The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-08-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our Regular Correspondent
Washington. D. c. Aug. 12ht., 1890.
ED. HERALD:-
The president returned to Washington
Wednesday afternoon, but he expects to
leave tomorrow for Boston to take part
in the ar ral encampment of the G. A. X.
1t is understood that an agreement
was reached as to the recommendations
which the president should make in
special message to Congress concerning
recip1 ocity and that the message will
shortly be sent in.
The senate to-day, according to agree
ment. put aside the tariff bill and took
up the River and Harbor bill. This bill
has several very important amendments
includeing one providing for the erection
ofan additional lock in the Sault Ste Marie
canal, and Speaker Reed has promised
delegation of senator's from tue north
west that he will not antagonize that
amendment when the bill goes back to
the house. This was quite concession
on the part of Mr.. Reed, who had pre-
viously been Opposed to this legislation,
and he only made it in Difference to the i'm
mense business interests, which the re-
cent accident in that canal has sho wn to
require additional faculties. 1t cannot
he stated at this writing whether the bill
will pass the senate this week, or not; it
all depends upon the disposition of the
senator's to debate the items in the bill.
have Just been informed that senator
Frye, who is in charge of the bill, will
endeaveor to have it voted upon to-mor-
row, but the chances are that it will not
be voted upon until next week. There is
not the slightest doubt of the passage of
the bill, and upon good authority it may
be stated that the president will sign it,
all runners to the contrary rotwithstand-
ing.
Economy is good thing in the alb
stract, but like all other good things it
can be carried to excess. For instance,
to refuse to make an appropriation for
new government printing office at The
present. session of congress, in view of the
condo n of the building now used, would
he almost criminal, and should an acct
dent involving loss of life occur, and
nothing but good luck will prevent it,
the feeling of the gentlemen who are OPP
posing this very necessary appropriation
would be anything but pleasant or envl-
able. Here are some facts cor corning the
condition of this old build n : where more
than 2OOO Citizens of the United States
are compelled to labor daily, breathing
an atmosphere that is breaking down
| their health, to say nothing of the dan
ger from fire or the falling of the dilapl-
dated walls and floors: In one portion
of the building, originally intended as a
warehouse, and measuring 13 by 20 feet,
80 women connected with the bindery
are packed like sardines. and during the
warm weather the thermometer stands
about % degrees all day. Think OF that
air TO De COIIl pSiiSN " WI i''' ~ ~ -
well known fact that when the floors OF
the folding rooms are heavily loaded,
| end they often are, that they settle at
| least three inches. First class arch:-
tects any builders who hav. carefully
examined the building have stated that
the bands in the walls are broken, and
that the walls are disintegrated and dan
serous. The present public printer
knowing the alarm felt by those work
ing in the building, has had the floors IN
the main wing strengthened by posts 8
inches square, but i'll case of a lire these
| would only add to the danger. There
are cracks in the walls big enough to
| take in a mans hand and when the press
arc running the vibrations Of the build
| ing remind one of the deck OF a steam
boat in motion, and yet there are men
in congress Who say there is no need to
hurry in erecting a new building. 1t Will
| be evcrlastingIy too late after catas-
tropIic which will shock the civilized
| world. Think of counting dollars and
cents where precious hu nan lives are at
stake.