Mohave County miner., 1888-04-28
WASHINGTON ~ LETTER.
tyRoa oua EraULAR CORRESPONDENT.

too rauch demoralized by the long dead
lock. which was broken only last Thurs
day, to pull itself together for work rs
yet. II is hoped, however, that our law
makers feel duly penitent for the wasted
time OF the past fortnight, most OF which
was spent In the most furious form Of
fillibustering, and that they will cndeavor
TO atone this week for recent sins by hard
work.
Tomorrow is the day set for calling up
the Mills tariff bill. Its friends say that
nothing has been lost by delaying so long
the great work OF the session. Time was
needed, not only for the preparation Of 4
bill, but for the creation OF public senti.
ment that would press it through. Both
Of these objects, they say, have been at
tanned. The revenue reformers expect a
victory, whether they have sufficient
reason to do 70 or not.
Since wrote you the senate, not per-
turbed in the least by the House dead
lock, has been moving along at its usual
dignifed pace. II has listened to taFii
reform speeches, high protection speeches
and speeches on the admission oi Dakota
into the Union, and ths question OF boy.
ing General Washington sword.
The Senate grag very pairibiia Etst
Wednesday. After passing a bill to pay
10000 for a pair Of swords which had
| belonged to Gen. Shields, bill TO erect a
monument In Boston 10 Gen. Warren,
who fell at Bunker Hill in the war OF The
Revolution, and some other bills for mon
uments to dead generals, there came up a
bill to purchase one OF George Washing
tons swords from Miss Verginia Taylor
Lewis at 10000. Then followed debate
which was hall sublime and hall redicu.
Ions, the sentimental and commercial
value Of the relic being presented by
Senators Evarts, Vest, Voorhees,, Hoar
and Cockrell
The Senator from Missouri tMr. Cock
rell) thought IL was a very expensive
sword and wanted to know il there was
any Identification OF it.
The New York Senator (Mr. Evarts)
who had charge Of the measure, said it's
authenticity and its relation TO the great
event Of the surrender OF Wasliington's
commission was indisputablc. II could
be seen in the historical picture OF that
event. IL had been Of use TO the United
States when used by its former owner.
In that relation it had value. As a nero
scabbard and blade it was not worth
much. II was one of the FIVE swords
mentioned in Gen. Washington's will,
and bequeathed 10 different ones Of his
kindred. The first Of them was that one
which had the traditional credit OF having
been presented to Washington by Fred
erick the Great, with the message that il
was from the Oldest soldier in the world
10 the greatest general in the world.
That sword was now owned by the State
OF New York, having been purchased
with other articlcs) for the sun Of $50 900.
MIR. Evarts said the price mentioned in
the bill now before the Senate $50 600
was that fixed by the representative oi
the legatee Of the sword. The committee
which reported the bill did not feel al
liberty TO cheaper the sword. II Ifanybody
else wanted TO cheaper it, it ought not to
be the Senate Of the United States.
But Senator Cockrell was not converted
He still insisted that the price asked was
exorbitant. The Shields swords were set
with jewels and therefore had an intrinsic
value. Mr.. Evarts here interposed that
the price fixed had no relation at all to
the money value of the blade. 1t was in
estimabie, it was the sword OF Washing.
ton.
Senator Cockrell was then reinforced
by Senator Vest, who said he had no idea
Of voting TO give 10000 for this sword
II this bill were TO pass, every relic ol
every other distinguished man would be
brought here and Congress asked to buy
it at an enormous price. A monument
the grandest in the world, had been
erected to the memory Of Washington
and one was being erected to the memory
of his mother There was proposition
before Congress to construct an avenue
from this city TO Mount Vernon at great
expense. In all sorts Of ways the Amsri
can people had tried to evidence theil
veneration for the Father OF bis Country
and Mr.. Vest had nc disposition to de
preciate the gratitude and honor which
} every American citizen should feel for thu
memory of Washington, still he did no
propose to pay the heir who wanted Il
make this sale any such price for th'
sword.
Senator Voorhees, said he would just al
soon vote 800 900 for this sword as an,
other sum. II was not a question o
money. Senator Hoar suggested tba
, Senator Vest amend the bill by substi
|, tuting the price $3.50 for 10000. Mr.
! Vest replied that lie had said nothing 4
, justify such suggestion. He had simpl.
! said that the price asked was enormous
, II they wished to express their estimat
3 OF the services of Washington they shoul'
, make the price OF that sword ten millions
, or rather one hundred millions. Who
he asked, had brought that sword here 9
| a matter of commerce? Who was willin