Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-14
WASHINGTON CITY.
REPUBLICAN souAeeLe OVER THE
clvlL-sERvIcE QUESTION.
Colonel orsrrsII on the Cleveland silver
observation-disclosures Of Admiral Por-
tsr-His ideas About DcfenccA


iNNVlU RAN AtehAtHt NeAAN1RNA&~ANl
WASHINGTON, February 1s.--The debate
in the House TO-DAY on the civil-serviee
question was one Of the lively kind, and
the Republican brethren had big fght
among themselves over the concern that
Harrison maintains. "Hartford-Conven-
ton Lodge and McComas made
a defence of the commission and
they we're pretty badly used up in
the discussion. These patriots preach
reform, but is q well-known fact that they
have been able TO get more offices than al
most any other brace Of Republicans in
public life. Their hypocricy was. shown
up to-day by Grosyenor, Boutelle, and
others. IL was largely family row and
the Democrats looked on and enjoyed the
circus.
BIG MISTAKE.
Representative 0'Ferrall Joins other lead
ing Democrats in the opinion that EXPIRE
sident Cleveland made big mistake in de
claring his opposition to the free coinage
of silver, and he admits that Mr.. Cleve-
land has put himself ont Of line
with the vast majority of the Demo
cratic party. Colonel O'Ferrau has
been strong advocate of Cleveland, as
the recent lengthy interview printed IN
the Dispatch showed. and knowing the SEN
timent in Virginia in favor Of free coinage
he naturally regrets that tho ex-President
has determined 70 put himself once more
on record as being against the interests OF
the West and South on this question.
ADMIRAL PoRTIR's ACCIDENTS.
Admiral Porter, who died this morning,
was up to year ago an unusually hale
and hearty man. Fifty-Gve years ago, Adj
miral Porter, then q young man. helped TO
make a survey of the harbor of New York.
Admiral Porter was several times in his
life very badly hurt but no blood was ever
drawn when the accidents occurred TO him.
Once while on board ship he was knock
ed senseless by the premature discharge
of a gun. Another time IN New hamp-
shire he was thrown out of O carriage
and the heavy vehicle rolled over him.
Several years ago, in this city, the Admiral
fell down an elevatOr-shaft and broke one
of his legs. He was laid up for many weeks,
and while in bed the Admiral wrote a large
portion of one of the novels which he pub
lished, He wrote with a short LEAD
pencil, and placed his paper on q board
which rested on the knee of the leg that
had not been injured. He told the writer
that he preferred TO write with his own
hand rather than dictate to stenographer,
and every word in "Porter's Naval History
of the Civil War - was written by his own
hand. He did not, like so many other
authors on the other side, use the word
rebellion" in the title.
PLAIN LIVER.
Admiral Porter was a plain liver, and
cared little for the highly-seasoned dishes.
The good homo cooking pleased him better
than French spiced things, and corn
bread. hominy, chops, and the like he pre-
ferred TO any state dinner ever given. The
Admiral used wines and liquors spariDgly
during the last twenty years, but ne was
an inveterate smoker. He loved cigars and
always had q bountiful supply OF good
smokers,
Admiral Porter's ideas on the subject of
defence were strong and practical, and he
said and wrote a great deal on the subject.
He ridiculed the plan Of building big forts
at enormous cost on our coasts, and al
WAYS advocated the building of switt-run-
ming cruisers and double-turretted moni-
tors-ships that, like the turtles, carry their
defences upon their backs: -,
Admiral Porter was " the Admiral" OF
the navy, and with his death the ot1ce eX-
pires. 1t was specially created for him by
act of Congress.
PURCHASE OF THE MALTBY HOUSE.
A bill has passed the Senate providing
for the purchase of a building Immediate
w north of the Capitol-Grounds known as
the Maltby House. The price to be paid
is SIPS 900. It was erected for hotel pur-
poses. but the landlords all broke and the
place was shut up for a long while until
CONGRESS began TO rent the building. On
the south side of the Capitol IS the
bic granite residence erected by Gene
raj Ben. Butler. Congress rents that
structure, and it has also been proposed to
buy the Butler mansion. The price asked
is S275. 900, but Uncle Sam has not decided
10 add to the already plethorle pocket OF
old "Cockeyed Ben" The Goyernment
now paws over S125,00 per year for rented
buildings in Washington.
Representative COwles says that the por-
ton of North Carolina which he has the
honor to represent is developing very
RAPIDLY, and that with the new railroad
that has Just been built he expects rapid
strides to be made.
REGRET AT A. II. H. sTUART's DEATH
Representative Tucker to-day received a
telegram from Mr.. Alexander N. Robert
son, of Stanton, announcing the death oil
Hon. All. II. Stuart. The message brought
the first intelligence of the event, and
general regret was expressed among the
southern men over the demise OF the DIS
tinguished Virginian.
Tle Senate has passed the bill offered by
Mr.. Daniel to authorize the Washington
and Western Railroad Company of Vir-
ginia to extend its line into and within the
District of Columbia. This is the exten,
sion of the Norfolk and Western road, and
efforts will be made to get it through the
House.
POSTMASTER APPOINTED.
#. c. Bowe has been appointed post
master at Penelo, Edgecombe county, n.
c., UiCe 0. Atkinson, resigned.
THREE CHARTERS GRANTED.