The morning call., 1891-02-08

and who was there awaiting the lady's re-
turn home. All the Cabinet members were
gathered at the Window house before mid
night, the dread news bringing them from
many gay scenes to the house of their dead
colleague. and with the President, remained
there as long as anything could be done.
Only few weeks ago Secretary Window s
son lost little child and the two homes
were in mourning, and that son, who was
then in poor health, is now travelling in the
South to recuperate.
The President is particularly crippled just
now by the loss of his Financial Secretary,
as since Assistant Secretary Bachelors re-
signation in the fall no one has been found
to fill that place, and the next assistant in
line, General NettletOD, has Just gone to
Ohio. In addition, the Presidents own
most intimate adviser,
PRIVATE SECRETARY HALFoRD,
Was called to Florida a few days since by
| the very grave illness of his wife, whose
health has obliged her to spend many win
| tiers there. The President is thus very
much handicapped in his official work.
This death of the second officer of the
Cabinet has put the President and the Cabi-
net families into two weeks of official mourn
ing, all invitations and engagements being
Cancelled for that time. As Lent will have
then begun, the gay official season is now
really ended. Tnis last fortnight of the sea-
| son was to have been crowded with enter
| tainments. The Vice-President and Mrs
| Morton and the Postmaster General anC
| Mrs. Wanamaker had sent out cards for two
receptions at both of those popular houses
and Secretary and Mrs. Noble We're to give
dinner to the President and Cabinet. Al
| the White House the official reception fol-
the army aud navy and two public recep-
| lions were yet to be held. All day messages
| and notes have been flying about town recall
| ING and PanPaling invita- ions and witt "a, W.
| ing the most eminent names from GueSt-lists
| The Treasury Department was closed and
men were swathng tile pillared pOrticos in
| black. Both Houses OF Congress adjourned,
| leaving the Capitol empty and lifeless, and
| throughout the city the falling shadow was
| felt. great crowd flied the depot when
the New York train came i'll, bearing the
remains of the deceased Secretary, and an
imposing cortege followed the hearse to his
home, the casket being carried into the
house which Mr.. Window had left but the
day before.
Already suggestions and speculations as to
Secretary Wmdom's successor are in the
air, and every etiring Senator and Con-
gresham is named in turn. Representative
Mckinley was, of course, the first one
suggested, and will be most persistently
named until the matter is determined. Mr..
Mckinley has made every arrangement for
going abroad this summer for
LONG STAY AND REST
alter MS years OF close congressional SER
vice. his viii be a brilliant summer in
Europe, as of all living Americans, foreign
statesmen. tinanciers aud economists wish
to see the author Of our disturbing tariff
bill.
Upon the adjournment of Congress the
President will nave an embarrassing choice
of ex-Statesmen waiting for any suitable
offices he may have within his gift. This
event of,the second year of every admins
trati0n is one of the most trying things
President has to deal with, and when the
statesman out of business goes otfice-hunt-
ing for himself he develops a persistency
greater than any with which needy con-
Stituelt ever worried him. President
Arthur was most distracted Of all Presi-
dents when he had these leftover Congress-
men to provide for. They fingered about
him until hot weather, and the worried
chief used to express his admiration for the
Congressman who could go home and earn
their own living and resume past career,
instead Of hanging on to the Govern
ment. Never before have there been so
many Congressman left over as this wear.
and President Harrison has an unenviable
March before him. The Waterloo of Sena-
tors continues to add eminent names TO the
class from which Cabinet officers and
foreign ministers are chosen, and many of
these august and repudiated statesmen will
be as anxious as the members of the Lower
House for Federal office. Next winter
will see nearly as great a change in the Off
cial world as often goes with a change of
administration, and many will be missed to
whom ten and twenty years OF official life
had given the feeling of life iease-holders.
10 men without other means, who have
been depending on steady and uninter-
rupted Government salaries for years. it be-
comes very serious matter to be so sud-
denly set adrift to paddle their own financial
canoes. Even drawing Government
salary for two years will demoraliZe some
natures, and after one taste OF Washington
life these men Will stOOp to
ANYTHING RATHER THAN LEAVE
The capital. Beginning by asking for Cabi-
net Offices and foreign missions, these
statesmen will drop to department bureaus,
to clerkShlpS, and finally offer themselves as
candidates for offices in the capitol building
itself. willing to serve as door keeper, Ser
geant-at-ArmS or clerk; where they used to
rule and walk SO arrogantly.
The suggestion of an extra session of
Congress is welcome to Washington resi-
dents; otherwise the city will enjoy the
long, dull summer that goes with the third
yeor OF an administration, the floating popu-
lation leaving bodily in March and not re-
turning until November. This summer,
after the short session, is the only time when
Presidents and statesmen may travel and
enjoy hot weather rest, aud all are PLAN
ming to avail themselves Of this blessed sea-
son of rest. The President and the Cabinet
families have already promised to 20 to the
I aciuc Cuast III may, as tne guests OF Sena-
tor and Mrs. Stanford. Every Senate and
House committee with surviving members
enough and subjects in hand to warrant it
Is planning tour OF inquiry; and the poor
Indian, the poor seal, the Immigrant and
many impersonal problems of national mo-
ment are TO be investigated by special COM
mittees, in special cars, VINO will have
specially good time.
Last week and this week Mrs. Stanford
has thrown her house open for a general
receptions each Thursday afternoon and
made as elaborate arrangements as If for a
tea. A group of assistants in pretty gowns
lent their aid, and vocal music at intervals
held tile YiSitnrs for long stavs in the draw