Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-12
BLOOD ON THE MOON.
There was a Paucity Of Punch al
Cabinet Houses.
And the Sorrow Is Keen Even Unto Anger
Among Some.

= WAsnINITON, D. C., Jan. 11.-[Speeiall j.
Hawaii and the tariff are not our only
sensations here in Washington, as one
might think from perusal Of the DIS
patches in the daily papers. Society Is now
almost as important, from a Washington
point of view, as the interminable tariff
discussion and the unfortunate compiled
lions over the dusky queen of the Pacific
islands. Just now society is much con-
cerned because the ladies of the cabinet
provide such slender array of refresh
ments ut their receptions On the occasion
Of the first cabinet day, the first Wednesday
after New Years. two or three Of the cabi-
net houses were without any refreshments
ut all, while at the others nothing was
served except little tea or lemonade. Not
pint Of punch was observable in the whole
cabinet rounds. The old timers, the vet
Grams Of many a social campaign. who have
fairly lived On reception refreshments
throughout innumerable seasons, searched
the cabinet houses in vain for punch. Ell
ther claret or champagne, or for anything
that would satisfy healthy appetite be-
yond few bits of cake and macaroon or
two.
Looking For Punch.
1t Is unnecessary to say that the disap-
pointment is keen and general. The mat
ter has even been given a political bearing.
On account of the paucity Of punch and
other attractions at the cabinet houses we
have been told that this administration is
wretched failure Comparisons between
it and its way of doing things with the gen.
uproad 10 hty On hipnfs b1
been instituted, and it would not be sur
prising IL the discomfort were to find its
way into the coming campaigns. AT the
second cabinet day this week the refresh
ments served were even less profuse and
more simple and inexpensive than at the
first. 1t really begins to look as if the mo
collation." faction in the cabinet was going
to carry the day. IL is all very sad. PEG
Pile who live outside Washington have no
idea of the connection that has been caused
here, of the amount of gossip and number
of unpleasant remarks, by this new de-
parture on the part OF the mistresses of the
cabinet homes.
But this Is not all, by a long ways.
new question has been raised, and it is,
Has a senator or representative in con
gress right to decline an invitation to
uluncT III Inc w ullc lOuSe' ulo tACcIu
ingly delicate and interesting question was
brought to the front by the point blank re.
fusal of the two senators from New York
to attend a state dinner at%the executive
mansion. They took the ground that if
they did not wish to attend Mr.. Cleveland's
dinner they had a perfect right to say so
and to stay away. But not all people agree
with them. There is a tradition to the cf-
feet that an invitation to the White House,
whether to dinner or to any other func
ton, is in the nature of n command which
must not he dsobeyed This is one of the
strongest traditions of the Washington So
cial system.
Just as a president is not required to re-
turn calls, and may not as the president
accept invitations to private houses, 50
Il bid to the White House has always been
regarded as imperative. or course it has not
always been obeyed But in cases where it
was not desired or was not convenient to
accept some excuse has been found, such
rs illness, imperative previous engagement
or absence from the city. A point blank
refusal without excuse is something new,
and it is said by those who follow these
things that an instance off was not known
till Senators Hill and Murphy introduced
the innovation. Now that they have raised
the question, other senators are taking ii
mp, and every day talks on this subject
with arguments pro and con, may be heard
in senatorial drawing rooms and alsoin the
cloakrooms attached to the senate chamber
A Question of Authority.
, There is a growing spirit of independents.
in the senate The members of that body
chafa under the efforts which they claim
have been made on the part of the eXecu-
tive of late years to reduce their body to a
lower level than it was intended to occupy
by the founders of the government Some
of the southern senator's even go so far as
to quote the constitution of the United
States in support of their argument that
an invitation from the president is not
command 1t is worth going miles to heai
Senator Morgan and others from Dixie de
clare, with fine scorn and effective rhetoric,
that the senate has the right to command
the president, but the president to com
mand the senate, neveri We shall be lucky
IL this matter also is not taken into poll
tics. 1t is a curious illustration of the fact
that we are living in quarrelsome, discon-
tented and grumpy times when we can
not enjoy our afternoon receptions at the
cabinet houses or our state dinners in the
grand dining room OF the executive man
sion without getting intoa row about them.
Here's u State of Things.
Even the newspaper men Of the capital
have a social grievance. From time i'm
memorial il has been the custom to invite
the correspondents for the daily newspapers
to the evening receptions at the White
House This year the custom has been OBJ
served as usual, but, it is claimed, in way
that conveys slight to the invited guests.
Heretofore the invitations to these recep-
tions have been delivered by messenger at
the residences of correspondents, rs the in
vitations to senators, diplomats, members
of the house. army and navy officers and
Others are delivered. But this year the
cards to newspaper men were sent 70 their
offices.
The average man would say that it makes
very little difference to him whether an in
vitation be sent to his house or to his of
sce. but not so with some of the newspaper
merf. Their claim is that by sending invi-
tations 10 their places of business the pres