Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASd1NGTuN LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Mar. l, 1886.
To THE SOUTH KESTUcKIAN:
There has just been finished at the
Navy Yard here an eight-inch steel
rifle which Is the first that this Gov
ernment has ever made, and is the
second steel rifle of any kind ever
built in the United States. When
the question of providing the new
cruisers with steel rifles was discuss
ed in Congress, it was contended by
the opponents of the bill that they
could not he made by the Govern
ment. The Ordnance Department
claimed that they could be, and so
were given an opportunity TO prove
its assertion. The one just complet-
ed will be tested shortly at the ex-
perimental battery, at Annapolis, and
II the results are what are expected,
Congress will make big appropria-
tion for their making, and then 1000
men will be employed at the yard in
stead of only 325 as at present. From
close estimates, made, it Is found
that the Government can do the work
for less than 80 per cent of what is
paid to contractors.
The Grand Army men are very
much exercised over the panorama
Of the second battle of Bull Run, now
being exhibited in this city. It is
claimed that the picture is not fair
representation of the battle, and that
II shows the Confederates triumph
ing over the Union forces. Senator
Wilson, on Thursday, presented in
the Senate copy of a series of res
olutions adopted by Lincoln Post, G.
A. r., Of Council Bluffs. Iowa, call
ing upon Congress to adopt legisla-
tion prohibiting the exhibition
at the National Capital" The pro-
moters Of the enterprise have erected
an immense brick structure costing
more than $4,000 in which to exhib-
1t the principal battles of the late
war and expect to reap rich harvest
out of their investment. 1t is be-
licved that the boycott by the G.. A.
r., will increase the attendance rath-
er than injure the enterprise as ev-
erybody will want to zee it for them
selves. A lot Of free advertising will
be the result Of the hue and cry
against the exhibition. I.
Congress has not discussed nor dis
posed Of any matter of public inter-
est this week, but the committees
have been hard at work on the ap-
preparation bills. The coming week,
however, we are promised some
animated debates. In the Senate the
Republican caucus resolutions on
official papers will come up, at which
time the Democrats will present res
olutions expressive of their views
and then a heated discussion will
follow. In the House the silver bill
will be considered and will probably
consume the whole week and a por-
ton of the next as ten days have
been set aside for its discussion and
some sixty members have signed their
desire TO be heard. ~ ''tN
Some time ago the Lee monument
association, organized to erect a stat
ne at Richmond, Va, in memory of
Gen. Robt. Lee, invited all artists and
sculptors who desired to compete, to
furnish plans and models for a mon
ument, the choice to be determined
by committee. Fifteen responded,
and for the past few days their de-
signs have been on exhibition in
Washington. Many of them show
great artistic excellence, and the col
lection makes very attractive dis
play. In order that the award might
be impartial and based solely on
merit, none of the names were at
taclled TO the models. The commit.
tee awarded the lst prize to Chas. II.
Niehaus, of Cincinnati, who was the
sculptor of the statue OF Ex-Presi-
dent Garfield. His design is an
equestrian statue standing on ped
estal supported by four female fig
ures representing Peace, Justice, Re-
ligion and Patriotism. The neces-
sary funds for the work have nearly
all been raised and the contract will
be made at an early date.
The friction between the Second
Comptroller of the Treasury and Gen.
Hazen has resulted in cutting off the
weather kilograms from a large num-
ber oftowns in States which have
heretofore received them. The trou-
BILE is about the appropriation for
that specific purpose. The people
will have to do their own guessing or
fall back on the grounding until
amicable relations are restored be-
tween the Signal Service and the
Treasury Department.
II Job had lived to prosecute a
claim against the U. S. Government,
he would have been in great danger
of spelling his proverbial record for
patience. Another illustration has
just been given of the many years of
working and waiting that are often
necessary to get Uncle Sam to pay
his bills. In 1868 Jos. W. Parish
had a contract to furnish ice along
the Mississippi River for hospital
and other uses He procured the ice
but the Government officers refused
to receive it. In consequence Parish
found himself in midsummer with
1900 tons of ice on hand, the mercu-
ry at 100 in the shade most of the
time. Mr.. Parish's ice gradually
melted away, dissolving also all the
money he had put into 1t. He figur-
ured up and found that the Govern
ment owed him $5S,34l. Congress
has at last allowed the claim and has
passed the necessary bill. Mr.. Par
ish has been living In Wash ington
for the past II years, devoting him
self to pushing his claim. Ii.