Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.


written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 13.-The
President evidently isn't trettlng about
what Italy may or may not do, but IS ar
ranging 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
swer to Rudinl's last dispatch was re
ceived by the nth inst, our minister
would be sent his passports and told to
oct out of Italy has few believers here,
although it has been reiterated by cable
from Rome. Mr. Blaine declines to talE
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 the cabinet several
DAYS ago, and l have reason to televc
that it was forwarded by mail to our
minister at Rome to be by him presented
to Rudiui, although the dispatch bag
sent to that Official from the Department
of State may not alter all have contained
it.
II certainly had not been received IN
Rome up to Saturday night or the semi
official italian press would not have re-
neateh the tvaddlc about what RudinI
would do if it was not received by Tues
oav Of this week. When Mr.. Blaine de-
ci6es not to talk one might as well try to
interview a marble statue. The impress
sion here is that these rumors originated
by Rudinl's friends for the pHTpose Oh
hurrying Mr. Blaine's answer. III TINS De
Mr. Blaine's opinion and the answer mas
not gone / should not be surprised II II
was Intentionally kept back for time Dy
Mr.. Blaine Just 10 show these eXcltaOIe
Italians that be meant exactly what ne
said when he wrote in answer TO Baron
Fava's demand, that this government
declined to be hurried.
We are not 50 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 European nation, and
tear has been expressed that such heavy
armament might enter the harbor OF some
of our LARGEST cities. Let them come In II
thew want to: they would go no more oct
forever. So perfectly and effectively has
the work of destruction been planned
that within a surprisingly short time
there can be placed beneath the waters
surface an indefinite number OF destruc-
tive explosives and those can be so ar
ranged that vessels may pass over them
unframed and arrange themselves in line
of battle ready for attack, and then ny
simple touch on the shore there VIII come
instantaneous explosions all along the
line, sufficient to destroy in an instant OF
time the largest fleet that could ind room
in one OF orr harbOrs."
Secretary Foster has gone to New YORK
on private business, but while there he
intends to personally investigate some
matters that have been brought to bis at
tention concerning the Federal Offices in
that city. He is determined that the adj
ministration of those offices shall be as
near perfection as he can make il, OeileV-
ing that the more satisfactory the I'M
mense Federal business in the great COM
mercial center IS transacted the stronger
it will make the Republican party.
Secretary Tracy is in dead earnest
about taking the navy yards of the coun.
try out of politics, and he is already hard
at work arranging the details. The civil
Service Commission is very anxious 10
assist him, but he thinks his plan a bet
ter one than the complicated red tape
system of the commission and has declln-
ed its preferred assistance.
Mr. L n Nedecker, a prominent Ger
man banker of Indiana, is in Washington
at the request of the President, and 1t Is
known that be has been rendered the U.
s. Treasurership to succeed MIR. Huston,
whose resignation has been in the Presi-
dents bands for some time, and believed
that he has excepted the Office. Mr.. Hus-
ton has lust returned TO Washington from
Indiana and it is thought that be comes
for the purpose of transferring his office
to Mr.. Nedecker.
am informed that, as an act of pre-
caution, arrangements are being perfect.
ed 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 Postoificc Department has perfected
plans for putting on 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 for the
eastern States. The tram is to leave here
at $50 p. m. and make connection at New
York with the early trains on all eastern
roads
The President has appointed II. G.
Parker of Missouri, a cOlored man, to be
alternate Commissioner at large Of the
Columbian Exposition, and ex Represen-
tatiVe Cronuse, of Nebraska, to be AS
sistant SECRETARY nj the Treasury.