The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-02-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

upon to provide accommodation
tor the army of employees COAST
tuting the working force in th,
various departments and branches
OF the Government service, has re
sronded by the allowance of liberia
appropriations. This fact is attest
ed By in array of public buildings
at the National Capitol which, on
account OF the magnitude and
grandeur, have challenged both the
admiration aud wonder of the world
Strange as it may seem TO persons
uniformed upon the subject, the
increase of business in the various
departments has so far exceeded
the liberal provisions made by
Congress, in the way OF providing
office accommodations, that in mauy
instances ii has been found neces,
sary to rent private buildings, and
there are more than twenty such
buildings in Washington occupied
by the Government at the present
time. The mistaken economy OF
such Il course is ut once evident
when it is considered that there
are hundreds of available building
sites within the city owned by the
Government. AS IA rule these build
ingS are in no sense tire.proof, and
the danger OF exposing valua.
ble public records to possible loss
by fire is the most tOrcible argu,
ment which a be offered in oppO,
sition to the plan. Early during
the present week one of these
buildings, which is occupied by the
Government as Il branch of the
Surgeon Generals Office, and con.
tanning all the hospital records OF
the Western and Southern States,
upon which all claims tor pensions
are based, IA discovered to be on
fire. The loss of these records
would have been Irrpparable, as
tue Government possesses no other
copies. The timely discovery of
the fire together with prompt and
earnest efforts of an efficient fire
department alone served to avert
the danger of serious loss. AL.
though some of the documents
ere badly scOrched, nothing of
great value was destroyed.
Washington was visited on We'd
nesday last by the heaviest fall of
nov that has been known tor many
years. During the entire day the
air was filed by blending sheets OF
snow. Foot passengers were few
during the day. Street ears re.
quired double the usual number OF
horses, and even then traffic was
almost impossible. Navigation on
the river, which had been fairly
opened, is now rather difficult and
there is danger of another freeze.
The question of the right OF
Congress to examine the public
records without regard tOthe wishes
of the President or his Cabinet still
continues to occupy mncll of the
time OF tue Senate in Executive
Session, and T. public discussion of
HE CONTROVERSY us to the respect.
i've rights0f tile executive aud leg
branches OF the Govern.
nent in the matter of the removal
Federal officers is probable. The
polite but emphatic dCcliuation of
the Administrations 10 submit to the
Senate the documents in his pos
session concerning the suspension
IF District Attorney DuSkin, of
will result in Il lively de
bate on the rights of the Senate
md powers OF the Executive. In
he meantime the combinations of
persons appointed to ill vacancies
by remov Is has been viltu.
Ally suspended, and the greatest
,nxieiy prevails among the new
lppointees, who are anxious that
some compromise should be made.
A spirited discussion was had Ia
he Senate OIL Wednesday last upon
he occasion OF Mr.. Blair asking
hat 1000 copies of an argument
submitted to tho committee of edn.
and labor, in favor of the
to require that the public
ichoOl pupils in the District of
shall be taught the effects
alcoholic liquors upon the ply
iicdl system. The motion to print
vas, however, finally adopted.
There is a general movement
ImOug the trades unions of the
ity towards shortening the hours
# labor. The plumbers, timers
nd carpenters have decided that
lfter May 81 next they will de-
nand 50 per day for eight hours
york. 1t rs said that this move
is the beginning of a cOmbi-
IatiOn on the part of all the leading
abOr organizations in the city to-
Yards shorter hours of work. A
OF letter carriers from
'ariOus cities Is here to have tbeir
tatus under the eight-hOur law de
The Attorney General will
70 asked to submit an opinion on
be subject.
Senator SewelPs militia bill was
'assed by tue Senate on Friday
asst. The bill appropriates the sum
4 100000 annually tor the purpose
f providing arms, ordinance stores
nd camp equippage for issue to
he militia. Tue several States are
aeh to receive their pro rata of
his sum according to the number
4 Representatives returned to
congress. HAL.