Smyrna times., 1890-02-12
For ule SDlyT1ld Tim
Letter from Washington.

WASHINGTON, w ID. e., Feb. 10, 1890.
Though not formally presented to
the House the majority and minority
reports of the committee on rules have
been in the hands of the Journal Clerk
since Friday and have been ordered
printed, in preparation for the big de-
bate: The majority report in great
detail explains the difference between
the new code and the one formerly in
use, but the statement of difference is
unaceompanied with argument, except
IN the case of the rule as to ascertain
ing quorum and that providing that
mo dllatOry motion shall be enter
tanned by the Speaker" These and
the rule that one hundred members
shall constitute quorum in commit
tee OF the whole, are the only radical
changes. Against these, the minority
report signed by Messrs. Randall and
Carlisle, is mainly directed. The mi
nOrity report indicates that the debate
on these three points will be pro-
tracted.
The Senate committee on public
buildings and grounds has been or
dered to report by bills, or otherwise,
plans for the erection of several public
buildings and the purchase of sites and
for an addition to the White House.
The debate on the question has awak
ened general interest and the public
appears as much in favor of the idea as
do the Senators. Only niggardly leg
lslatiOn has prevented the erection of
several of the proposed buildings long
ago. BY this delay the government
has lost several million dollars, for
now that the necessity can no longer
be fought Oft for any length of time,
land IN the business portion of the citv
mas increased from the prices of five
years ago in startling manner. Land
now sells in the open market for three
to ten times what it brought then.
What it will bring in a few wears more
can be family imagined. And Uncle
Sam needing land, sits with his hands
in his pockets full of gold and lets op-
pOrtunity drift by.
Senator Morrill, told the Senate in
his speech the other day that Uncle
Sam is paying over 100000 per
annum in this city in renting buildings,
often awkward and architecturally un-
suited to public business, sometimes
badly lighted and ventilated, and gen
orally making no pretensiOns to being
tire-proof Many of these rents, bV
tricks that are dark, are double what
any other tenant would pay In these
insufficient structures are stored thous-
ands of tons of government records
tnat could only be partially reproduced
ana that at immense cost. The only
person who derives any benefit is the
happy landlord.
The newer government buildings
are fre-prOOf, but a few of the older
ones make no claim to being so. Sen
atOr Morrill, pronounced the govern
ment printing office a mere shell. a
a death trap. The government owns
some af the finest printing machinery
IN the world, with tons of excellent
material, and possesses the electro
types of works that cost thousands To
produce, and all this property is con-
tanned in a crazy shell of building
thin walled, built piece. meal as urgent
necessity called for additions. racked
out of shabe by machinery, and with
noors sagging from the weight of ma
terial.
Of more local Importance is the
question of new city post Office. The
present building is an ancient hotel.
dark, dirty and unhealthy. The ma
jority of the clerks work under pas
light, and sewer gas reigns supreme.
The difficulty of procuring a suitable
site has thus far prevented Congress
slonal action in this case. It will be
however, of some interest to learn
what Congress will do for two of the
hardest worked Glasses of people in
the employ of the government.