Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-02-22
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. a


The President has been so affected by
the awful calamity which resulted III
the death of the wife and daughter oil |
Secretary Tracy on Monday, that he has
not made any attempt to look after pup
lie matters this week. The funeral OF
Mrs. and Miss Tracy took place Wednes-
day in the East room of the White
House, and the impressiveness OF the
scene, when Secretary Tracy broke down
and Mr.. Harrison with his arm atfec-
tionately around him and the tears
streaming down his own cheeks, tired
to comfort the bereaved husband and
fther. will never be forgotten by those
who witnessed it. Mr.. Harrison never
appeared in better light than at that
moment. Secretary Tracy, who made
narrow escape from death himself, is for
the present living at the White House.
Senator Morril's recent speech has
opened the eyes of everybody to the i'm
mediate need of a number of new Gov
eminent buildings in this city. Con
gressmen were surprised to learn that
| quarters are rented by the Government
in forty-six different places in Washing
ton, and that SD, 600 is annually paid
out for rents, to say nothing of the
| crowded condition of the White House,
| the Patent Office, the p ost-C flee depart
ment. and the Government Printing
Office. The last place is the worst OF all:
| It has been pronounced dangerous by a
| board of expert builders; unhealIb!
and badly overcrowded by physicians
| and the workers in it are in constant
fear from fire. The feeling in Congress
seems to be in favor of erecting the nee
essary public buildings to transact the
| public business without having to rent
| from private parties. The feeling seems
particularly strong in favor OF building
a new Government printing Office. thai
shall be worthy Of housing the largest
printing establishment in the world.
The investigation of the Ohio ballot
bcx forgeries was resumed by the house
committee this week. Governor Camp
bell and Editor Murat Halstead proved
very interesting witnesses, both of them
being at times questioned by ex-Gover
nor Foraker, who closely follows the pro
ceedings, and who seems TO think that
Wood is not the only rascal connected
with the case.
Superstitious people are calling atten
ton to tie history of the old Seward
mansion, which Mr.. Blaine's family
moved into last fall 1t has for many
years been called an unlucky house
and the death Of Mr.. Blaine's son anC
daughter within month has strength
eBod that idea IN the superstitioEs mind
| The resignation of First Deputy Com
mis- sIoner of Pensions Smith has beer
&c, pied to take effect March 9Th. i
was generally expected that Mr.. Smith
would 90 last fall. He acted as Com
missioner from the time Mr.. Tanner
left the Office until Gen. Raum was ap
pointed to succeed him. He was alsC
among those re-rated.
Senator Plumb has introduced bill
to encourage the propagation Of the
American bison or buffalo.
1t took four days of the time of the
House before Mr.. Smith, of West Vir
ginia, could get possession of the seat Il
which he was elected but which was oc
cupied by Mr.. Jackson. but he got II
at last.
Both Speaker Reed and ex-SpeakeI
Carlisle have made statements in relat
tion TO the action of their respective
parties in the ho3Se. Mr.. Reed says
to express it all in a nutshell, that the
republicans have been battling to give
the majority a right TO rule. Mr.. Car
isles statement, in brief, is that wh6t
Mr.. ReSd did, was wrong because il
| had never been Lone before.
The republicans Of the House had {
quorum Of their own members one da1
this week, but it was gone the next.
| This is convention v eek in Washing
ton. Among the National bodies here
are, The Beard Of Trade; Shipping
league; National Grand Association;
Association Of Post-office clerks, and the
COlCred Peoples convention.
a Code of Rules for the government
OF the House OF Representatives has
been reported TO that body. The new
rules Will practically give the Speaker
| all the power which he has recently
exercised over iillibusters Another
very important change is the clause
making pension bills in order at all times
The republicans of the House after sew
| eTal hours of discussion in caucus, ap-
| proved the rules as reported.
The United States Supreme Court
having decided hat The anti Mormon
test oath clause of the Idaho constitu-
ton is constitutional, it is expected that
tina Senate committee on Territories
will fayorably report the bill for Idaho's
! admission.
| Sen atorBlair's educational bill has
| been before the Senate this week. OF
course it will pass.
Senator Wolcott has introduced bill
for the admission of New Mexico.