The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-27
WASHINGTON NEWS.
AND GOSSlPAT THE
FEDERAL CAPITAL.

The House Getting Ready to InVe,tisat
Southern Elections The Radical. Tryin
to Make Political lCapital out of ia
Tsxas-Capital New- and Noic..
WASHINGTON. ID. c., August 26.-Th
Star this evening SAYS: Representative
| Rowen. Of Illinois. and Peters. o
| Kansas. have gone TO Louisiana 90 tax
/ part m the campaign for the Repub
licans To elect successor % the lat,
| Representative Gay. The fact that Mr.
( Rowell was a prominent mem
ber Of the House Committe,
on Elections during the last Con
gress. and is almost certain to b,
chairman of that committee. whoever
is elected speaker. and that Mr.. Peter.
has always taken an active interest M
Southern election cases. aud is apt to
be a member of the Elections Commit.
tee. adds a significance TO their en-.
trance into this campaign. lt Is under
stood that they propose % take close
personal observation of the election
methods in louisiana. 50 that they
will be better able 80 deal
in the House this winter. The elections
in the particular district they now pro-
pose to stump may come before them
in the shape OF a contest. lt is likel s.
that an attempt will be made by the
Election 5 Committee. 90 pass general
bill TO correct election frauds IN the
South. and the stock If Information
these members set IN this little contest
may be of value TO them in this work.
THE BATTLE-sHP TEXAS.
It was reported at the Navy Depart
ment to-day that Naval Constructor
Bowles will ask TO be relieved from
duty as a member Of the board appoint
el to examine and report upon the
plans for the blttle-ship Texas. His
motive is said TO be desire to f0rostall
any criticism that might be made.
based upon the fact that he has already
committed himself IN favor of the con-
struction of the ship upon the Englis
designs.
WILL THE TEXAS FLOAT.
The cOnundrum. will the battle
ship Texas flCat = is perplexing naval
officers just now. and navy officers
generally are quite reticent when
asked to express an opinion about
the matter One official stated to-
day within his own circle Ot friends.
that it was a known fact that the
most inexcusable error bad been
made in the calculations. and that the
Texas would be worse than a useless
vessel. even if considerably modified,
to avoid the present defects. This au-
thOrity places the blame largely upon
the board consisting Of officers and ci-
villains. by whom the plan of the Texas
was adopted. This board was composed
Of Commodore Ramsey. Lieutenant
Knox, Chief Engineer Kierslel. .
Assistant Constructor B0wles, 3lr
Burgess and Mr. Wilson. the two
latter being civilians. According to I
this ollicial. the board was not expert /
in the subjects which il should have /
been considered. One was cOmm0- /
.lOre. another a lieutenant, another = /
chief engineer, and Assistant Construc-
tor BOwles was the single naval officer +
On the board, who could be expected I.
ID be familiar with all The de- I
tails OF construction. OF the /
two civilian members of tho board /
Mr.. Burgess va zach. builder while /
lr. Wilson was an engine builder in /
Inc employ of the Cramps. The board /
t WAS thus practically compelled to ac-
,ept the calculations of the designers /
As being correct whereas a board of I
experts i'm construction could. by "a .
Imperative method, determine i'm q .
brief time Just what the displacement .
he Texas, If built and armed. according
% the specifications. The Department,
las a great amount OF information on
he subject OF displacement. and by
a new design with some
hing of the same character already
quilt, an approximate result can be
cached without the necessity of am tx
ensiye mathematical calculation. Had /
wo or three members OF the board
)een expert on thi, subject, they would
iavc discovered defects in the design
If the Texas almost 40 once As
{ was. the board swallowed every
hing that the designers presented
md Iaid little attention TO verifying
.nything. Their decision was made
when only week 5 study had been
,iVen % the design of the Texas. This.
II Itself. he says. Is convincing they
Ook the statement of the designers for
,rantcd There Is no question. said
le, but what Congress Will inyesti-
,ate this Texas business 40 an early
late. So much money has Daeu
expended that Congress Will
lot let il be buried out OF
light. If ths money has been thrown
way, somebody will have to be held
espOnslble for it. When this inyesu-
alton takes place. you will learn more
D a week what Is the matter with the
'exas than would be disclosed by lhi,
apartment in six months.
mPPoLYrE IN PoRT-AU.PRINcE.
Acting Secretary Walker. Of tho
'avy Department. received the follow
ablegIam this morning from the United
tates tConsui at Santiago de Cuba.
ated to day: "Gherarii at P0rt-au-
'rince orders me to cable that Hippo
yte' forces, 1000 men. quietly Occu-
led the town ON the 23d. The minis
ar Of war of northern forces assures
le he will permit no riOting nor
of property. The French
oryette sails at noon for Santiago de
uba with Legitime, his principal fol-
)wers. and numbers Of refugees. The
Ity continues quiet. HippOiyte, as
royisional president, enters to day. '
POSTMASTER APPOINTED.
John NJ. Colaw was to-day appointed g
at Montery, Highland
)unty, Virginia.
CAPITAL NOTES.
Postmaster General Wanamaker re-
lrned to Washington this morning.
fter two week vacation, and was Z
his desk in the Department to-day.
smokers Request