The sun., 1894-01-29
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
WHT THE DATE FOR THE MEETINGS
or CONGRESS SHOULD me- CBANeEn

Dep.rtu,ssrs Picture Gallery OF FORMER
secretsrie.-rhe Awusing Eistshe or
Some Members of the n pio-,auc Corrs.
wAsHrNdrov Jan. % Col. Haliett Kilbourn
Of Washington the President Of the Grange
that meets nightly at Chamberliu's, and who
Is the author of the movement looking to
change in the law providing for tho meetings
OF Congress on March 4, instead OF on the
first Monday in December has resumed active
operations in the interest OF this proposed
legislation. When tho plan was started. a
year or two ago. 1t was determined that 1t
would be unwise to press the question until
after President Cleveland should have been in
nugurated. Rs he would. It was thought.
be opposed to bandlcnppipg himsel! at
tho opening OF his second Admins.
tration by having Congress "on his
hands" from the start. The subject was.
therefore. lett in allegiance. butts now being
brought forward again by Col. kilbourn and
his followers. The question OF changing the
dato for the meeting time Of Congress Is in no
wise involved in the question Of changing the
date OF Inauguration. but its advocates simply
seek to change the law so thnt Congress will
meet i'm medintely upon the expiration Of the
terms OF defeated Congressman. in order that
their successors may more directly repre-
sent tho prevailing political sentiment Of the
constituents who elected them. As II is now.
n new Congressman docs not take his seat
until moro than nine months after the he
ginning Of his term. The political sentiment
OF the country has often changed II Is pointed
out by the advocates Of the new policy, during
the interval between the election OF n Con-
gressman and his swearing in a. n membc..
and that consideration alone. they think.
should Justify achangc in the law. 1t is fur
thor held by the friends Of the proposed change
thnf {t "a nj f,r hers of
Congress to draw their salnries for eight or
nine months before taking the oath OF Office.
No other class OF Governme ent oflicials are
allowed to do It, AMI II Is held au exception
should not lie made in favor oil the congress
men.
thr suploct was ehacte, lue iuEEsn.l@,n @ % oi
telcEiaphy, the increased modes "i Transport
tution. Rnd many other consultations arc
brought forward in support OF the proposed
change of date. the most important OF whlch
is, rethaps. the suggestion thut the countrr
should not be subjected to tho one man power
OF the resident Tor sevrtal months IN the
year. when Congress Is away from Washing
ton during the time melate!y succeeding
the inauguration. The lesson taught 10y the
Hawaiian hasro will he pointed t. us n strong
argument in favor of deprlving the President
OF the arbitrary power which lie possesses as
no one for his acs. for nearly year after his
Inauguration. when, Congress = away fiom
Washington. and. In fact. not In eNistenceaSthe
members are not sworn in until tho Decent or
following tn" beGinnlnG OF their terms. Had
and remained in session for few months II
would have Leru inpossibls for the Admins
tratinn to have pursued the Hawaiian policy
which has ended in such shame and disaster.
Tie President managed to keep the situation
that could force him to disclose the secrets OF
the Adm n istration.
The agitation in favor of law changing tho
meeting time OF Congress FROM the irrst Mon.
day in December to the lth OF March will take
the shape soon of Joint resolution. and its
passage will be advocated by some OF the
ablest len in both Houses.
Third Assistant Secretary OF State strobel
and the Assistant Secretaries OF the Treasury.
Hanlin and Curtis. are all very young men. the
youngest indeed who have held such import
ant places under the Government in Washing
ton In recent yrHTs They are men Of fashion
and trains are somewhat scarce In the fash
ionahl,. society in Washington, they are In
7. Uhl. tho new First assistant Secretary Of
state. l. handsomer than the others men
toned, but he is older and more settled. He IS
a family man. and his home on street has al
ready become popular RENDEZVOUS on rscep-
from from, in tho list Of LAWYER. in Michigan. and
has n Responsible and lucrative practice. lie
IL man of fine address. an'i IA modest and rs-
cinI circles. aud Is said to lie doing valuable
work IN the state Department
The State Department is In possession OF
most interesting collection OF oil paintings and
photographs OF all tho Secretaries OF state.
from Thomas Jefferson down to and Including
Thomas +; hazard al y these pictmros were
been recently returned and are now being
hung in tho room formerly used as the ante
Bayard was rainted at cost TO the Govern
nent OF $50. and Is one ot the poorest In the
great merit and were executed by artist, dis
tnguisnrd In their day No appropriation is
buta sum sufrlcient is usually at straeted from
the Contingency fund OF the d-pariment The
ter have not Vet been painted. These Will prob
ably be ready to hang In tho picture gallery in
The steel cngrnvings Of the Secretaries are
now being placed In the office OF the chief
clerk Of the department. where the public can
view them at all tines Formerly they were
in a room adjoining one OF the assistant Sec
retarles. where lew C.rsons ,eldom saw them:
Secretary Of State who wore full beard. All
o. tho others, except John I. calhoun. had
Tas.s % mttoocbop tnSuss hiSIT!e mS
kers and small goatee. Secretary Foster, who
succeeded nlaine. wore the =, most iHIuriant,
varinbly clean shaven. Secretary Gresham
that were once black. rhe portraits OF the
last three Secretaries will be dinloult 10 exc
arO can be secured when there is no beard on the
face.
Members OF the Diplomatic corps resident In
Washington are apt to look at the ordinary
affairs Of life in a rather serious way that is
quite amusing. This habit OF attaching
undue importance to the trivial affairs
Of everyday lie led several OF the
Ministers to appeal TO the Secretary
OF state few days ago for pro;cction from
threatened arrest. Tho danger. however was
purely imaginary. and due altogether to the
enteTprising customs OF American advertising
A theatrical company prepared circular In
Imitation OF a legal summons. using all the
necessary verbiage OF the law and with
sealing wax aud red tape attached sent
one TO every prominent person in WASH
ington as summons to appear and pur-
chase a ticket 10 the pertormapre, lhe
Turkish Minister. Col MaYroysni Iey. with
all his knowledge OF American customs was
the first 10 10 ke alarm. He drove Immediately
TO the State Department with his summons In
his pocket. and with tho utmost sOlemnity
known to diplomatic conversation demanded
protect lon from the Secretary ol state and
Information why he, foreign representative,
exempt from arrests for debts or crime OF
any Kind. should be summoned before
a common everyday Justice OF the Peace
in regard to a matter OF which he knew AGsO-
lutely nothing. While he was making his in
diRnant TemOnstTancss twp or three other
AipIa al tlaNn ha Gb nd "a