The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-02-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Resume Of Gayeties will not be Until
Next Winter,

NCAt w iT1IGTs
The gloom which death in high
places has recently thrown over the
politicoSoclal life of thu National
Capital will doubtless be broken by
an unusually brilliant season next
winter, when Mrs. Cleveland will
have resumed her position as popu-
lar idol and will lead the gayeties
from the White House. Both Mrs.
Harrison and Mrs. Cleveland made
numerous calls on friends, and the
latter is likely to continue the Gus
tom though etiquette does not
oblige her to do so; tor the Presi
dents wife need never return
visit, and she is not even required
to send card instead.
The social duties of the mistress
of the White House are exacting
and to perform them well requires
the utmost tact. Mrs. Cleveland,
when she assumed the position as a
youthful bride, was the target of
national criticism. ard how well
she bore the ordeal is a matter of
history. But she was not the
yountat hostess the Executive
mansiqi has ever had. Mrs. Blise
the daughter of President Taylors
was only seventeen when she occu-
pied that place.
z The most trying part of enter
tanning at the White House is the
giving of State dinners. To pro-
vide these feasts is duty devolved
upon tho President by memorable
custom. He must invite each win
ter all the Senators and Represen-
tatlyes in Congress, the cabinet.
the diplomatic corps and the higla
officers of the army, and navy sta
toned at Washington. To accom-
pllsh this SIX banquets are required,
costing from $500 to $1,000 each.
The butler of the, Executive Man
sion, who arranges the dinners. is
hired by the government, but the
chief magistrate of the nation must
pay everything else out of his own
pocket.
When law that has been five
years in operation is found to be
impracticable. incapable of enforc-
ment, or inadequate, the high time
has certainly arrived when 1t should
either be done away with or amended
into shape. Such is approximately
the case with the interstate com
merce law, and this can only be
remedied by substituting for the
commission a regular court tribu-
nal. 1t Is with tins view that a bill
has been introduced in the Senate
by Mr.. Sawyer, of Wisconsin, Gre
ating nine courts of record, one to
each judicial circuit of the United
States, to be known as courts of
interstate commerce, and also a
court of interstate commerce APP
peals, consisting Of the nine justices
of the circuit courts, the stated
term of which is to be held once a
year in Washington. Upon courts
so constituted the railroad COM
panles could rely with confidence
that their interests would be duly
regarded, while the people at large
would here ind an impartial tribu.
nal on which they could depend
for prompt administration of JUS
tice.
All men have a hobby and Sen
ator Higgins particular fad is Can
ada. 1t is said that the genial Sen
ator from Delaware is a perfect vade
mecum on Canadian matters. He
can discuss the affairs of the Do
mlnion as extensively and almost
as intelligently as any blue nose
from the country north of the St.
Lawrence. MIR. Higgins is an an
nexationist. believeing that the Ill
innate destiny of this Government
requires that there should De added
to our territory the vast domain of
the Canuck.
People wonder at the strange flag
floating over a prominent hotel
near the White House. 1t has a
foreign look and there are many in
quiries as to its significance. The
flag is the ensign of the kingdom
of Hawaii and signifies the presence
in the hotel of the commissioners
selected to negotiate the annex
atlon of Hawaii to the United
States. 1t is flag of red, white
and blue stripes, with red cross in
the corner.
The first official steps in the di.
rection of the annexation of Hawaii
to the United States are being taken
this week. The representatives OF
the provisional government, who
have Journeyed over 5000 miles
with that object in view, are losing
no time in the accomplishment Of
their mission. Their promptnes:
of action ic uorthv of tho oauca