The Daily Tombstone., 1886-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. g, 1886.

SCA@SNASNAtAAi6, NAAS WI tAAh ACA W III eiAN various departments and branches of the Government service. has respond cd by the allowance of liberal approp- riations. This fact is attestod by an array of public buildings at the Ma tional Capital which, on account of theT magnitude and grandeur, have challenged both the admiration and wonder of the world. Strange as it may seem tO persons uninformed upon the subject, the increase of busi- ness in the various departments has so far exceeded the liberal provisions made ly Congress, in the way of providing office accommodations, that in many instances it has been found necessary 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 Q course is at once evident when it is considered that there are hundreds of available building sites within the city owned by the Government. As a rule these buildings are ia no sense fre-proof, and the danger of from ex- posing valuable public records to pos sible loss by fire is the most forcible argument which can be offered in op- position to the plan. Early during the present week one of these build ings, which is occupied by the Gov ernment as branch of the Surgeon GeneraI's office, and containing all of the hospital records of the Western and Southern States, on which all claims for pensions are based, was discovered to be on fire. The loss of these records would have been ire parable, as the Government possesses no other copies. The timely discovery of the fire together with prompt and earnest efforts of an efficient fire de partment alone served to avert the danger Gf serious loss. Although gsme cf the documents were badly scorched, nothing Of great value was destroyed.
 Washington was visited on Wednes- day last by the heaviest fall Of snow that has been known for many years. During the entire day the air was filled by blending sheets of snow. Foot passengers were few during the day. SIeet cars required double the usual number of horses, and even then traffic was. almost impossible; Navigation on the river, which had been fairiy opened, is now rather diff fcult and there is danger of another freeze.
 The question of the right of Gen. gress to examine the public rec ords without regard to the wishes of the President CT his Cabinet still coEtin- ues to occupy much of the time ol the Senate in Executive Session, and a public discussion of the controversy as to the respective rights of the ex ecqtive and legislative branches oi the Government in the matter of the removal of Federal officers is proba. ble, The polite but emphatic delina. ton of the admjnistration to submit to the Senate the documents in its possession concerning the suspension of District Attorney Duskin, of Ala. bama, will result in lively debate or the rights of the Senate and power; of the Executive, In the meantime the confrmations of persons appoint ed to fill vacancies caused byremovals has been virtually suspended, and tho greatest anxiety prevails among tho new appointees, who are anxious tha some compromise should be made.
 A spirited discussion was had in tht
 Senate on Wednesday last upon tn,
 occasion of MT. Blair asking tha
 1000 copies of an argument sub
 mitted to the committee of education
 and lacor, in faYor of the bill to re lI