The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-24
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE IN PRO
CESS OF INCUBATION.

Much OmciaI Secrecy and Red Tape
in the misunderstanding of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Notes
About the Lady of the white House.
Another HumOrist in the Agricui-
turaI Depnrtm Me-
KinIey's Portrait Nearing Compile
Observation-Disclosures Thinning out,
and the Brides and GrOOms' sea-
son On.
Washington, oct 2S.-Onclal business in
Washington is surrounded al present by
a hedge of mystery. 1t Is the season of
the year when few make the attempt to
break through this hedge and approach
the various High Cockolorums" of the
nation. The amount of red tape neces-
sary to pull, in order to do so, measures
many yards. and the members of Presi-
dent McKnleys official family sit in their
separate sanctums holding executive ses-
sions. like brooding mandarins. The rea-
son for this is the preparation of the Pres
dents annual message to congress.
Previous to its composition, the various
secretaries make up their annual reports,
and from them the President complies his
message. A system is observed which nee
essItates first The reports Of the various
chiefs of divisions to be submitted to the
heads of bureaus, whose reports, in turn
are made over to the secretaries. ms
line of procedure Is attended with great
mystery and it would seem to the casual
observer that instead of monetary re-
view calculated to interest all who nave
an eve to legislation, some national con-
spiracy was being Matched.
Ceremony is to be expected at the hahds
of the chief executive and his councillors,
but such ceremonlous caution as is OBJ
served I'm regard to the annual message Is
almost ludicrous.
Graduated from the Presidents consid-
grafton a. copy of the message Is intrust-
ed to the most confidential white mousse
secretary. who bears 1t to the government
printing office, where it goes to press
within a sealed ROOM In charge OF trust
worthy printers. After leaving their
hands an executive clerk is chosen to bear
the precious document to New YORK.
where IL becomes the sacred trust OF the
postmaster. who holds the message untl
n has been submitted TO congress ana -
ready to be released to the news agencies
THE number of office seekers at the
white house has vlsibly diminished since
the President announced the postpone~
n1eut of all appointments until congress
conyenes. A later consideration regard
ing amendments is due to the pressure
brought to bear upon him by senators ana
representatives who desire to see the
President and present their persohal pref
erences and claims.
But one or two more sittings are neces-
sary to complete the portrait OF Mr.. NC
Kinley. which is being painted by ARTIST
Penzinger. The east room formerly util-
lied as a studio. was abandoned rev
weeks ago owing to the disappointment
manifested by tourists who failed to catch
q glimpse Of It's interior when visiting the
white house. President Mckinley con-
clude. In view Of the fact that the east
room Is the only one open to the public,
that It was unfair to close 1t for an hour
or two each morning, even Tor the sake
of high art, so the artists easel was set
up in an upper apartment, where the
light proved quite as good as that obtain-
able below.
Another annual event of local interest
is the deluge Of brides and grooms that
causes Washington guides to term Oce
tober the "fall dove month" The capitol
and public buildings have been the places
subject to their blissful wanderings mere.
tofore, but now the new congressional
library Is the rallying point for sentimental
couples. Hundreds of persons visit this
magnificent edince daily, and half that
number appear 20 have but recently left
the altar.
A second excellent point at which TO
view the brides IS the north portico of
the white house every morning from 10
10 1870 o'clock. At about that time it is
customary for Mrs. Mckinley to take her
morning drive. IN view of this event, a
group of sight-seers assemblies about the
entrance to gaze upon the first lady of
the land"
Their curiosity is rewarded by the sight
of a sweet-faced little woman modestly
attired in carriage costume, consisting of
a dark gown, dainty cape Of velvet and
lace, and a small bonnet with a white
eigrette as its most conspicuous feature.
She appears, usually. with an attendant
on either side, whose duty ut is to assist
her TO the carriage, for Mrs. Mckinley 4
malady is such that she experiences diff