The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, May, aa 1893.


he thinks belongs to the President of
the United States, and in accordance
with that belief he declined most posi-
lively to agree to the suggestion of the
Spanish minister that he should follow
European etiquette and return in per-
son the official visit which the Spanish
lnfanta paid him on Saturday. Amer
ican etiquette is good enough for him
and also for the IDfanta Eulalie, if her
smiling and handsome face is an in
dex of her feelings. The Infanta was
met at the depot by Secretary Gres-
ham, who as the Presidents personal
representative welcomed the nations
guest and her party and conducted
them under escort of two troops of U.
S. Cavalry to the elegant quarters
which had been prepared for them.
Mrs. Cleveland and the cabinet ladies
returned the call which The Infanta
and her party paid to the White House,
and tomorrow evening the President
and Mrs. Cleveland will give a state
dinner at the White House IN her hon
or, which will probably be Mrs. Cleve-
lands last public appearance until
after the interesting event which is ex-
pected IN July. This week Princess
Eulalie will 60 to New York. and from
there direct to the Worlds Fair. The
Infanta comes to America as the per-
sonal and official representative Of the
Queen Regent of Spain, who was in
vlted by Congress to visit the United
States during the Columbian Exposi-
ton. The Infanta apparently has
none Of the top loftical notions which
the Spanish minister has so indust-
riously been trying for several weeks to
make Washington people believe were
inseparable from Spanish royalty. On
the contrary she appears to be a very
sensible little woman, and she distinct
ly says that she wishes to be entertain.
ed in American style. She met many
old friends here, among them Rever-
end DIR. Curry, who was Minister to
Spain during the first Cleveland ad-
mlnlstration, and his estimable wife
whom the Princess met with an affect.
ionate kiss on each cheek, as is the
custom in Spain among relatives and
close friends.
'It seems a little queer" said one
Of group of democrats who were dis
cusslng the appointment of a new pub
lie printer, which is now daily looked
for, "that the South has only put for
ward one candidate for this position,
which Is, in my estimation, the most
important place below the cabinet
under the government, and which has
never, believe, been filled by south
ern man." 1t is queer, but it is the
fact, and if Mr.. John P. Murphy of
Knoxville, Tenn, the sole southern
candidate, was as strongly backed by
Congressman from the other southern
states as he is by those from his own
state he would probably secure the
prize. There are a score of candi-
dates from other sections, but it has
leaked out that President Cleveland
has been making inquiries about men
who are not candidates at all, and that
has prevented the friends of any of
them feeling over confident. The
term of the present public printer cx-
plred on the 18th instant.
If there are any sinecures attached
to the Washington Navy Yard, which
is in reality no longer a Navy Yard,
but gun shop, they have got to go.
Secretary Herbert has requested the
commandant to report at once whether
any position or positions now filled
can be dispensed with, and whether
any person now employed Is incompe-
tent or inefficient from any cause what
ever. A similar request will probably
be made Of the commandants at all
the government navy yards.
There is to be a big discharge
At the end OF the present fiscal year
rom the General Land Office owing
% the cut made in the appropriation
BY Congress. Sixty-eight clerks In the
classified service and thirty nine spec
al agents will sever their connection
With Uncle Sans business on the goth
If June, unless they can before that
ime get transferred to some other
branch of the service. In order to
void the pressure by the friends of the
Jerks in that bureau it has been de-
;ided that the dismissals shall be made
olely on the records of the clerks.
Secretary Herbert has deprived the
Nicaragua Canal Co. of its chief en-
,ineer by ordering Civil Engineer
Menocal, who has been working for
the Canal Co. for about four years, to
'eturn to duty.
The demand for gold for export has
again brought the gold reserve fund
'ery near to the $Ioo, 900, 900 mark,
but no uneasness is felt by Sec. Car
isle as offers of gold are still freely