San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHIN GToN, April, Is, 1891,


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 answer to
Rudini's last dispatch was received
by the 14th inst, our minister would
be sent his passports and told to get
out of Italy, has few believers here,
although iG has been several
times reiterated by cable from Rome.
MIR. Blaine declines TO talk about the
matter at all, so that it cannot be pos
itively stated that the answer has
been sent tC that dispatch, although
it is known that it was prepared and
approved by the president and cabi-
net several days ago, and L have rea-
son to belive that it was forwarded
by mail to our minister at Rome to
be by him presented to Rudini, al
though the dispatch bag sent to that
official from the department of state
may not after all have contained it.
1t certainly had not been received
in Rome up to Saturday night or the
semi official italian press would not
| have repeated the Twaddle about
what Rudini would do if it was not
received by Tuesday of this week.
When Mr.. Blaine decides not to talk
one might as well try to interview q
marble statue. The impression here
is that these rumors are originated
by Rudinfs friends for the purpose
of hurrying Mr.. Blaine's answer. If
this be Mr.. Blaine's opinion and the
answer has not gone 1 should not be
surprised if it was Intentionally kept
back for time by Mr.. Blaine just to
show these eXcitable Italians that he
said when he wrote In answer at
Baron Fava's demand, that this Gov
eminent declined to be hurried.
We are not so defenseless as some
people think. Hear Assistant Secre-
tary of War Grant on the subject:
within the last few days much has
been said about the powerful navy
and the heavy guns of European
nation, and fears have been expressed
that such heavy armament might
enter the barbOr of some OF our largest
cilIes. Let them come in II they
want to; they would go no more out
forever. 80 perfectly and effectively
has the work OF destruction been
planned and carried out that within
a surprisingly short time there can
be placed beneath the water sur
facesan indefinite number of destruc-
tive explosives and those can be so
| arranged that vessels may pass over
them unframed and arrange them
selves in line of battle ready for at
tack, and then by q simple touch OH
the shore there will come instsntan-
eous explosions all along the line,
sufficient TO destroy in an instant of
time the largest fleet that could find
room In enc of our harbors."
Secretary Foster has gone to New
York OH private business, but while
there he intends to personally inves-
tigate some matters that have been
brought to his attention concerning
the federal offices in that city. He is
determined that the administration of
those offices shall be as near perfec-
ton as he can make it, believing that
the more satisfactory the immense
federal business in the great CONNER
cial center is transacted the stronger
it will make the republican party.
Secretary Tracy is In dead earnest
about taking the navy yards of the
country out of politic+, and he is al
ready hard at work arranging the de-
tails. 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 and has declined its prof
fered assistance.
Mr.. +. N. NedecBer q prominent
German banker, of Indiana, Is in
Washington at the request OF the
president, and it is known that he
has been rendered the U. s. treasury
ship to succeed Mr.. Huston, whose
resignation has been in the presi-
dents hands for some time, and be-
lieved that he has accepted the office.
Mr.. Huston has just returned to
Washington from Indiana and it is
thought that he comes for the pur-
pose of transferring his office to Mr..
Nedecker
1 am informed that, as an act of
ton, arrangements are being
perfected to expedite the work upon
all naval vessels now under contract
in various ship yards and the making
of the heavy guns for their armament.
The postoffice department. has per-
fecsed plans for putting on last
night mail train between this city
and New York that will result in q
great saving of time in the forward
ing of mail matter for the eastern
states. The train is to leave here at
$50 p. m, and makes connection at
New York with the early trains on all
eastern roads.
The president has appointed 81. g.
Parker, of Missouri, colored man, to
be alternate commissioner at-large Of
the Columbian exposition, and ex-
Representative Crounse, of Nebraska,
to be assistant secretary of the treas
ury. y. X.
Cholera is on Deck.