The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-04-27
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.
WAsH1NGToN LETTEK.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. April 10 1892.
Mr.. Harrison is confronted by a very peculiar |
situation. He must choose between violating a |
pledge made to one of his few personal friends.
and keeping that pledge and jeopardizing his |
chance of being renominated. by antagonizing
the most powerful Senators in his party. Hehas
this week intimated to Senator Quay who claims
the right to name the successor to the late JUS
tice Bradley. of the U. S. Supreme Court. as the
price of his support. that he intended to keep
the pledge made to Attorney General Miller
when he was taken into the Cabinet. and nomi-
nate him to the vacancy. Mr.. Quay told him, it
is said. that he could control enough votes in the
Senate to defeat the nomination. and more. if it
he would use all his influence to have the Min
neapolis convention nominate an anti-Harrison
man.
Thisis not the first time that Mr.. Harrison has
intimated his intention to redeem that promise
made to his old law partner; but in the cases of
the other vacancies on the Supreme Court. he
was squarely bulldozed out CT his intentions by
Senators and other prominent men in his party
and he may be again, but those near to him say
that he fears to allow this opportunity to go by
of providing for his friend for life, as it is hardly
probable that there will be another vacancy du-
ring his term of office. and he fears that he can
not be reelected, even if he is renominated.
Still. he will probably think some time before he
deliberately invites a fight with the Senators
who could be controlled by Quay. as he knows
very well that many of them only wish for an
excuse to fight him. anyway.
1t has often been stated that any thing was pos
sible in Washington. provided enough none
was put up; and the purchase OF site Tor the
new Washington Post Office. by authority OF the
billion dollar Congress, in the disreputable To-
Al do nf peuDzvlvania A venue.
where the ground is only about two feet above
ordinary high tide in the Potomac, and where
the engineers are now driving forty foot piles IN
search of foundation firm enough to build up
on. certainly furnished convincing argument
that the statement is in close proximity to the
truth. and the high price paid for the ground
makes it certain that the money spent by the
real estate monopoly in manipulating the deal
all came back with several hundred per cent in
crease. The same gang is laying the wires to
unload another section of this swamp land .Whlcn
it either owns or holds options on. at nominal
price, on .he Government, as a site for a new
Patent Office at a price which would purchase q
site in a good location. Already bill has been
introduced appropriating $3.50O,OOO for new
Patent Office. and specifically providing that il
shall be located on the south side of Pennsyiva-
mia Avenue and the two daily papers, both Of
which own Avenue property, will help the lobby
to get it through, and some of the Senators and
members who pushed the Post Office bill through
will also help. Democratic Senators and mem
bers should refuse to aid these spectators. anc
they doubtless will, when the real status OF the
matter is brought to their attention-they have
been misled by Washington newspapers.
Chairman O'Ferrall, of the House Election
Committee, has given notice that he will call VI
the report of the committee in the contested
ol1x T11aa.
day. This is the case in which Senator Hills
name has been mixed up. because OF his beile
that the committee did wrong in reporting in IA
vor of Noyes. the Republican contestant. 1t is
expected that lively debate will take place
when the report is taken up, and it will not sur
prise many if the House votes against thu report
of the committee, and retains ROCKWELL IN hlS
seat. r
vorably the resolution instructing that commit
tee to inquire into the expediency OF estanllsn'
ing permanent Census Bureau.
The House has been working very industrious
Iy on appropriation bills this week. The Demo
Gratis are determined to push the work OF th'
House expeditiously,s so that the responsibility
prolonging the session beyond the middle
June or the first of July. will have to be assum
ed by the Republican Senate.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relation
has turned down the Chinese exclusion bill
passed by the House, byreperting the Senate bill
extending the present anti-Chinese law for
period of ten years. as a substitute therefor.
The statement is made. but it lacks official con
6rmation, that the State Department has reached
an agreement with the Italian authorities on tn'
question of indemnity to the families OF TN
Italians lynched at New Orleans and that lOo.OU
francs is the sum which Mr.. Blaine has promised
subject to the approval of Congress- to pay.