Milford chronicle., 1891-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON ~ ~ AHAA % -
The President evidentiy isn't fretting
about what Italy may or may not do but
is arranging matters to start tomorrow
on his western trip just as If Italy was not /
in existence. The rumor that Italy had
notified Mr.. Blaine that unless the an
sver to Rudinis last dispatch was re-
eeiyed By the I4th inst, our minister
would be sent his passports and told to
get out OF Italy, has few believers here
although it has been several times reit-
Grated by cable from Rome. Mr.. Blame
declines to talk about the matter at all
so that it cannot be positively stated that
the answer has been sent to that dispatch,
although it is known that it was prepared
and approved by the President and caoi-
net several DAYS ago, and I have reason
to believe that II was forwarded by man
to our minister at Rome to be by HIM
presented to Rudini, although the dis
patch bag sent TO that official from the
Department of State may not after all
have contained it.
We are not so defenseless as some peo-
pie think. Hear Assistant Secretary OF
War Grant on the subject within the
last few days much has been said about
the powerful navy and the heavy guns OF
a European nation, and fear has been ex-
dressed that such heavy armament might
enter the harbor of some Of our largest
cities Let them come in If they want
to they would 60 no more out forever
So perfectly and effectively has the work
of destruction been planed and carried
ont that within surprisingly short time
there can be placed beneath the waters
surface an indefinite number Of destrue-
tive explosives aud those can be SO ar
ranged that vessels may pass over them
unframed and arrange themselves III
line of battle ready for attack, and then
by a simple touch on the shore there
will come instantaneous explosions all
along the line, sufficient to destroy IN an
instant Of time the largest fleet that
d could find room in one Of orr harbors "
Secretary Tracy is in dead earnest
about taking the navy yards OF the
country out of politics, aud he is already
hard at work arranging the details. The
Civil Service Commission is very anxious
to assist him, but he thinks his plan
better one than the complicated red tape
system of the commission aud has de-
clined its proffered assistance.
I, Mr.. E. N. Nedecker, a prominent Ger
man banker Of Indiana, is in Washing
ton at the request of the President and it
is known that he has been rendered
the U. S. Treasurership to succeed Mr..
, Huston, whose resignation has been in
the Presidents hands for some time, and
believed that he has accepted the Office.
Mr.. Huston has just returned to Wash
ington from Indiana and it is thought
that he comes for the purpose Of trans
ferring his office to Mr.. Nedecker.
am informed that, as an act Of precau-
ton, arrangements are being perfected to
, expedite the work upon all naval vessels
now under construction in various ship
wards and the making OF the heavy guns
for their armament.
The Post Office Department has per
fected plans for putting on a fast night
mail train between this city and New
, York that will result in a great saving Of
time in the forwarding Of mail matter fol
the eastern States. The train is to leave
here at s. 80 p. m, and make connection
at New York with the early trains on all
eastern roads.
The President has appointed H.. O.
Parker, of Missouri, a colored man, to be
alternate commissioner at-large OF the
, Columbian Exposition, and ex-Represen-
tative Crounse, of Nebraska, to be Assis-
tant Secretary Of the Treasury.