The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-31
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
Some Recent Reforms in The State De-
partmGnt.
A Picturesque Gathering-senator Palmer's
Work for the Worlds Fair-objector
Holman's Rival.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALI.

The congressional trunk was almost
| packed week. adjournment was in plain
| sight and there was a defniteness about all
the prophets who had counted without the
| anticipation bill. This nightmare bill now
! completely murders sleep, its defenders and
| opponents both insisting that it shall be
! settled now, and reluctant Congressman
| are being hailed back 10 take their places
| and keep quorum.
a large-sized reform has been inaugurated
| In the State Department by the new Secre-
tary without any bugling. If there ever
were dry bones In need of shaking 1t is in
that department, where Mr. Blaine said
there We're 'amiable traditions" which
allowed no one to be discharged for incom-
potency. Every one who knew the deep
rut into which the superior branch Of the
Government was running-Gor its chiefs
have always been such Iesurely folk and
so given to great policies and lines Of state
craft that they could not look down to the
small details of its working machine
wondered how such an active, hard working
sort OF Secretary would get on with such
anuquated and cumbrOus machinery.
During the year past that Mr.. Foster was
In the State Department in charge Of all
reciprocity treaties and measures, and
of the BeTing Sea Bureau, be arrived before
| and left long after the clerks. Those lei
surely gentry, devoted 10 the amiable ira
dluOns of the department, wonder ed a little
how things would 60, ana whether Sec
rotary Foster would continue TO grind at his
desk or would adopt the lcisuIely manners
OF other secretaries. spending but a few
hours day at the department or not going
to 1t at all for days at time.
BUSY MAN.
Ever since his unanimous confirmation
and his assuming charge Of the office within
two hours after the President sent his name
TO the Senate Secretary Foster has con-
tinued 10 scare dOorkeepers and such by
reaching the department about o'clock.
Work as Secretary, and he turns to another
BY o'clock he has finished his days
desk and puts in good days work on the
Bering Sea case. The last touches, the
sharpening and revision of the whole
argument, are now being given, and
the American case Will soon go to
the printer and then to the British
Commission on the 9TH of September.
While Secretary Foster looks the most
fragile and delicate of men, he seems to
thrive on just such hard work and he ex-
poets his clerks TO come TO the mark as well.
Some OF them have been actually seen in a
hurry and the new chief appalls them with
the precision he demands ia correspondence
AMI the dispatch in every affair.
The lelsurely old ways Will not go any
more, and II the employees survive the shak-
ing up the State Department will be much
the better for It. After such days work
of 10 hours the Secretary dimes and then
Is carried off by his wife for long country
drive. Mrs. Foster is as relentless in her
routine, and no evasiOns induce her to let
him go back 10 the department nor to burn
any midnight oil at home in this tOrrid sea-
son. Every evening they are TO be met on
the country roads ct shutdown and their
landau returns by moonlight or starlight
often TO Ind doorstep full of those wait
Ing TO pounce upon the Secretary.
THE GREAT BICYCLE MEET.
The bicycltTS' meet and parade this week
greatly enlivened the city. Fortunately
the weather was at It's best and the silent
steeds fairly crowded the thoroughfares.
One could hardly believe that there were as
many bicycles in existence as were stacked
before the Ebbitt House while the league
met, and all the population seemed to be on
wheels. At nights thousands Of big fire.
h'es skinned the smooth asphalt, and the
tiBkle of the warning bells filled the air
Gray-beards and four years sped by, and
every style of wheel ever made came out
Those tall spidery wheels Of years ago re-
appeared and appalled, the cautious rider
of to-day. The bicyclers stated their views
of the highways Of the country 10 the COM
mittee having the bill for a national high
ways commission In charge, and the silent
army in town was a sufficient argument for
every one.
SENATOR PALMER's MISSION
Ex-senator Palmer, now president OF the
Worlds Fair Commission, has been I'm town
Tor the past week in behalf of his cause
The most genial and jOvial of men, his pop
ulsrity IN that great social club, the Senate
has never waned, and will do more than
any pleas OF right Of sense and eternal JUS
tice to convince Congress that the fair must
not be crippled, unless the young member
from Texas breaks loose. Mr.. Bailey of
Texas, having been raised on the creed that
children should be seen and not heard, lifts
HE little voice TO say that he Is not being
looked at. Bright Mr.. Bailey objected TO
the Governments inviting the Queen of
Spain to attend the anniversary of Column
bus discovery, which would have been but
courteous form at the most, since the
Queen could hardly leave her country or
her child, or risk the young Kings precious
life, on any such voyage. He objected 10
giving the steamer China an American
register, and he objected 10 receiving pay
Tor the days lie was not occupying his seat
on the floor Of the House. What he will
Object to next, where he will break loose
again, and what crotchets will next occupy
his brain continually worTy his colleagues.
Washington, July "a, 1892. III.