The Republican., 1893-02-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular CorrespondentD
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, '93.

| Cleveland will have new cabinet,
but who will compose it no one
really knows. There are three or
four appointments which are cer-
tam, but the cabinet of 1893 will
probably be as much surprise as
was that of 1885. You can never
bet on a cabinet until the names go
into the Senate, and many of the
states that are laid before the Presl-
dent gets to Washington are broken
after his arrival. Gen. Grant re-
organized his list again and again
before he sent in the list of names
which were confirmed. James A.
Garfield made some changes after
he left Mentor, and there were a
number of statesmen who had the
right to expect to be in President
Llncoln's cabinet who found them
selves left out. President Harri-
son did not decide as to three of
the members of his cabinet until he
was on his way to his inauguration,
and President Cleveland's last off,
cial family was disappointment
to some Of his party at the time its
members were selected.
The traditional attractiveness of
brass buttons for women is not a
circumstance to the fascinating
quality Of the title of Congressman.
Three-fourths of the audience of
Congress during the session is made
up of women and often there are
few others in the galleries. Ex-
cept strangers, few men listen to
the proceedings of the House and
Senate. For some reason the SEN
ate, while not entirely neglected, is
not as popular with the gallery god
desses as is the House. 1t may be
because the Senators are older and
less gallent, though there is surely
galantrv enough in that decorous
body Of sages. But IN the House
there are a great many young men.
and a few of the youngest and
handsomest are unmarried. This
may account for the preference
that is shown that branch of Con-
gress. There are always women
in the galleries known as the
Speakers gallery" and the "Mem-
bers' gallery" though often there
is not man to be seen anywhere
above the floor of the House.
1t Is now, during the closing days
of the session, that the index finger
of Mr.. Kilgore, of Texas, points
most directly the way to disap-
pointment. Members with their
little bills, which they have been
waiting all the session to pass,
look upon it as a sign, danger
ahead" Holman gladly gives away
and sees that index pointed in the
place of his own finger, which has
punctured so many schemes. With
all his power as a kicker and a
filibuster, displayed during the
course of the session, 1t is how that
he is most powerful and most
dreaded. Kilgore has done what
no man before him has done. He
has "held up bills" IN truly west
ern road agent style and caused
the bltterest disappointment to
many of his colleagues almost: with
out loss of popularity. He is one
of the most amiable and sociable
men in Congress, always perfectly
frank and courteous, and is proba-
bly, one of the best-liked men IN
the House. About two-thirds of
his colleagues on both sides of the
chamber call him "Buck" in ad-
dressing him.
The family of the coming Secre-
tary of State Mr.. Gresham, are no
strangers to Washington. Mrs.
Gresham is lady of rather quiet,
retiring manners, and, her health
having always been more or less
delicate, she was never able, had
she been so inclined, to take a very
active part in social matters.
Judge Gresham during his frequent
visits to this city, has kept up his
acquaintance with his old friends
and has always been welcome vis-
itor to their homes. Mrs. Car
Isle is also we'll known in Wash
ington. She is in the midst of a
wide circle of acquaintances, each
one Of whom would always have
been proud to be named among her
friends. Mrs. Lamont Is another
of the coming cabinet ladies who is
we'll known to every body who has
been known themselves for the
past eight years. She came here a
comparative stranger and she left
the capital one of the most admired
women in the administration. cir
cles. Mrs. Wilson S. Bissell, wife
of the coming Postmaster General,
is . stranger to Washington. Mrs.
Bissell is q young lady and her
marriage with Mr.. Cleveland's s