The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-08

WASHINGTON, March THE first
meeting of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet
was held this afternoon at o'clock and
lasted more than two hours. All men,
bers were present. Just prior to as
sembling of the new officers in the
cabinet room, Secretary Carlisle had a
talk with the President concerning the
bond question.
No formahty or ceremony was OBJ
served in opening the meeting. Mr..
Cleveland sitting at the head of the
table, started the business in simple,
direct manner The session was de-
voted to discussion of matters of cur
rent public Importance, including
Hawaiian annexation and the financial
situation. The greater part Of the time
was taken up, with consideration OF the
question of appointments, particularly
those of assistants to various cabinet
officers. The necessity for filling these
positions without delay was taken as q
self-evident fact. Mr.. Cleveland inn
pressed upon his official family the neces-
sity for going slowly in making selec-
tions.
Maine Inventions.
dteutS nave Ucoa SIdAICu Nu0li0o "a
Chase, Moro, water wheel; John F.
Holmes, Gardiner, pulley.
Steady Tramp of the Ofice Seeker,
The steady tramp, tramp, of the Office
seeker sounded through the White House
all day. There was practically no cessa-
ton in the line of people who assembled
the stairway leading to the Presidents
room, and nearly all who came saw Mr..
Cleveland. They found him in jovial
humor, and he cracked his jokes with
old acqualntances whom he had not seen
since his departure from Washington
four years ago.
While large number of those who
saw the President are candidates for Of
fees, few of them attempted to press
their claims, and congressman, with long
work for Uncle Sam, were discreet
ply pay their resnects.
The members of the United States SUI
preme Court, with the excep-8on of
Chief Justice Fuller and Justice harlan,
came early, in accordance with custom.
MI. Cleveland was SO busy receiving
callers in his Office that he did not go
down stairs to see the hundreds of peo-
pie who were waiting for him in the
East room. The room became so,
crowded, and tbe crowd outside awaiting
admittance was SO great, that the East
Room was cleared and line formed so
that people might pass in and out, and
thus have an opportunity of seeing the
apartment. Fully 5000 people went
through the White House in this disap-
pointing manner.
Complexion Of Congress.
The present roll call of the Senate
shows A Democrats, 80 Republicans,
Populist, Independent, farmers ALI
anoe and vacancies. The vacancies are
one each in Montana, Washington and
Wyoming. Two of the vacancies have
been temporarily filled by the appoint
ment of Beckwith, Democratic, from
Wyoming and Lee Mantle. Republican
from Montana, but should the vacancies
be eventually filed by the election of
Republicans, which is barely possible,
the Senate even with the combined forces
of the Populists, would still be tie,
with Vice President Stevenson holding
the controlling vote.
The composition of the House, as
shown by unofficial returns is Democrats
217, Republicans 1913, third party 8 and
VdGSbuOl0S q. LILO DoluOCddto lave d
majority Of so over all.
The Hawaiian Business.
While it is not certain what President
Cleveland will do in the matter of ap-
pointing commission to visit Hawaii
before acting on the annexation question,
one decision has been reached, and that
is, that the commissioners and represen-
tatives of the dethroned Queen and of
the heir apparent shall all be heard be-
fore action of any kind is taken. Secre-
tary Gresham said yesterday that the
matter would be given the serious con-
sideration it's importance demanded, but
declined to even intimate what course of
procedure would likely be.
One Of tee first questions to be consid
cred by the Cabinet is as to the course to
be pursued in regard to the American
flag now flying over Hawaii. If the ac-
tion of the past administration is not to
be upheld, then this flag would have to
come down and instructions to that eff
feet sent to Mr.. Stevens.