The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHINsToN. D. C.. March 10, 1884
The activity in the democratic camp in
the work of preparing for the skirmiSh
that is to take place at Chicago, Is not so
noticeable as that in the republican. The
leaders. however, are not idle, and very
efficient work is being done in those states
who voices VIII be potential in the con-
ventioD, aud whose votes are regarded as
necessary to the success of the democratic
candidate. Mr. Payne, of Chic, by his
election 10 the United States senate, has
gained additional prominence as a presi-
dental candidate, and has thereby mate
rally increased his prospects for the nom
nation. All the indications point to 6
solid delegation for Payne from Ohio. \
prominent southern congressman said
recently that the delegates from his sec
ton would mostly come uninstructed, and
would be inclined to allow New York
New Jersey, Connecticut and Ohio to
name the candidate. as the vote of one or
more. OF these states appeared necessary
10 success. But the disagreement on the
tariff question now seems likely to give a
different turn to democratic politics. Mr.
Randall, by his course in congress since
his defeat for the speaBership, has made
his wing OF the party pretty good tail
to the republican kite, and ii now looks
as though the tariff reformers would take
a stand which must upset all previous
calculations.
A inrrrn mo Of ~ -
gress fayorS the Morrison bill and caucus
TO be held before this reaches you. will
most assuredly endorse that measure,
whereupon the fight will begin. The re-
suit nobody can at present foretell, but it
is not unlikely that the west and south
will stand together on the question, in
congress and in the national convention,
and that this will mean ex-senator Nc
Donald or Judge Thurman or Mr.. Morri
son as the candidate for president. Mr..
Mcdonald has been here for some days
past, and has been in consultation with
Carlisle Morrison and other leaders with
whom he is in full accord 1t is hinted in
some quarters that the anti-monopoly
labor convention at indianapolis will
nominate Judge Thurman, on his record
in the contest with the Pacific railways,
and that if the democratic convention
endorse the nomination it will sweep the
country as the ant-land grant sentiment
has swept through congress. Undoubt-
eddy the time is coming when monopolies
and money bags will not run the elections
of this country, but whether that time has
yet arrived the events of the next few
months may possibly determine.
Ever since the disastrous fire of Septem.
Der, 1877, by which the patent Office
building was partially burned and so many
models destroyed. the work of restoring
the roof and reconstructing the interior
has been going on. 1t is now nearly
complete, and in short time the unsightly
debris and appliances that have so long
appeared around the structure will be
removed. The building is not strictly the
patent office but belongs to the interior
department generally. 1t houses besides
the patent bureau, the general land office,
the Indian bureau and the secretary of the
interior, though the first named bureau
occupies the greater part, which is proba-
bly, the reason it has come to be called the
patent office. The time occupied in re-
pairing this structure-seven years-is a
fair illustration OF the way government
work drags along. 1t has however in this
case been well done, and has been carried
on so as not to interrupt the business of
the office. The new roof is water tight,
overlaid with Portland concrete, and this
is covered with timed copper. The patent
office will now have an abundance of
office rooms of good size, twelve feet
high, well lighted and ventilated, and
there are four model halls, each 1862 feet
in length and 62 feet wide. The profits
from fees for patents have more than paid
for this building
The talk of erecting palace hotel here,
occupying whole square of ground, is
revived again lately, probably because of
the profitable business done by our hotels
this winter. Early in the season it was
stated by some writer that the hotel bus
mess in Washington was on the decline,
and that this, owing to the large number
OF congressman going TO housekeeping,
would be an unusually dull winter in the
hotels. But the reverse has been the fact
Willards, for instance, where your cores
pondent picks his teeth, has not done so
good business for years. One reason
for this, perhaps, is that it has never been
better kept, Mr.. O. G. Staples, widely
known as proprietor of the Thousand
island house, being landlord who knows
all about the business. And certainly no
house ever had more popular and eff
cient Office force Mr.. Walter II. Griffin,
the cashier, will in u short time 60 again
for the summer to the Thousand Island
house, and Mr.. George T. Farrar is book
ed for another summer resort. Mr.. Frost,
book keeper. and Mr.. J. c. Mulford,
room-cltrk, are not unlikely to re main at
Wizards the year round. The latter is
well known in connection with the FIT.
VIM. Henry hotel, Lake George. | take
pleasure in saying something pleasant of
these gentlemen because they make every
one with whom they come in contact feel
that they deserve it, dom PEDRO.