Smyrna times., 1891-07-08
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, July, 6, 1891.
Politicians are showing the greatest
interest in a statement that Mr.. Harri-
son is said to have made to a friend, to
the effect that in a certain contingency
he would decline to be the candidate of
his party next year. That contingency
Is the passage of free coinage bill by
both House and Senate at the coming
session of Congress. If such a bill is
passed and it looks now looks as if it
would be, Mr.. Harrison is Just as de-
termined as ever to veto it, and know
ing that such action will antagonize a
large number of republicans, particu-
larly in the West, he will announce
that IN the interest of party harmony
and success he has determined not to
allow his name to be presented to the
convention. This story may be en-
tirely true, but it looks more like an
attempt to make sensation based on
Mr.. Harrison's we'll known anti-free
coinage views. 1t has many believers,
however, and they are men who make
a trade of politics.
HarbOr defense is probably mighty
good thing, but it also comes mighty
high. A contract has just been made
by the Army ordnance department for
gun carriages for the new twelve-inch
breech-lOading riaed mOrtars. The
carriages are to cost $l1, 5000 each if
only eight are furnished, and if within
one year seventeen additional car
riages are ordered they are to be fur
nisted at $1O,75O each.
Mr.. Harrison is said to be much of
Tended because the Canadian Govern
ment has made public what passed be.
tween Secretary Blaine, and Sir Julian
PauncefOrte, the British minister here,
on the subject of reciprocity with Can.
ada, claiming that such action is a
breach Of confidence iuasmuch as it
was first agreed between these two
gentlemen that none of the negotia-
tiOns should be made public unless a
definite understanding was reached
The prediction is already made that
the conference which hal been ar
ranged for October -, between Mr..
Harrison, Mr.. Blaine and representa-
tives of the Canadian Government,
will be declared OF on account of this.
While Mr.. Harrison may not 60 to
that extreme it is evident that in his
present state of mind such a confer
ence can accomplish nothing.
Again the announcement Is made
that France and Germany are to re-
move all restrictions upon the impor-
tatiOns of American dressed pork In
those countries. This time the state
ment is made by Secretary Rusk to
Senator Paddock, and it is said TO be
based upon unofficial information
that the governments of these coun-
tries have decided that the microscopic
examination to which the meat Is now
subjected by officials of the Agricul-
tural department is entirely satisfac-
tory. According to the information
of the department the restrictions will
be officially removed before the first OF
next October.
Ex-senator Ingalls, is in town. He
lectured to-day to the Glen Echo
Chautauqua. A Washington newspa-
per man made some fun for the boys
by making proposition to a theatrical
manager here to pay him 81 900 cash il
he could get Mr.. Ingalls, to deliver a
lecture here on "The Kansas Farmers
Alliance; how l met it, and how l was
licked by it," and the theatrical man
whose ''gall' is boundless, was actu-
ally going to see NJ. ingalls, to ask
him what he would charge to deliver
lecture on the subject named if he
had not been stopped.
u. S. Treasurer Nebeker reports a
net cash balance in the Treasury Sat.
urday at the close of business of So.
5O6, ,2O3, in addition to the fractional
silver and deposits in national banks
After the FIRST of July the Treasury
etatements are to be made In the
form that was used when Senator
Sherman was Secretary of the Treas.
ury.
Mr.. Harrison spent the Fourth Of
July with his family at Cape May
Point, and it is not probable that he
will return to Washington for several
weeks, unless his presence should be
required by some emergency.
Col. J. B. Weber, Superintendent
of Immigration at New York, who is
to go to Europe as the chairman of the
commission which is to investigate
immigration, has been here cpnfsrriBp
with OFFICIALS Of the Treasury depart
ment. He intends sailing from New
York on the 9Th of July, and will
meet the other members Of the COM
mission who have already gone oyer
in London.
While II has nat been fully decided
yet what interest is to be paid OF
the extended Al per cent bonds
there Is general belief that il will
be 2 per cent, which is the fgur
at which the New York bankers Of
, farad fo taka all that xvara y,raaanka,