Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Members of the international
Silver Commission.
Bad Sanitary ConditiOns--The Capitol
Deserted.
[From our Regular Correspondent. !

, concerning the Secretary's intentions,
but an incident that occurred Wednes-
day afternoon indicates that even his
closest friends do not know what he in
tends to do. Mr.. Quay was one of the
party that accompanied Senator Stock
bridge in his private car to Minneapolis.
Early in Wednesday afternoon the
Pennsylvania leader called at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Blaine and was informed
that he was at the State Department.
Going there, Mr.. Quay found that Mr..
Blaine had not come over. He returned
to the residence, but was again assured
that the Secretary was not in, nor did
the family know where he could be
found. After waiting at Mr.. Blaine's
residence for half an hour, the Senator
left without seeing him, and took the
train for the scene of the convention.
There was but one meaning to Mr..
Quay's call. Mr.. Blaine had not yet
given the positive assurance that he
would be candidate. Another Re
publican Senator, however, is authority
for the statement that Mr.. Blaine will
not write a political letter of any kind
until after the Minneapolis convention.
He says Mr. Blaine told him thisWednes-
day. A member of the Cabinet stated
that he knew positively that Mr.. Blaine
had said, and that, too, quite recently,
that he would not be candidate, and
that the administration had nothing to
fear from him.
The men whom it is said that Presi.
dent has decided to appoint United
States commissioners to the internation-
al silver conference are all good men
for the emergency. One is firm ad-
herent of the gold standard, but his
financial ability and experience, the
fact that he is acknowledged to be a
suitable representative of the element
he is called to represent, avouch the
wisdom of the appointment. The fitness
of the selection of ex- Controller Cannon
is generally conceded. The other dele
gates alleged to have been chosen are
Senator Jones, of Nevada. distinguish
ed friend of silver, a republican, and
ex-Minister Tree, of Illinois, democrat,
whose commissionership at a former
international monetary conference
gives him some advantage in special
experience over his colleagues. The
delegation as whole, if thus made up,
will worthily represent this republic,
as it correctly embodies the sentiment
of the people as far as ascertained.
There is something serious in the re-
port of the experts who have examined
the drainage, plumbing and ventilation
of the Capitol, and especially that part
of the report which relates to the Sen
ate. They condemn the present plumb
ing and drainage arrangement without
qualification, as antiquated, imperfect
in all respects and downright dangerous
in many. The facts that the modern
system has been in use only about
twenty years, while the older part of
the Capitol is ninety years old and the
wings about forty, that no new pipes
or drains have been provided since the
wings were added and that all the
various appliances for carrying off
waste and preserving health and COM
fort are grossly inadequate for these
purposes indicate the need of improving
the building in the respects indicated.
The drainage and ventilation of public
buildings is one of the vital concerns
of Congress, and yet there are few that
are more neglected. The investigation
and work of improvement which Con-
gress willproperly cause to be bestowed
upon the Capitol largely ON its own ac-
count should be extended to certain
other executive buildings, whose un-
sanitary condition is notorious, for the
preservation of health and life among
other public servants.
Everything bears rather dull look
now at the Capitol The emigration
Wednesday of most of the newspaper
men left the press gallery in depopu-
lated condition, while the members of
the House who can spare time from ar
ranging the program for the national
convention long enough to get up to the
House spend their time in wandering
aimlessly around with a general appear
ance of attempting to be in two places
at once. There is little political gossip
of Importance.
Commissioner Raum, of the Pension
Bureau, was again before the sub COM
mittee on deficiencies Of the Appropria-
tions Committee Wednesday, and ex-
planned the necessity existing for a
deficiency appropriation of $1,000, 900
on account of pensions. He said he de-
sired the money appropriated in time to
be available not later than June 10, to
meet the June quarterly payments.
This deficiency, If allowed, will make
the total pension payments for the year
nearly $4,000 900.
From this time the President will have
his hand on the pulse of the convention
by means of telegraphic communlca.
ton between the convention hall and
' the Whita Annsa Dnstnl u M NN..4-....