Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-15
AT THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT,
Little Public Business Trans
acted Yesterday.
The House Adjourned Out of Respect
to Senator Barbour.
The Worlds Fair Officials Adopt New
Scheme to Get a Pull at the
Treasury-A Presidential
Junket.

By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON, May 14.-In the house
today, Meredith of Virginia announced
the death of Senator Barbour, and after
adopting appropriate resolutions, the
speaker appointed committee to at
tend the funeral. The house then, as
mark of respect to the memory of the
deceased, adjourned.
NEW WORLDS FAIR SCHEME.
The officials of the worlds fair laid
before the house committee this morn
ing new proposition relative to loan
to the exposition IN the shape of the
bill pending for $1,000, 900 appropria-
ton, except that it contains novel
proposition calculated to secure the sup
port of congressman favorable to silver.
1t proposes that the treasury be directed
to coin 10, 100000 silver half dollars to
be made legal tender, stamped with an
inscription to make them souvenirs of
the 400th anniversary of Columbus's
discovery of America, to be paid out in
completing the exposition; the oecreta-
ry of the treasury to purchase enough
American silver bullion in addition to
the present monthly purchases to en-
able him to comply with the terms of
the act.
Four million dollars are appropriated
for the purpose of payments, to be made
only upon certified vouchers for labor
done and materials furnished, to be
payable only after Chicago has paid
$10.C00,000 for work.
Director Davis, in presenting the
proposition, urged speedy action. He
said the cost to the government, SC, ,0OO,-
600, in this souvenir coin would not ex-
ceed $500, 900, and predicted that the
coins would never be presented to the
treasury for redemption in any large
amounts, as they will be retained by the
public as souvenirs.
Gage further urged that the purchase
of this amount of silver would relieve
the bullion market of the accumulation
which weighed like an incubus upon
the current price, and would give this
valuable product of our mines chance
to test, under better conditions, the
outcome OF the free play of the two
operating forces, supply and demand.
THE CENSUS INVESTIGATION.
In the census Office investigation to-
day, James A. Collins of the Farm,
Loan and Mortgage division of the
census Office, said he had no personal
knowledge of mismanagement, but con-
sidered that the division could be con-
Quoted to better advantage, but that the
fault, in his opinion, lay in the system.
Members of congress influenced the re-
tanning in Office people less efficient
than others who were discharged.
THE RAUM INQUIRY.
The testimony on the part of the
prosecution in the Raum investigation
was practically closed this morning,
when the commission adjourned to
meet May 23d. At that time Mr.. Pay
son, on the part of Commissioner Raum,
will introduce evidence in rebuttal.
A PRESIDENTIAL JUNKET.
The president, accompanied by Mrs.
Harrison, Mrs. Dimmick and Lieutenant
and Mrs. Parker, left here this afternoon
on the lighthouse tender Jessamine for
a trip down the river and bay. 1t is
expected that the party will be absent
from the city till the latter part of next
week.
FORT HARRISON.
Secretary Elkins has directed that the
new military post at Helena, Mont, be
named Fort Harrison.