Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-07

ica's holiday, but all concerned are now
delighted with the happy choice, Sir
Julian himself having stated that he is
very much of an American. The we'd
ding will be celebrated at the embassy
and will be one of the brilliant events Of
the Washington season. Miss Paunce-
fote is the first child of an Ambassador
to be married at the United States cap
ital. The President and all the members
Of his cabinet, with the entire diplomatic
corps, will attend the ceremony.
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A question OF precedence has been set
tied by Secretary Porter, the official So
cial arbiter at the White House. Occa-
sionally the wives of cabinet officers are
unablesto take their place in the official
line at the state receptions. Under such
circumstances daughter frequently acts
for her mother and the momentous ques-
ton has been whether this daughter
should take the place in the line which
her mother would occupy or go to the
foot of the class. Secretary Porter has
decided that the substitutes must go to
the foot of the line. below Miss Wilson,
daughter Of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, who is the regular representative
of her father, but who takes the foot Of
the line because he is legally at the foot
of the cabinet succession. Mr.. Porter's
decision puts an end to a social discus
sion which had in it the elements of some
heart burnings, and the matrons of the
cabinet are overjoyed at the fact.
The Roberts case is an annoying one
to both parties. Public sentiment. is
against allowing the Mormon member tc
hold seat in Congress. Mr.. Roberts
contends that the constitution of Utah
accepted by the United States Govern.
ment when the State was admitted, pro.
hibited polygamous marriages, but did
not prohibit men who had plural wives
from living with them and caring foI
them and their families. The Republicans
want to expel Roberts because he is
polygamist, not because he is a Mormon
or Democrat. The Democrats do not
want to have him expelled because he is
Democrat, but they do not care to de-
fend him as polygamist. They hesitate
at inviting him to the Democratic caucus,
but they do not care to deny him admis-
sion as a good Democrat. Meter side
cares to have it made party issue.
-
Mr.. Madden, the fourth assistant post.
master, general, in his annual report tells
how fourth-class postmasters sometimes
increase their compensation, which is reg.
ulated by the number of stamps that ore
sold and Cancelled in their offices. Many
postmasters who are merchants arrange
with the wholesale dealers with whom
they buy goods TO send as much as posi-.
BILE by mail as fourth-class matter. The
wholesale merchant puts single 2-cent
stamp upon a package, and when it ar.
rives at it's destination the merchant post.
master adds sufficient number of post.
age-due stamps to cover the deficiency,
which may run into dollars in q month.
Then he credits himself with the commits
sion on their cancellation under the ex.
listing rules for the regulation of compen-
sation Of postmasters of the fourth class.
-
Members of both houses Of Congress
are receiving largely signed petitions OF
sympathy with the Beers, which ask that
Congress shall interfere to protect them
from the rapacious policy of Great Brit
ain by insisting upon an arbitration of
the questions at issue. While Congress
has nothing to do with the foreign af
fairs of the country, and Is expressly for
hidden to interfere with them, there will
doubtless be an effort to respond in some
to public sentiment by the intro
duction and the possible passage of a
resolution of sympathy.
-
For thirty days the families of the ad-
will abstain from all social
pleasures out of respect to the memory
Of the late Vice-President. The ladies Of
the cabinet have withdrawn acceptances
Of several dinners and a number of inter
esting affairs have been abandoned. All
the houses of members of the cabinet will
be closed until the LIST of January.
-
The Navy Department has awarded
contracts for building the six unprotected
cruisers of $500 tons authorized by the
last Congress.