Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1891-09-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINeroN. sept. a, Is9I.

WASHINGTON. Sept. u, 1891.
The President, when he returns to the
White House tomorrow, will mud all the
members of the Cabinet, except thTee-Sec.
retary Blaine, who is still in Maine but who
is expected to return to Washington inside
of three weeks; Secretary Proctor, who has
gone on a tour Of inspection Of the military
costs In the West, and Secretary Foster
who has gone on little ocean fishing trip
at their desks. Owing to the presidents
nearness to Washington and his keeping
almost constantly at work during the sum
mer, there has been no large accumulation oil
routine business in the government depart
ments during his absence. The field there
fore is clear for him to devote his attention
70 the more important business of selecting
a successor to Secretary Proctor and posi-
bly, one also for Attorney-GeneTal Miller, il
being very generally believed here that Mr..
Miller will be one Of the nine justices Of the
new Circuit Court, all of whom must be de-
cided upon before Congress meets; the fill
ing Of a number Of other important vacsn.
cies, and the preparation of his annual mes
sage to Congress- which for various reasons
will be an unusually important document
this year. It will readily be seen that the
President has a very busy season before
him.
A gentleman who is in a position to be
conversant with the plans Of Secretary Proc
tor says that he will not retire from the
Cabinet until his Senatorial term begins, and
that he is certain that the President will not
give any serious consideration to selecting
his successor until he has had an oppoTtu-
nifty to confer with the party leaders both in
and out Of Congress and get their sugges-
tons
There is no Disgusting the fact that the
harmony of the recent Republican State Con.
veution in New York and the undisputed
strength of the ticket nominated and the
platform adopted has badly frightened the
Democratic leaders, and it may smash the
millionaire Flowers boom, as he has never
been regarded as a strong candidate. Re.
publicans from New YORK who have been
In Washington since the Convention are
enthusiastically confident Of carrying the
State.
Secretary Tracy has issued an order which
puts in practice in the navy the method
adopted BY Secretary Proctor for the Army
more than year ago, Of ascertaining period
ically the fitness Of officers for their various
professional duties, in order that they may
be by the department designated to perform
the duties for which they have the most
natural aptitude. This IS done by a series
of questions embracing about everything
concerning an officers official life which are
to be answered in writing, BY those imme-
diately above and In contact with them, twice
year, in June and December. Secretary
Tracy Is making one Of the best heads orr
Navy Department has ever had.
Treasury officials are trying to devise some
means Of keeping the expert accountants at
work on the books Of the keystone National
Bank at Philadelphia, the funds ordinarily
available for such purpose having been ex-
hausted and the examination temporarily
stopped lust a. a most interesting stage i
Is thought to-day that the matter can be ar
ranged 50 as to complete the investigation,
but il Is FIRST necessary to get an opinion from
the legal advisers Of the department.
Il IS said that Senator German was asked
TO acconipany the democratic show which
Iefl here Yesterday bound for the Pacific coast
"a a special car which viii stop for exhibit
ion purposes at various important points be-
.weea Chicago and tHe coast aud that he re-
,ifed: oNo, fhank you; I haven't Yetreached
he prize OK stage Of political xisfe nee ?