Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-21
WASHINGTON CITY.
SOUTHERN LlGATshiPS TO Be iLLu-
MINATED BY ELECTRICITY.
Increase of tho Lights on the Interior
Rivers WINDOWS Financial Bomb
sheIl-rhc silver Market.

WASHINGTON, November Zu-lne
Lighthouse Board is making arrange
ments to have the new lightships soon
to be constructed along the South Allan
tic coast illuminated by electricity. and
an electrical expert has been sent to
New York to see what can be done. 1t
will be remembered that at the
last session of Congress appropriations
of much moro liberal character than
have heretofore been voted were made
for this service, and the South Atlantic
coast, as was recently shown IN this
correspondence. Jared very well indeed.
The big lighthouse to be constructed at
Diamond Shoals. of Cape Ha,teras,
is of course the greatest project OF the
kind that has been provided for; and
there is greater necessity for it than any
where else on the coast. The shipping
people call that stretch of water the
graveyard OF navigation"
MORE LIGHTS on TUE RIVERS.
The D1spArcH correspondent was also
informed to-day NJ the Office OF the
Lighthouse Board that the number of
lights on the interior rivers will be greatly
increased during the current fiscal
year. In the annual report now
being prepared aud in the estimate
to be submitted to Congress the board
will ask for even greater appropriations
for the rivers. II is contended that IN
lighting the rivers thcre Is really
greater return for the money than in the
expenditures made on the coast and on
the lakes.
A oUANDARY,
Secretary Window and other high
officials of the Treasury Department are
in somewhat of quandary regarding
the recommendations to be made TO
Congress in the annual report in refer
ence to what should be done to not only
relieve the present stringency OF the
money market, but also TO guard against
any further trouble. II is stated by
one of the men nigh in authority
that the Secretary is preparing TO
explode n bombshell by recommend
ING that the Treasury be authorized to
issue $500. 900, 900 in new 2 and ~ per
cent. bonds. and that these bonds be
allowed to take the place Of the 4 and
4I's, the latter to be redeemed
in currency and the former to
take their places. The Secretary is
credited with believing that this plan
would meet any oxigencies that might
arise, but fully realizes that if he springs
any such proposition the national banks
will make terrific warfare upon him. 1t
is by no means certain that no will favor
any such action.
THE SILVER MARKET.
Another thing that is worrying tho
Treasury officials is the present condi-
tion of the silver market. Prices have
been declining until the situation is now
really worse than ii was before the Con
ger bill was passed. Then, again. 10y
the unjust and arbitrary tariff legisls'
ton, which imposed duty OF lie. a
pound on the Mexican silver-lea1 or iiux'
ing-ores. many of .he big smelling works
in the United States thatused the Mexican
ores have been compelled 10 shut down.
New smelters are being built just across
| the Rio Grande river in Mexico, and the
| Republican statesmen find that it was
poor policy 70 change tho law in regarC
10 the silver lead ores. The ConRer bil
is a gold-bug measure. and altogethe
the general legislation Of the last session
of Congress is playing a game OF ruin II
the country at large.
THE ASSISTANT sECRErARYsHIP.
The President is having hard time
TO find suitabable man to appoint
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury tc
succeed Mr.. BatcheileI. Two New Yorl
congressman who will not be IN the mex
House want this place-Baker Of Roches
ter and Farquhar of Buffalo. They
are both here and are anxious to quit
the House at once and step into the
place at the Treasury. OF course only
one can be appointed.
WEAKEN THE MAJORITY.
The DIsPATcH correspondent was told
to-day at the department that one thing
which is operating against members OF
the House seeking positions is that il
they are taken out now tho Republican
majority will be weakened. The Re
publicana have at present majority oi
| twenty-three in the House. Several oi
their men are in very bad health. and
there are so many " dead ducks " in the
lot that old Tom Reed will be at his wit:
ends to keep partisan quorum on hand
No less than dozen Of the "dead
ducks are bowling for places under the
Administration. Grosyenor OF Ohio
wants to 90 abroad so does Bayne oi
Pittsburgh. Charles Emory Smith
editor of the Philadelphia Press, and Al
present Minister to Russia, is gettine
homesick, and his friends say he vii
soon ask TO be relieved. II he doei
Bayne will likely be sent to st. Peters
burg.
A. NJ. Smitherman has been appoint
ed postmaster at Shore, Yadkin county
n. c., Uice Ella n. Shore. removed.
Sale of w. l.. Scott's Horses.