The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-04
EXCLUSIVE OFFICIALS.
VERY HARD TO SECURE Audiences
WITH MAYY OF THEM.
Kaum still Shaking From His "Refrig-
orator" Chill-Immigration and
Pensions-Postal Changes.
TINES BUREAU, RAPLEY BUILDING,
WASH NOTION. Dec. 3 1890.

TIMES BUREAU. RAPLEY BUILDING,
WASH NOTION. Dec. g. 1892.
No nation under the sun can boast Of
finer and more complete buildings than
those which serve the uses OF he Legis-
lative and Executive Departments OF the
United States, but the exclusivenass Of
some OF the clerks who spend the first
year OF each changing administration
seeking a place and then reclining on
term, is absolutely startling. I started
out this morning for a tour through the
departments. / got through almost all Of
thehallways, but very few glimpses did I
get OF the lordly beings without VIII ose
/ constant attention the Government would
| fall into immediate chaos. The fact is
these departments have had about enough
/ OF notoriety Of late, and the knowledge Of
something that in all human probability
will happen in the spring has something
/ TO do with the case"
The Treasury Department is usually the
first one sought by strangers. Somehow
there is something melodious and sweet
III the ring of the word treasury" which
falls upon the ear Of the American people
with enticng sound. l have been told
lately that there was not much in the
Treasury, and I'm inclined TO believe 1t;
at least | did not see much I'm there. Now
and then when a door was inadvertently
left ajar I could see a colored representa-
tive of Southern Republcanism at his
desk. wedged in between a spectacled
spinster from Massachusetts, and long
haired country newspaper editor from
the QftbrtrHar CT vi nf a uilH Wacf
There may not be anything save de
fcits" in the Treasury Department, but
they are surely mighty particular about
their balances in red ink"
In the State Department they are now
running a vigorous domestic policy"
This kind Of domestic policy hurt Mr.
Harrison little In his first appointments,
but It seems to have been better in the
long run that the vigorous foreign policy"
which is represented only now by Mr..
Blaine's vacant chair and few stuffed
seals about the room.
The Department of Justice is still on
hand, but bushes looked right dull from
the outside. In the good old days when
we were boys Justice was represented
with pair OF scales like the use in drug
stores. where couple of grains Of calo-
mel made a difference, but they tell me
they are using q set of Fairbanks weigh
ers like they use for coal and hay and
that you must have a pretty heavy full
outside before the scale moves much on
the inside OF the window.
l went over to the Pension Del eLartment
10 see my friend, Mr. Green b. Raum.
When he looked up and saw my guileless
face at the door. he pulled a screen round
in front Of him, like a girl at the ball
does her fan when she has said something
she ought not to have expressed, but
thought nothing of this, for people have
talked so badly Of Mr.. Raum that when
ever he sees a stranger he fancies 1t a
summons for some new investigation.
In fact. they say he has not thawed out
since that cold day last winter. when
somebody gave publicity to his sale Of
stock in the patent refrigerator concern
among his clerks. / didn't stay there
long but business seemed very brisk both
inside and outside, and the fall trade
is evidently coming his way.
At the Capitol this morning but very
few Congressman were in the House. and
only half a dozen Senators came to the
building during the day. In the few Con-
gressmen who have arrived It Is curious
to note their political sagacity. Whenever
one comes into the hall who failed Of
a reelection he receives the regrets OF
his friends, but invariably assures them
that he knew all about it and was satis
fled long before the election just how it
would be. Then comes a story Of running
ahead OF his ticket, but personal popu-
larity could not withstand Democratic
lies 60 about the tariff and Force bill
l thought priZe-fighters stood up 10 the
last moment, but some of these Congress
men certainly die hard"
With the coming OF Senator Piatt chair
man Of the Committee on Territories, in
tprQgf * in ha Of the
admission Of New Mexico and Arizona,
but no new facts are In the case as yet.
The Senator states in an interview that
he Is opposed to the admission Of New
Mexico on account of the character OF
the population and their illteracy. and
TO Arizona, because she has small pop
ulation and large debt, and some bad
features in her constitution.
The question of immigration will also
be one with which the present session |
will likely have TO deal. Mr. w. ID.
owen superintendent of immigration. |
In his annual report. shows that during |
the past fiscal year, ending June SOth. |
there We're landed In this country 579663 |
immigrants. Twenty-eight hundred and |
one came in violation OF the laws, and |
were sent back and of this number l,763 |
were contract laborers. The subject is |
not by any means a new one, as many |
or the present members of Congress |
nave made the matter a study, and are |
fully Informed in every respect regarding |
II. 1t has been suggested from prominent |
sources that all immigration be restricted |
for one year at least for the purpose OF |
avoiding cholera and other contagious
diseases which appear TO be unusually |
prevalent among the nations who con-
tribute mainly to the enormous annual
immigration.
Colonel Webber the Commissioner Of
Immigration, is here now In consultation
with Acting Secretary Spaulding. at the
Treasury Department. regarding the |
policy hereafter TO be adopted by the
department i'm the matter Of immigration.
None of the Virginia congressman have
as yet arrived. but several are expected
tomorrow.
Congressman Meredith. OF the Eighth
district, is very Ill in this city. He is
suffering from an attack of erysipelas
OF the face A call at the house, where
he Is living on Twelfth street. was re-
warded by the Intelligence that the con-
was too i'll 10 be seen.
The subcommittee of the House Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce, which has recently been holding
sessions in New York. did not complete
the taking of it's testimony in the case OF
the alleged Reading coal combine. and
additional testimony will be taken here
~ .k.-f.s. ~ hA