The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-30
RANDOM NOTES.

Some alarm has been expressed at a somewhat
narrow Interpretation OF the Library hill credited TO
the Library Commission, that the measure would
fall should the cost Of the property exceed the limit
OF ss5o,0oo I have It from the lips Of gentleman
who is thoroughly posted that the Commission has
never expressed any such opinion collectively, and
That where individual members OF the Commission
nave spoken the opinion given wssqulte the reverse
said my informant, "Secretary Lamar has said that
the limit OF fS5ocoo only referred to the case OF pur
chase by agreement, and that In case II condemua-
ton there was provision fot the payment ot what
ever sums might be awarded. Senator Motrin has
said also that there is authority tor the payment OF
any sum inat may be awarded W tine Jury, bu, ha,
me C9m&lsslon, While disposed to be fair, would
mol uunsent to any exorbltant awards"
What do you think OF the prices askedg" said l.
"Wer, l think that the prices asked by those In
the squares south OF East Capitol street were In the
main, very fair. The property holders on the north
side, with some exceptions, did not want to sell,
and they put their property higher, In some In.
stances, than they otherwise would have done.
am CONFIDENT he added, "from what know OF The
Commission, that they do not intend to e, the meas
ure fall. They are all deeply interested In the new
National Library, and they feel that this Is the last
chance for IT,
As Washiugtonlans are all more or less Interested
=" ""N'hk NVHkttsS WIN tWetf as IVnR rs pO9phc.
TOOK palms yesterday 10 inquire OF representative
men In Congrcss-one Democratic Senator and the
other Republican leader OF the Ilouse-wha the
prospects were for an early adjournment.
"There is some effort being ftiade,r said the Re.
publican member, ITO bring about an adjournmen,
by the FIRST Of July, hat 1t will necessarily fall In
Deed should not be surprised II Congress remained
In session until the middle Of August, The business
OF the House Is not In forward s,ate and there are
w ltp tntn
tween the House and Senate on various matters.
This has been peculiarly prolific session In original.
ing radical legislation on all sorts Of subjects.
great deal OF work has been put III shane by the
committees, and the a'er TO throttle legislation by
holding bAck Appropriation bills and then reporting
ldem for action to the exclusion OF other business
and adjourning suddenly, will fail Speaking as
Republican, should like to see an adjournment
without legislation by the responsive renocra,ic
majority on these vsricrs efsi questions 1t would
demonstrate tae iucompetency OF the Democratic
party TO leg'satc for the country. But laying party
politics aside, think the times demand the sitting
OF Congress Just 80 long as II may be necessary to
consider carefully the many matters OF general I'm
portance now before It,"
crossed to the north side OF the Capitol and
caught Democratic Senator taking frugal lunch,
AMI while mastlcatiug some very ancient ram
chops got this opinion from him:
VI have made my arrangements 10 stay here until
September" said he. "Of course we could get away
by the middle OF July, but VIC will not. Apart
from the appropriation bills, which will consume
considerable time yet there are other questions Of
Importance to be considered And there is a good
deal OF campaign literature In process OF manufac-
ture which Will have to be fired on. have no Idea
that we eau adjourn before August, and believe We
shall be here the greater part OF that MONTH"
"What is the inside history OF the Dakota row ~
asked gentleman prominent IN the annals of that
Territory.
ut Is mixed nght," he replied, ,"nto which niahy
elements OF dlscord enter. The main question Ia
as to whether the Territory shall be admitted as
whole or whether 1t shall be divided There is a
strong party prediction on the part Of the Repub
ltcans to make two States Of 1t. In this they have
the support OF a faction of the Democratic party
the faction which seems to be recognized by the Adj
minlstration the main body Of tine Democrats
OF the Territory In favor 81 admitting the State
as 1t is without division. The Springer bill is
satisfactory to them In most respects. The Repub-
lcans, with the aid Of the Democratic contingent,
seem to have captured the chairman OF the House
Committee on Territories. but do not think he can
carry with him enough votes to pass any measure
dividing the Territory. The Democrats In Dakota
who favor division are few In number, but unfortu-
nately they seem to have carried on the spois 30
far as the offices are concerned. Sooner or later
Dakota will have to be admitted. The Republicans
outside Of Dakota want TO make two States Of It,
which will, they think, give them seven more votes
In the Electoral College. They do not really expect
to carry a bill making two States out 0f the Terri
tory this Congress, but they have strong hopes OF
capturing the next House, and they are laying their
plans accordingly for four more Sen itors, three
more Congressman, and seven more electoral
votes"
met Senator Ransom last week, who assured me
that the Senate would provide for continuing the
work on the Potomac Flats, with d safety proyiso
protecting the Government from being mulcted by
the Improvement of the property-f ny-of alleged
claimants
strong combination Is forming to keep down the
appropriations for the increase OF the Navy, and es.
peclaly to limit tue amounts to be expended on
guns and Notifications. One wing Of this army will
deal In figures and harp upon the necessity of re-
duclnR appropriations. The other wing will indulge
In the customary spread eagle Oraory about the in
vncibty Of America and the bulwark of bare breasts
that would suf1ice with neither navy nor fortidca.
tions, to drive Invaders from shores. But tile com
bnation will fall tits now certain that the increase
OF the Navy Will be agreed upon, and that compre-
hensve system OF Notifications will be adopted aud
the manufacture OF heavy ordnance will be entered
upon. There Is some division OF opinion as to where
these guns should he made, but the drift OF Con.
gressonal sentiment is all In the direction OF the
Washington Navy Yard. Private interests are at
work to have II done elsewhere, but the bulk OF the
work will be done here. Every assault upon the
economy and value OF the ordnance work done at
the Washington Navy Yard has failed dIsastrousy.
Investigation only develops further facts going to
show that the work can be done better and more
cheaply here than In any private establishment In