Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-03-23
WASHIN GTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR. !


WASHIN GTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR.
Washington, d. c., Mar. 10, 81.
The president signaliZed his re-
turn to Washington from his short
hunting trip by an act of justice that
entities him to the praise of all fair
minded men. During his absence
one Albert Ordway, who manages to
make very good thing, "snap" in
deed, out of being Brigadler General
of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia, Indexer of the old Con-
gressional Record and the holder of
several other sinecure positions for
which kind old Uncle Sam foots the
bills, issued an official order disband
ing the two battalions of colored
troops attached to the district nation
al guard for the alleged reason that
the appropriation made by congress
for armory rents was insufficient for
all, ,and that the two colored battalions
being unattached to regiments, could
be best spared.
This order of course raised a rum
pus in the city; it was talked of ev-
erywhere and by everybody, and it
was generally condemned as unjust,
because of the good record of the
colored militia. AS soon as the pres
ident returned the matter was laid be-
fore him, and he at once said, "this
shall not be carried out; if it shall
be shown that it is absolutely neces-
sary to disband portion Of the dis
trict militia no color line shall be
drawn in selecting the commands to be
dropped" Now little Ordway, small
in size, and smaller in intellect, is
trying to ''eXplain" his action, which
may be the cause of his losing some
of the "snaps" he has enjoyed SO
long that he has reached that period,
| almost certain to come to men who
have for years drawn big money for
nominal services, of believing that
the places belong to them personally.
Attorney General Miller, to whom
was referred the question of the pres
| ident's right to appoint the nine T..
S. circuit court judges created by the
last congress during the recess of
| congress, has rendered an opinion in
which he claims that the president
has that right. The same question
| arose during the Gle veland admins
| tratiOn, and Solicitor General jerks
gave an opinion similar to that just
handed the president by the Attorney
| General and upon the same grounds.
The president has not given any init
| nation of whether he will make the
appointments now or wait until con-
gress meets again, but it is believed
that he is now considering the matter
| and that he will make a definite de-
cision in a short time.
Treasurer Huston, who has been
more lied about than any member of
the administration, is back at his Of
fetal desk quietly attending to his
business. 81 do not know" he said
to-day, show long shall retain my
office. My resignation was rendered
to the president February "a, ,and right
here [ wish to say that it was not the
result of any hard feeling toward the
president or any member of his adj
ministration, but because [ wished to
give up the office, which [ shall glad
ly do as soon as my successor has
been named" Speaking of national
politics, Mr.. Huston thinks it is high
time that the republicans were active
ly organizing and working for next
years campaign.
No president ever had higher idea
or the rightful prerogatives of his po-
sition, or was quicker to resent any
invasion of them than is Mr. Harri-
son, although he does it always in an
inoffensive manner. Here is a case
in point: There is vacancy in the
office Of Surveyor General Of Mime
sofa and Col. Buckley of that state is
prominent candidate therefor. The
other day several Minnesota Repre-
sentatives, headed by Mr. Hall, who
acted as spokesman, called on Mr..
Harrison in behalf of Col. Buckley.
After praising that gentleman highly,
Mr.. Hall closed by saying, 81 do not
ask you to make the appointment, for
! / know that 1t is a senatorial ap-
point, meaning that it belonged to
the class of appointments usually
made on the recommendation Of the
senators. The president looked at
him quizzically for moment, step
ped up close to Mr.. Hall, and placing
his arm around that gentleman's S