Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. Il, 1880

WASHINGTON. Jan. Il, $50.
death oi any prominent pers"n in Wash
inston from LA Grippe" On Tuesday,
less than n week before his death, Mr..
Blaine attended the reception Ia Mrs. Gen.
Grant where hc contracted the cold which
prustrated him. From the first the symr
tons were chills and pains throughout the
body. Death was very unexpected.
Walker Blaine was thirty-iive years oi
age aud unmarried. Few young men have
had 50 many opportunities in public life.
lie was literally brought up in luxurious
public positions. lie was third secretary
of state when his father was in Gariield's :
cabinet. While thus employed he was sent
to Chilli ANA Peru to inquire into the dis
putcd rights of Amsrican citizens there.
lie was recalled 10y President Arthur. In
-, h- was appointed junior counsel for
tn. United states before the Alabama
claims court. From 1856 To- 1883 Walker
Blaine Was out of office. and was employed
as u railroad attorney, with lttleto ds and
plenty cf assistants to Il" il for him.
Within two weeks after President lIarri-
sons Inauguration Nj. Blaine was nomi-
mated examiner of claims in the state de-
partmcnt. which made him the confidential
representative Of the secretary Walker
Blaine was Il young man oldecidcd abilities
and vast experience. lie had also great
push aud energy. combined with complete
confidence IN himself. II his life teaches
one lesson more than another, it is that
there are many greater misfortunes than
being born the son of the foremost Amrri-
can politician.
senator Farwcll's ire j. still up against
the administration That lac is only pre-
vented from making an open aud bitter
attack upon President Harrison ~ the
constant persuasion of his friends, Is no
secret. He j. iull oi fight aud longing for
un opportunity. one thing he has an
nouncrd that hc will do anyhow: lac will
tight tine appointment "f CLARK, nominated
~ collector uf customs for the port of
thicasn without consultation with either
of the senators from Illinois. 1t j. under
stood that clark and senator Farwell have
i.ren hitherto good friends aud that the
senator's oprosition to his nomination Is
based upon - dv~irr To vindicatr his own
honor Mr. Farwcll has been hard at
work among hi- colleagues this week aud il
said to have received assurances .f enough
votes To- defeat the nomination. This. how
ever is extremely doubtful.
The corridors in the crn-u- office au. the
superintendent : aud chief clrrh' room are
- hrdlam these days. one could pick up .,
respectable quorum "f the house uf repre-
sentatiNcs alin'.st any day hanging about
!" sec Superintendent Porter about put
tius some couStiiutrnt on the rolls. Humid
reds "i applicants are present i"r them
selves. willing to take any position nu
matter how small, but determined 10 sct
something. There are all sorts nf people
/ Bright eyed young girls, knowing young
men, awkward country boys. hlrar eyed
old mep aud frowzy old women. Som,
l"nk impairment, others desperate, other
! sullcn. The clerk who worked on The last
census is . common figure. The men %
/ this class are mostly of the blcar-eys.
order. They are the mysterious lowei
! class ma lor~ who hang about hotel Hobbies
from census to census it would seem, an,
upon whom time makes NO impr, S-ioi
save to make clothes already shabby I,
,rihe shabbier. They all "know Porter.
and speak in aifectIonate confidence q
What he has assured them shall be dome 10
them. They all claim TO be experts AN,
feel that the success of the neNt census lie
pends largely upon whether or not they ar
employed
The senate committee on naval Attain
held a special session this week To hear tn
| views of the naval board of policy ap
pointed last summer 10y secretary Tracy
10 formulate and report scheme for tn
Improvement of the navy to-the standar'
of that of iirst-clas- power. 'ommu
dorc McCann. president of the board, Gap
tain simpson and Navalcon-tructor Gate
wood did most of the talking. They ar
proved in general terms the hill Introduce
10y senator Hale. which authorized tn
president to have constructed eight battl
ships of from 1000 to Ia. 900 tons each
two armed coast vessels. three gunboats c
from 500 to 2oo tons each aud five first
class. improved torpedo boats. The hi
further appropriates s5.ooo,o ,ooo ior con
struction aud - 5000 f.r armament
which latter sum it IL expected would pre-
vide a most elaborate aud powerful gunner,
The policy board in reporting to Secretar
Tracy. will recommend the construction ,
1862 vessels of different type and size, To b
built within fourteen years, and tn cost, a
told. over two hundred and fifty million,