was not
bad, and in view of the statements sub
mitted to the President by the United
States District Attorney and of recon-
mendations Of Judge Caldwell, who
sentenced him, Sanders has been par
doned.
George A. Killam violated the postal
laws of Colorado last July and was SEN
fenced to year at rock. breaking. He
has worked hard since his sentence,
and has cracked large number of
rocks, so the President has commuted
his sentence to nine months.
Samuel Hopkins did worse than sell
ing free whisky or violating the postal
laws. He forged friends name in
Texas. Hopkins was said to be an
underwater at one time, but he
wanted to be check writer
also, and he was sent to prison for five
years for his enterprising spirit. lie
didn't mean to do it, though, and be-
cause of this fact the President knocked
off two years of his sentence.
For the first time in several weeks
the entire Cabinet met together at the
White House today. Secretary Tracy
feels that the sooner he gets back to
active work his mental and physical
condition will materially improve. He
began to-day with the meeting of the
Cabinet.
The only real excitement around the
Treasury building occurred on Flf-
teenth street. A gentleman resembling
in marked degree Congressman Amos
j. Cummings was spinning along down
grade when he collided with James G.
Blaine, jr.'s big yellow mastiff dog.
Both dog and rider yelled.
There was an air Of quietness around
the Navy Department. The gloom
which encircled the Office by the calam-
ity which befell the Secretary's family
has not been lifted. The Secre-
tary himself has not been at
his office for ten days, but
Commodore Ramsay stated that he was
expected to be at his desk as usual this
afternoon. Therumor that the Secretary
is contemplating trip on the Despatch
is unfounded. He will not absent
himself from his office, it was said,
another day.
Notwithstanding his absence. leave of
absence was granted to Lieutenant
Charles o. Allihane, from the Naval
Station at New London, for six months,
beginning February 10, and Lieutenant
Y. s. Felson, on duty at the Naval
Ordnance Proving Ground, for four
months, beginning March /.
Probably the happiest- looking man in
the building to'day was Chief Clerk of
the State Department, J. Fenner Lee.
Secretary of the Legation at Rio Janeiro,
and he expects it will be confirmed by
the Senate. In consequence Mr.. Lee
was as happy as q green bay tree.
In the War Department the only
thing bearing on newncss was the leave
of absence granted heretofore to
Lieutenant r. r. Stevens of
the Twenty third Infantry, extended
two months. Major l.. Y. Loring was
also allowed to remain away from duty
two months longer on account of his
certified inability.
The opening of the Carne gle Free
Library Building at Allegheny City,
Pa, has been postponed until Wednes
day, the 10th instant. This postpone
ment will enable President Harrison to
be present.
AIIIN SINGLE ROOM