The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-04-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. O., April 10, 1891.

| The President evidently isn't frettine
about what Italy may or may not do,
but is arranging matters to start to-.
morrow 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 Rudinis last dis.
patch was received by the l4th 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
reiterated by cable from Rome. Mr..
Blaine 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 cabinet several days ago,
and have reason to believe that it was
forwarded by mail to our minister at
Rome to be by him presented to Rudini,
although the dispatch bag sent to that
official from the Department of State
may not after all have contained it.
1t certainly had not bsen received in
Rome up to Saturday night or the semi.
official italian press would not have re.
peated the twadile about what Rudini
would do if it was not received by Tues
day of this week. When Mr.. Blaine de-
cides not to talk one might as well try to
interview marble statue. The impress
sion here is that these rumors are
originated by Rudini's friends for the
purpose of hurrying Mr. Blaine's answer.
If this be Mr.. Blaine's opinion and the
answer has not gone should not be sur
prised if it was Intentionally kept back
for a time by Mr. Blaine just to show
these excitable Italians that he meant ex.
actly what he said when he wrote in
answer to Baron Fava's demand, that
this Government declined to be hurried.
We are not So defenseless as some
people tl.ink 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 II European nation, and fear has
been expressed that such heavy arma-
ment 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 planned
and carried out that within surprising.
ly short time there can be placed beneath
the waters surface an indefinite number
of destructive explosives and those can
be SO arranged that vessels may pass
over them unframed and arrange them.
selves 10 line of battle ready for attack,
and then by 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
could find room in one of our harbors."
Secretary Foster has gone to New
York on private business, but while
there he intends to personally investi-
gate some matters that have been
brought to his attention concerning the
Federal offices in that city. He is de.
termined that the administration of those
Offices shall be as near perfection as he
can make it, believing that the more
satisfactory the immense Federal bust
ness in the great commercial 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 politics, and he is already
hard at work arranging the details. The
C'vil Service commits i'm is very anxious
to assist n,n,, bat he thinks his plan
better one than the complicated rel tape
system of the cunin i sion IL ii la, lie
clined its proil'erei assistance.
am informed that, as an act of pre-.
caution, arrangements are being made to
expediate the work on all naval vessels
now under contract in various ship
yards and the making of heavy guns for
their armament.
The Postoffice department has per.
fected plans for putting on a fast night
mail train between this city and New
York that will result 10 great saving of
time in the forwarding of mail matter
for the eastern States. The train is to
leave here at $50 p. m. and make
connection at New York with the early
trains OH all eas tern reads.
The President has appointed II. G.
Parker OF Missouri, colored man, to be
alternate commissioner at large of the
Columbian Exposition, and ex-Repre-
sentative Crounse, of Nebraska, to be
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury g