Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.



and political affairs have cu' no hguie
IN Washington during the past week.
Human blood, the most interesting Of
all subjects, has had tho floor ever
since the killing Of tventy.one aud
wuuuding OF siXty-cight government
CLERKS by the falling 0t the tyors of
Ford's old theater, used asa Office by
the records anu pensions branch OF tue
wgr department Somebody Is guilty.
o this wholefaiu hutChcry or men,anu
right'ully or wr1ngiully n majority OF
our people are B cline % plAce the
guilt upon Col. Ainswofih, the head
Of that office. lilo is the man VINO
ordered the excavation made under
the ricKrtty old building which an.
questionably caused the u Iots TO 1911,
ana when he appeared before the
cur1nef's Jury ACCOMPANIED by a
prominent lawyer and Il, mnnded the
right TO cf0ssquestion anu bulldoz1
his clerks who we're Witnesses the ux-
element ran 90 high that he would
most assuredly have been hung 20 the
nearest lamp.post had there not been "A
few cool heads In the large crowd Of
ifen3ied men present.
His next sensational action was 10
apply 10 the courts for maudamus
compelling the coroner 10 grant hit de-
mRnds. He failed 10 secure the
manuamus but he upset the work done
during the four days the jury had
been sitting, by showing that there
WIS no law authorizing such au official
here a. a deputy coroner, although for
many years irqucstu have been held by
such, ana compelled a fresh start 10 DO
made In the inqucet by the coroner In
person. He also did something else
that he probably had no intention Of
doing; he convinced many people thal
he was burdened with guilty con-
science and feared tbs cOr0ner's Jury
would succeed In fastening the guilt
upon him 70 securely that ho would
have 10 stand trial Tor murder, lust like
a common dosperado.
Secretary Lamont has appointed an
army court OF inquiry 20 Investigate,
but it will not begin until after the
coronef's jury completes lite work, and
the public doesn't seem 10 care
whether Il ever begins, as II was np.
pointed at tho roquttt Of Colonel
Ainsworth and IL made up OF his warm
personal friends anu fellow army OH
GERS, who Justly or uniustly are credit
cd IN the MINI Of the average man
with a desire 10 shield and whito-wash
him.
a popular subscription was opened
for the benefit Of the families Of the
victims In the afternoon OF the day OF
the disaster and already moro than
| $50, 600 has been secured aud the sub,
scriptions are still freely coming in.
Next to the interest felt Ia the work
OF the coroner's jury IL that IN the
safety Of other rickctty government
buildings, Of which there are unior-
| tunately quite number ia Washing.
ton. President Cleveland and every
member Of his cabinet have shown i
commendable disposition 10 take every
/ possible pfechution 10 prevent the
/ occurrence OF similar accident IN
other buildings known 10 be weak, but
that does not prevent the existence o
a state OF nervousness among thos,
employed In what aro known as the
shaky buildings, chief Of which il tn,
Government Printing Office with III
nearly 5000 employees. Inspections
are being made on every hand anu
heavy weights are being tIansferie,
! h'th NileA " aN"NA h!gia III Nuhu y
buildinge.
The courts have been hitting thl
United States treasury some hard blow
during the past few months. First cam
the final decision In the celebrate,
chat trimmings" case, which will cos
the government anywhere from tlyl
TO ten millions Of dollnrs,an this wee
treasury officials have, under anothc
court decision, instructed tho cUllectu
Of customs nc New York 10 relun
certain duties On leaf tobacco while
had been levied under "A construciiO
OF tue law that was protested again,
by the importers. 10 Ia eat mated tia
the amount To be- refunded to IA
tobacco importers Will be about 81, 600
900.
The startling statement IL made In
lottor received by President Cievelan
this week from Mr.. ]. NJ. Burnett, wi
claims b have resigned u position In N
pension office during the Harrison "a,
intimidation because his cnuscieuc
would not permit him to remain Their
that sou, 600, 900 yecr may be save
by purging anu revising the pensiO
rolls. He claims % know OF thOusan
OF pensions having been Illegal
granted. Whether Mir. Burnett reall
knows things or IL merely one Of III
numerous nOtorlety hunters who al
constantly turning up IN Washiuglu
with Sensational statements remains
be- uemoustOtted. Mr.. Cleveland ha
10 II undcrsiOOd, referred tho letter
Commissioner LOChren.