The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-05-03
Letter From the National Capital:


WASHINGTON, d. G., April -. 1888.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF: Dear Sir-After
severe spell Of cold weather and rain.
which it is devoutly to be wished may
close up Old Winters accounts for the
season, the genial break OF spring fills the
streets and parks with the beauty and
fashion of the city. Washington in the
summer season, with its broad and airy
streets, and its beautiful reservations, filled
with foliage and tiswers, is one Of the
most beautiful cities III the world, and
now that Congress has taken such a deep
interest in its Improvement, but few years
will elapSe ere il will rival if not eclipse
the wurld-famed Paris.
4 project has been on foot for a long
time to afford more room for the receipt
and delivery OF the mails, the present ac-
Communications being insufficient for the
proper transaction OF business. The sub
committee of the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, last week
agreed on site for city po,totnce build
ing. They viii recommend the purchase Of
the square bounded by PennSy lvania ave-
nue. and Ninth and T. streets, which will
cost something less than 5000, 900. The
estimated cost of the building is 81 200, 900
Ii erected on this site, the building would
have a broad frontage on Pennsylvania
avenue extending from Ninth to Tenth
streets, with the same frontage on Z street
where 1t would be convenient for loading
AMI unloading the mails.
Washington Monument has been closed
| to the public for nearly year in conSe-
quence of vandalism committed by per-
| SONS who were allowed to ascend by the
| dark stairway to the summit last winter.
| No appropriations having been made by
! Congress for an elevator or for lighting
the interior, visitors We're compelled te
use candles or torches during the ascent.
| The interior walls were found TO have
been much defaced by smoke and grease
| from the candles, which through sheer
clrelessn SIS had been knocked against the
walls. and i'll many places, the lettering on
| the stones had been defaced Conse-
| Quently, the monument was closed last
summer until such time as Congress should
make the appropriation required for run
ming the elevator, and lighting the interior
The Senate Committee on Appropriations
| have now under consideration bill pro-
| viding that the general care and Supervls-
ion of the monument he committed to the
| Secretary of War; that all sums Of money
appropriated therefor be expended under
| his direction, and that suitable annual APP
preparations for the maintenance Of the
monument and operating the machinery,
| including the elevator, be made. This bill
! will probably become law before the
present session of Congress closes, and the
monument once more thrown open to the
! public.
Hon. E J. Phelps, United States Min
| lister to England, who has been extensively
| -D0ken of as the probable successor to the
! late Chief Justice Waite, was on the floor
of the Sentete last Monday, and received
| quite an ovation from both Dem, cratic and
| Republican Senators.
The tariff bill still drags its slow length
| along, and general anxiety Is felt by the
| Democratic members to pass it before the
meeting of the Convention at st. LOUIS
/ Republican members insist upon an allow
ance Of ten days Of five hours each for the
presentation of their side Of the argument
and object to night sessions. The Demo
Gratis are unwilling to allow SO great a
limit and wish to hurry up the discussions
| by both night and day sessions. The dis
cusSiOn of the question has now fairly com
menced. and will probably consume a
| large part of the time of Congress until the
matter is disposed of. Petitions are daily
pouring into Congress from manufacturers
and Others, for and against sundry clauses
OF the measure, ana should 1t fhaily De
come law, it will probably be Target,
changed or modified from the original bill
as presented by Mr.. Mills. 1t is stateC
that of forty wool manufacturers of Rhod
Island, not more than four or five wan
free wool. Some opposition to the fire.
! wool clause is also reported from Texas
Sentiment in New England, on the ques
ton, seems to be pretty evenly divided.
1t is stated that Civil Service Commit:
sioner Oberly will be appointed Superir
tendent of the Indian School Bureau, whe
the Indian appropriation bill, which pre-
yidps for such an officer, has become Law
WIN. H. Barnum, Chairman of til
National Democratic Committee, arrive
/ in New York Sunday, having just returne
= from st. Louis, where he has been maxim
a arrangements for the Democratic Nationf
y | Convention. He says Cleveland will |
q re-nOminateCt by exclamation. He thinl
q Blaine will he the nominee Of the Repu
i licans The New York San predicts tn
when the Republican Convention is hel
= Blaine will be the nominee, and will pro
a ably at that time lie i'll mid-Ocean on h
+. wav to this country, and consequent
unable to accept or decline the homo
= That, as his arrival here VIII be at too la
ir date for a change, the nomination vi
a thereby be f0rced(O upon him.
Y Exposition Hall in St. Louis, which h
y been chosen for holding the Democrat
10 National Convention, is said to have
X seating capacity Of 12,000-the largest g
commodati0n for the purpose over give
Its acoustic properties are said to be pC
feet and arrangements have been ma
ia for the accommodation of everybody.
is The emblemS of mourning for the Ia
Chief Justice Waite were to-day remOv
from all the public buildings. j