Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-19
WASHINGTON LETTER
Written and Compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1889.

CeOLfal dOu OOuIu AmcllOoh Wv
ernments that they wi II send dele
gates to the "Three Americas
Congress-" which is to be held in
this city next October. 1t is now
almost certain that every American
Government will be represented
Much benefit to us and a large in
crease IN trade with those countries
is expected to follow the conference
Secretary Proc tor has issued an
order to the effect that when suita
BILE supplies of domestic manufac
ture or production cannot be Oh
tanned for the War Department
and it becomes necessary to pur
chase articles of foreign manufac
ture or production, authority fol
such purchase must first be OBJ
tanned from the Secretary Of War
This means that no more contracts
are to be made with English man
ufacturers, as was done by the
| Cleveland adj mlnistratiOn, TO sup
ply the L. S. Army with blankets
because ad hitting them free OF
duty the G overnment saved a few
cents on each blanket, Secretary
Proctor thinks American manufac
turers should be given the con
tracts.
Mr.. Thomas B. Coulter, of Ohio
who was backed by Senator Sher
man, has been appointed Auditor
of the Treasury for the Post Office
Department. This is regarded by
the Ohio people as quite a victory
owing to the fact that several Other
States were pressing candidates fol
this very important position.
Senator Spooner, whose smiling
visage has been seen at the White
House almost daily since the In
augaration, has gone home. lie
proposes taking his wife and boy ia
Europe the latter part Of this
month. After telling the Presi
dent Goodbye" he remarked to a
friend standing by: II feel as
though l deserved rest. Since a
year ago last November have been
busily engaged in attending strict
| IN to Senatorial duties. The only
break in that period was during
the campaign, when l delivered on
an average three speeches a day.
Colonel Fred Grant is here re-
ceiving his last instructions pre-
vious to sailing for his post. He
called on the President last Satur'
day and after coming down stairs
he held an impromtu reception
among the older employees of the
White House who we're there when
be was a gay light. hearted youth
The scene was quite affecting.
Representative Peters, OF Kan
sas, is "hustler." Although there
will not be a single legal settler in
the Oklahoma country until a week
from today, Mr.. Peters has sue
ceeded IN getting two of his con-
stituents appointed postmasters,
one at each fthe Government land
offices which will be opened out
there on Monday.
1t is thought the silver question
will be the cause of considerable
discussion in the near future
Senator Stewart recently called on
Secretary Window in order to en-.
deavor to influence him to increase
the monthly purchase of silver
bullion. He argued hat it was an
excellent way to reduce the sur
pins. But the Secretary was not
convinced. He said he had twenty
millions of silver dollars now IN
the vaults of the Treasury which
he would be very glad to part
with. To purchase more silver
would be, in his opinion, simply
changing the surplus from gold
and paper to silver. The Secre-
tary finally told the Senator that
he could not decide the question
until it had been carefully weighed
and considered by the President,
and discussed by the Cabinet. In
the meantime Senator Stewart is
vigorously advocating his prOpo.
sition.
Assistant Secretary Bussey, OF
the Department of the Interior, is
the official who has to finally pass
| Judgment on all cases of appeal
from the decision of the Commits
sioner of Pensions. He has al
ready proven himself qualified for
the difficult duties of the position.
lie has reversed a number of de-
cisions of the late Commissioner of
Pensions, and the grounds OF re-
versal have been such that no un-
preiudiced man could object to
then, while they will give justice
to many needy old soldiers who
have been uDjOstly kept out Of the
pensions they should have long
ago had.
Commissioner of Pensions Tan
ner has issued the following order;
"wbenevera pensioners disabled in
a hand or foot in a degree emitting
him to $24 per month under the
act of March 3rd, 1885, such