New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MEN AND AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.


qoR MoRRILLs PLANS FOR THE CAPT.
ToL-spEAKER REED IN FINE
HEALTH AND spIRITs-THE
NEW SPANISH MINISTER'S,
washington. Nov. 2s-The President has not
vet decided whom he will appoint TO the vacancy
on the Supreme Court bench. II is not improb-
able that this decision will so over the holidays.
II is generally believed in Washington that At
General Miller will have the place, although
the President has never said so to any one. Peg
hans IL would be not far from the mark to say
that Mr.. Miller could have the appointment If
IN specially desired ii. The Acknowledgement is
one of the Presidents closest friends He and
Mr.. Halford, the private secretary, are the two
men in Washington who come into the closest
relations with General Harrison. The advice and
osunsel of these two friends is sufficient for the
President in matters he would not care to submit
10 Q general Cabinet meeting. Nearly every Ad-
ministration has had its kitchen cabinet, that
came into the White House by the back stairs,
and the influence Of which was best in the late
hours of the day when all official communication
had ceased. 1t is the absence of q kitchen cahi-
net in Washington at the present time which is
one of the noticeable features of this Administra
ton.
friend had an independent place in journalism
before he came to Washington. he occupies a
much higher place as private secretary to the
President than he could if he had come from
almost any other profession. Indeed, the success
of Colonel Lamont and Mr. Halford will make a
strong precedent for the employment of trained
newspaper men for the future in the same place.
Certainly no one in any profession is better
calculated TO Judge of public sentiment as en-
pressed in the newspapers. than such q man as
Mr. Halford, who was for a number of years at
the head of prosperous and influential rews-
paper 1t was there that he learned TO know
current affairs and the value OF time and acquired
that knowledge of men which comes through
occupying an administrative place at the head OF
n newspaper. Mr.. Halford has just the right
touch for this place He has the same diplomacy
as LamGnt while he has wider range Of general
acquaintance among public men and OF public
affairs.
Cne of the most serious charges that l have
heard made against the President since my arrival
ia Washington is that he lacks magnetism In
deed, this is the only serious charge OF any
Importance that / have heard brought against
him No one alleges that he does not fuliii his
duties But the political veterans OF washington
say that. while Mr.. Harrison has not perhaps the
faculty of making friends readily, yet In time
he obtains n strong hold upon those who come in
contact with him, and that he never loses any
friends when once they are made. These veterans
add that he is growing man, in one sense OF the
word-that he has suffered now nearly all of the
worst effects of the Administration criticism which
follows every cIange of government.
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, said to me yes
terday, in speaking of the President: lie has The
81 nc
highest qualities necessary for the fulmeht OF MS
duties 1t il not a question with Inc whether
he make friends easily or not, so long as he per-
forms his dut,,s of President he has done"
The Senator added: L" Every Administration since
John Quincy Adams has suffered in the midst OF
its term from the sorrows and disappontments
which follow the distribution OF patronage. Pat
ronacc i'm the hands of q President is quite as
much an clement of weakness as of strength
Choose as he may, he must disappoint all the
candidates put one in filling an important Office
and so there is naturally bred up feeling OF
dissatisfaction against an Administration through
the distribution of these Offices, which is always
felt during the of year coming in the middle
of the Presidents term. This dissatisfaction,
Joined TO the local complications of the year. ore
fair explanations of the recent election results
Senator Morrill, is now in good health, and, in
spite Of his eighty years, is devoted heart ana
soul to the improvement Of the Capitol Building
1t is TO him that is TO he given the credit Tor the
beautiful terraces which add so much oil elegance
and beauty TO the Capitol Building lie says
that when these terraces completed they are
70 be ornamented with great bronze vases stretch
ing to the right and left of a central fountain
In these vases in summer, will be century plants;
in the winter, evergreens l asked the Senator
what were his plans concerning the central build
ing He said that he had already measure be-
fore Congress for this but the changes involved
there would take much money, there had been
some delay in getting Congress TO act His plan
proposes the extension outward Of the central
building to the front and back, and then the
building Of the outer walls of marble so as 10 ne
in harmony with the wings. Large sums are ex-
pended every year upon the painting OF the cen
trail building. which would of course be saved
when this change is made. The enlargement OF
the central building is what is needed TO give
proper proportion TO the entire structure. The
dome is at present too large for the building. ana
this enlargement would give the proper proportion
The Senator says that the supports are strong
enough for the central dome, and that 10 appre-
hensIon need to be felt on that account.
saw Speaker Reed this morning. He is in
full flush of vigorous physical health. He has
drowned during his visit to Maine He has the
color of a sea captain His brown eyes sparple
and his conversation was never more satiricai and
full Of dry hits He is in the very prime OF In
telectual vigor and is apparently ready to resume
With ardor the sardonic joys OF tantalizlng the
opposition through his Office as captain OF the
Republican minority in the next House. lie did
NOT care to talk for an interview, but from his
general conversation could see that he was not
looking forward to his political future with any
fear or trembling He is perfectly confident OF
the correctness of his as Speaker and took
tho action that be did in the last Congress only
after careful investigation Of the precedents es-
tablished in the transaction of business In our
own House and in the House Of Commons.
lie says that whether he was right or wrong
will soon be tried before the Supreme Court, IN