Smyrna times., 1891-05-06
WHOLE NO. 1883.
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May, 2, 1891.

WASHINGTON, May, 2, 1891.
Col. L. L. Polk, president of the Ma.
tional Farmers Alliance, who is in
New York on an educational mission.
has sent some news to Alliance head.
quarters in this city that has greatly
pleased those interested in the growth
ot that organization, His success has
been far beyond his anticipation. and
one Alliance man with whom I talked
was certain that the organization
would soon control the balance of
power in New York state and be in a
position where it could dictate terms
70 the two political parties.
Secretary Blaine refuses to talk for
publication, but from several of bis
friends 1 learn that he was very much
dlspleased that he should have been
used by certain parties at the recent
Republican League Convention to be-
little Mr.. Harrison, his chief: and il
ADDS to his displeasure to know that
he can say nothing that will not be
mlsconstrued. If he should say that
he isn't a candidate and that he would
not accept the nomination, he knows
that he would be accused of DECLINING
something that had not been offered to
MIN, therefore he contents himself with
telling those who have a right to ask
him that he is for the denomination of
Mr.. Harrison. 1t isn't for me to criti-
cize MIR. Blaine's sincerity but 1 will
say that if Mr.. Blaine really wishes
Mr.. Harrison to get the nomination. he
will certainly get it.
The secret service officials of the
Treasury department have had their
ingenuity severely taxed by the dan
gerous counterfeit of the 81 silver GER
thcate, and it is still as great a mystery
as ever. The latest theory is that in
some manner an impression in some
SOFT metal, or wax, was taken from the
genuine plate in the Bureau of engrav-
ing and printing, and that from that
impression on the plate was made from
winch the counterfeits are printed.
Such things are not impossible, though
one would suppose they ought to be.
as was shown way back in the seven
ties when the firm of Jay Cooke & Co..
bankers, had a lot OF Government Sc
curltles that were counterfeited in pre-
cisely that manner.
Secretary Foster has decided to give
the holders of the $40, 100000 of Al per
cent. bonds now outstanding, nearly
three fourths of which are held bv the
Treasury as security for national bank
circulation, the option of having these
redeemed between this and the date of
maturity, September l, next-or of
having them run at the pleasure of the
government with interest at . ner cent
per annum. 1t will be remembered
that in 1881, Secretary Window did a
similar thing with the per cent bonds
maturing in that year, continuing them
at 81 per cent. This action is regarded
by many as bit of favoritism toward
the national banks, but it is claimed
that it is to be done because the money
Will be needed and that it is not known
yet whether the banks will care to keen
their bonds at a reducee rate of inter-
est. That is stuff. Not a bank will
surrender their bonds until thew are
obliged to.
The Government Printing Office is in
ferment. Some copies of the Attor-
ney Generals brief, which was submit
ted to the Supreme Court in the Saw
ward case, were in some way stolen
either from the Government printing
Office or from the Department of Jus.
tice and offered for sale by a newspa-
per man last week. There were no
as nobody seemed to place
any value upon obtaining an advance
copy of the brief, but all the same a
most vigorous investigation is being
made for the purpose of discovering
the leak, as there are many confden-
tial documents printed at the Govern
ment printing Office that if prematurly
published might do incalculable harm.
San Domingo has an agent here who
is extremely anxious to negotiate a
reciprocity treaty with US. He is au-
thOrized to give the United States q
coaling Station in the Samoan Bay,
and if the telegraphed news of our fail
ure to secure a coaling station from
Hayti be true, that may help him won
derfully in his negotiations.
The count of the cash in the Treas
ury consequent upon the induction of
a new U. S. Treasurer will take all the
time of about seventy FIVE employees
for ten days or thereabouts.
Secretary Proctor awarded last week
the largest single contract ever given
for harbOr improvement to a Dallas,
Texas, firm. 1t was for improving the
entrance to Galveston harbor, and the
amount of the bid was SS,469,71O.