The National tribune., 1893-06-08

nights afterward he was working away all by
himself in the dark dome. A rap came on the
underside of the trap-door. He was busy COM
pleting his observation, and let it go unheeded
until he had finished. Then going to the door
he opened it, wherenpon the tall President
stuck his head up through the floor. He had
come unattended to settle difficulty which
had arisen in his mind. He wanted to know
why the moon had appeared inverted in the
telescope, whereas surveyors instruments show
objects as they really are. 1t will be remem-
bered that President Lincoln practiced survey
ing carly in his career, as did Washington.
Prof. Hall, of course, explained the optics of
his telescope, and the President went away to
struggle with other difficulties.
ga
The many friends in Washington and else
where of Rev. w. II. Milburn, the blind Chap
lain," will extend their deep sympathy in his
recent bereavement by the death of his son
Fletcher Young Miburn committed suicide
in Chicago hotel. The young man led very
dissipated life, but had at length taken the
gold cure" and secured small place as hotel
clerk in Denver. He became much dissatisfied
while there, and wrote to his father to get him
a Government position. This the father tried
to do but failed, and was unable to send the
young man money to help him. Modification
or anger at the fathers nonaetiOn impelled the
young man to take his life. Chaplain Milburn
is very poor, being entirely dependent upon a
small salary of 5000 from the Government, and
IN h.. fn l., a,d hic n1n
daughter who attends him constantly on ac-
count of his blindness. Chaplain Milburn is 76
years old. Although originally appointed dur
ing the Speakership of Mr. Carlisle and the
leadership of w. r. Morrison. of Illinois, aud
by the personal efforts of the latter, as a Demo
crat, Mr.. Milburn was continued in office dur
ing the Speakership of Mr.. Reed by the votes
of number Of Illinois Republicans who Joined
with the Democrats to retain him, chiefly on
account of his offiiction. His son was not
known in Washington.
x*x
President Cleveland intimated to one of his
callers last week, just before leaving on his
outing to Hog Island, that Oct. would prob
ably be the date of the assembling of Congress
in special session. Several reasons are believed
10 have actuated him in putting his call off a
half later than it was expected Con-
gress would meet. Principal of these are the
representations which have been made TO him
of the unheathness of Washington Tor, in
fact. any low lying city, in the month of Sep
TENDER. Besides, many members of Congress
will not have returned from their Summer
outings by the earlier date. and there might
be difficulty in getting quorum.
1t is not believed that any member of Con-
gress is engaged upon a tariff bill to be pre-
scented to the National Legislature. Demo
cratic leaders are emphatic in their denial of
the rumors of the existence OF such bill. 1t
seems, however, to be the prevailing impress
sion that whatever bill is presented it will be
in the nature of radical reform and far
reaching measure. However. this is the Demo-
cratic view of the future, and the tariff may
be tinkered with instead of reformed y; and
the Democratic plan may find a stumbling
block in the Senate, on both this and the
silver question.
There will likely be little trouble in passing
bill through the House to repeal tho Sherman
silver law, and that soon after Congress meets.
1t may possibly be found that, in the Senate,
the Finance Committee, ut the head of which
is Senator Voorhees, and which has been re-
garded as strongly favoring silver, will have
a majority for the repeal of the present law.
The reason that many Congressman give, who
will drop from the ranks OF the radical silver
men, is that, III the light of tho present fnan-
cial situation many OF their constituents. with
ont yielding their convictions on the silver
question, are willing that the Sherman law
should be repealed at once, leaving the ques-
ton Of future coinage of silver open. How far
Mr. Cleveland has brought about this state OF
things by liberal disposition and wise distri-
button of patronage may only be inferred but
it is certain that he has not ignored the issue
in dealing with the statesmen who have visit
ed him at the White House.