Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-02-13


ip the death Of the wife and daughter
OF Secretary Tracy on Monday, that
he has not made any attempt to look
after public matters this week. The
funeral OF Mrs. and Miss Tracy took
place Wednesday Ia the East room Of
the White House, and the impressive
hess Of the scene, when Secretary
Tracy broke down and Mr.. Harrison
with his arm affectionately around
him and the tears streaming down his
own cheeks, tried to comforb the be.
reavsd husband and father, will never
be forgotten by those who witnessed
it. Mr.. Harrison never appeared In q
better light than at that moment.
Secretary Tracy, who made a narrow
escape from death himself, is for the
present living at the White House.
Senator Morrill's recent speech has
opened the eyes OF everybody to the
immediate need Of a number of new
Government buildings in this city.
Congressman were surprised to learn
that quarters are rented by the Gov
eminent In forty six different places
in Washington and that $l21, 900 is
annually paid out for rents, to say
nothing of the crowded condition OF
the White House, the Patent Office,
the Post-office depai tment, and the
Government Printing office. The
last place is the worst OF all it has been
pronounced dangerous by board of
expert builders; unhealthy 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 necessary
public buildings to transact the pub
lie business without having to rent
from private parties. The feeling
seems particularly strong in favor OF
building new Government printing
oface, that shall be worthy of housing
the largest printing establishment in
the world.
The investigation of the Ohio ballot
box forgeries was resumed by the
House committee this week. Cover
nor Campbell and Editor Murat Hal
stead proved very interesting witness
es, both. of them being at times ques
toned by Ex-Governor Foraker. who
closely follows the proceedings, and
who seems to think that Wood Is not
the only rascal connected with the
case.
Superstitious people are calling at
tention to the history of the old Sew
ard 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 and
daughter within u month has strength
ened that idea ia the superstitious
mind. --..s,.-,
The resignation of First deputy Com
missioner of Pensions Smith has been
accepted to take effect March s. 1t
was generally expected that Mr. Smith
would go last fall. He acted as Com
missioner from the time Mr.. Tanner
left the Office until Gen. Raum was
appointed to succeed him. He was
also among those re-rated.
Senator Plumb has introduced a
bill to encourage the propagation Of the
American bison or buffaloes.
1t took four days of the time of the
House before Mr.. Smith, Of West Vir-
ginia. could get possession of the seat
to which he was elected but which
was occupied by Mr.. Jackson, but he
got it at last.
Both speaker Reed and ex-Speaker
Carlisle have made statements in re-
lation to the action of their respective
parties IN the uouse. mr.. rseeu suy
to express it all in "a nutshell, that the
republicans have been battling to give
the majority right to rule. NJ :.
Carlisle's statement, in brief. is that
what Mr.. Reed did, was wrong because
it had never been done before.
The republicans of the House had a
quorum of their own members one
day this week, but it was gone the
next.
This is convention week in Washing
ton. Among the National bodies here
are: The Board of Trade; Shipping
League: National Grand Association
Association of Post Office clerks, and
the Colored Peoples convention.
A code of Rules for the government
of the House of Representatives ha,
been reported to that body. The new
Rules will practically give the Speaker
all the power which he has recently
exercised over flllibusters. Another
very important change is tbe claus,
making pension bills in order at al
tunes. The republicans of the Hous,
after several hours Of discussion II
caucus, approved the Rules as report
ed.
The United States Supreme Cour
having decided that the anti-lnormor
test oath clause OF the Idaho constitu
ton is constitutional, it is expecte,
that the Senate committee on Terri
tories will favorably report the bill 70
Idaho's admission,