The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-09
A CHAT WITHCOL. LESTER
THE PROSPECTS OF DEMOCRATIC
SUCCESS THIS FALL ARE GOOD.


SUCCESS THIS FALL ARE GOOD.
Nothing VIII Be Done on the New Pub.
lie Building Until After the Election.
Too Much stress Laid on the
8-hour Law, IN Regard to the River
and Harbor Improvements-To Con-
suit With the Executive Committee.
Col. Rufus E. Lester arrived home yes
terday morning, having come direct from
Washington to Savannah on the adjou~n-
ment congress.
Col. Lester is 10 the best of health and
spirits, and seemed delighted to be home
again.
He was kept busy all day receiving
callers and shaking hands with friends
and receiving their assurances that
everything was all right and that he
need have no uneasiness with regard to the
result Of the approaching election. Col
Lester was found IN his office in the alter
noon by a MORNING NEWS reporter, sur-
rounded by a group Of friends, several OF
whom were from the country. They we're
enlightening him as to the situation in the
different sections OF the country.
Col Lester was not primed for any
thing that the First districts genial repre-
sentative hates more than anything else, it
is to be interviewed 1t ia an art that he
has never learned. He stated that
the prospects of democratic success
this fall are good and he confidently
expected to see Cleveland and Stevenson
elected. He also has no doubt but that the
next congress will have a big democratic
majority In spite of the combined opposi-
tion Of both republicans and third party
men. He does not think the third party 10
as strong as it is represented to be in the
south. Neither does be believe that the
democrats will lose a single state on account
of it.
OUR PUBLIC BUILDING.
Col. Lester was asked the reason why no
move has yet been made toward beginning
work upon Savannah's public building, for
which an appropriation was made at the
session of congress year ago. and how
long before the work would be
commenced. He replied that there
was no prospect Of anything being
done until after the November elections.
The billioD-dollar congress made hundreds
of appropriations for public buildings and
other purposes which the governments has
been unable to carry out. all the surplus 10
the treasury having been expended aud a
deficit staring it Ia the face. Wherever it
has been possible to hold up an approprIa-
ton it has been done.
If work was begun and expenditures
authorized upon all the postofices
and other public buildings pro-
congress the country would soon be con-
fronted with an enormous deficit. The re-
publioans have determined. as political
measure, TO stave off all these appropria-
lions until after November
II the democrats are successful this fall
the republicans will go ahead on the public
buildings and leave the democrats TO take
care of the deficit. IL the republicans are
successful they will 60 ahead with the
buildings anyway as they will be able TO
make up the deficit during the next admin
istration.
One reason for the delay of the work, Col.
Lester said, was the Introduction OF bill
into congress to allow the receipts of the
sale from the old government site at Aber-
corn and York streets TO go into the build
ing fund, thus increasing 1t by q good
many thousand dollars. The bill was passed
by the present congress and became a law.
This having been accomplished there
is no good reason why work should not
begin at once. The old building site, how
ever, will have to be advertised for sale and
disposed Of, and not until after this is done
will the architects estimates be made and
the plans drawn for the work.
THE s-HoUR LAW.
Col Lester does not believe that the
6-hour law enacted by the present congress
will have a serious effect upon the river and
harbor work at Savannah, or that it will
materially increase the cost of i'm
provement of the channel. Col Lester
said that there seemed to be a great Idea
more stress laid upon this act than there
was any necessity for. The appropriations
for the river and harbor work will be forth
coming regularly at the specified times and
the work will not be interfered with by
motives Of party policy.
Col. Lester has not decided when he will
begin his campaign. He will first consult
with the members OF the congressional ex-
eoGtive committee and ascertain their ideas
as 70 the most effective way of carrying on
the fight in the district
A gentleman from Tattnall, who called
upon Col. Lester yesterday, assured him
that TattnaIl would 60 democratic by 300
majority. Tattnall has been supposed to be
the third party stronghold in the district.
but these third party strongholds seem in
clined to disappear into thin air ON close in
vestigation.
Col. Z. Z. Miller Of Liberty county also
called upon Col. Lester yesterday. Col.
Miller stated that the third party people are
very numerous in Liberty, but he is in
hopes of rolling up majority there for
Col. Lester by hard work.
Col. Lester went up to Atlanta last night,
where be will discuss the state Of affairs
with nOliticiana from all over The Rtata