Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-01-18
BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
The Presidents Reception on New Years Day--News of the Various
 Departments in Washington.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

| From Our Regular Correspondent, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. ?, 1889.
 The Presidents New Year reception is still the talk of the town, and is likely to be for many day to come. It was undoubtedly the most brilliant affair that ever took place in the White House, and that too, in spite of the cold driz- ling rain which made the day one of the most disagreeable of the reason. Mrs. Harrison's place was filled by her daugh- ter, Mrs. Mckee. Secretary Blaine held a reception at his house immediately after that of the President, in honor of the foreign legations and the members of the three America's Congress and of the International Maritime conference. This was particularly trying on MT. Blaine, as his wife was absent in Maine, where the had gone to attend the funeral of her sister, and he had only the day before received news of his elder brothers death, in Oregon. But as the invitations were all out he felt it his duty to lay aside his private griefs. and fulfill his private obligations.
 Secondin brilliancy to the President s reception was that held by the Vice President and Mrs. Morton in their magnificent residence, which they have just taken possession of.
 Secretary Tracy has decided after a careful examination to abandon the plans of the 7,500 ton aTmored cruiser for which the money was appropriated by the last Congress, and to ask Con gress to pass supplementary bill chang ing her displacement to $500 tons, in order that she might be built after an Eng fish plan which is said to represent an entirely new idea in armored ships. As we are after the best to be had it IS probable that Congress will acquiesce. Secretary Blaine has appointed J. Se- vellion Brown, chief clerk of the State Department. MT. Brown held the posi- tion for many years, but wac removed by Secretary Bayard.
 An attempt was made by local paper this week to get up big scare over the Russian influenza or La Grippe" but it fell quite flat, as all of the reputable physicians in town declare that Wash ington has not had single csse.
 The international Maritime conference has finished its discussion and adjourned sine die, thus obviating the necessity of having to prolong the session, as Con- gress by a special resolution provided for. The conference is regarded by all concerned as having been a complet suc- cess.
 Chairman McKinles's committee on ways and means is giving daily hearings to parties interested in the new tariff bill. This week the glass ssmen, the chem ical men, the wool growers and others have been heard. Itseems little funny to see well known democrats asking for more protection, but it only shows that they know good thing when they en joy the benefits thereof
 Society has temporarily gotten the ad- vantage of politics. The New Years re- captions began q round of entertain mentS that will last until Lent, but the advaatage will be only temporary; foro n Monday Congress will be back, and there will be something more important, at least for the men, to talk about.
 Some surprise is expressed that Jus tice Lamar should have declined to ad- dress the citizens of Richmond, Virginia, on the life and career of Jefferson Davis It is hinted that Justice Lamar is only waiting to be urged.
 Secretary Windom anticipated the January interest on the public debt in order to give the strigent money market the benefit of SS.000,000 thus put in cir culation.
 Commissioner of Pensions .Raum has recovered from what at one tune prom ised to be serious illness and is again attending to business.
 There are indications that most de- termined fight is to be made, before Con- gress this winter by the friends of wom- an suffrage. Miss Susan B. Anthony IS already here prepared for the fray. She says that she does not expect to get the necessary twO-thirds majority in Congress for the doption of the pro- posed sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the Uuited States, but she is confident that favorable reports will be made in both Houses, and those reports will carry great weight when tho question IS to be submitted to a vote of thhe people.