The Daily Tombstone., 1886-05-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. May 10, 1886.

COIlpleI6 pIoSITatlOn Ol lIle building interests, A week has passed since the general lockout was declared, and yet with the exception of few instances in which persons having unfinished buildings under construc ton have conceded tie eight hours demanded, both sides are still firm in their determination to maintain their petitions. Although hundreds of work men are idle, and the prospect of d final settlement indefinite and un- certain, still the best of order prevails and no breach of the peace anticipat- ed. The laboring men In Washing ton are in fact quIet and law-abiding citizens, and are outspoken in their condemnation of acts of violence, such as have occurred in Chicago and other cities during the past week. The building of m unusually number of houses during the present season had been contemplated, and it is hoped that the present difficulties may be settled and building resumed b,fore the season is far advanced.
 Now that the bill providing for the new library building has become q law, the committee intrustcd with the duty of selecting a site meet with a serious hindrance, owing to the ex- ccssive value set by the owners upon their property, The amount appro priated by the bill is only $jj0, eco, which 1t was thought would be amply sufficient to purchase either of the squares east of the Capitol. Some of the owners asK three or four times as much as the assessed valuation of their property. Justice Field, of the Supreme Court, who owns q house  upon one of the squares, asks the Go vernment to pay him the modest sum of $90,S60 for his property, while one of his neighbors, Mrs. General Mckee Dun wants $7S,000 for herhouse. The aggregate asked for the square north of East Capitol Street is S8O3, ,363, and for the square south $765,O44. The committee has decided to ask the owners of the property on the south side to reduce their estimates an aver age of one third, vhich will bring the aggregate within the limit Of the ap, priation. Should this be refused, ne cessary legal steps will at once be taken to secure the condemnation and appraisement of the property.
 Notwithstanding the efforts of its opponents to secure a reconsideration, the River and Harbor bill, which takes over $15,00Q,O0O from the srea- surY, passed the House on Thursday. Eighty-fve members voted in favor of MT. Holman's resolution to have the bill sent back to the committee with instructions to cut down the items until the aggregate should not exceed $S,O00,000, and 157 declared them selves opposed to such a check to the sums to be distributed to their re- spective districts.
 The Mexican pension bill is likely to undergo some material changes in the Senate. Senator Logan has in- troduced an amendment increasing | the rate for total helplessness to SIP q month.
 The Senafe Committee on the Dis trict of Columbia is engaged in ex- amining the charges of offensive par tisanship filed by Albany Republicans against Matthews, the colored Re corder of Deeds, for the District. It is thought that this investigation will not prevent, though it will of course delay his confirmation, and will con tinue Fred Douglass in office for some time to come, as his resignation is to take effect on the confirmation of his successor.
 The warm and pleasant weather has had effect of reminding Congressmen that the season is far advanced, and that it will be necessary to expedite business in order to reach an adjourn ment before the summer has passed.