Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.



are times when entire communities
remain for days in state Of semi
paralysis on account Of some stupen'
dous and horriiying public
caslrophe. Washington has apparent
ly had more than its share Of such
periods. For instance, that which
followed the frst srrlval in the city Of
the dead aud wounded from the fret
battle Of Manassas; tina, which iol'
lowed the assassination Of President
Lincoln by J. wilkes Booth; that
which followed the shooting OF Preh-
dent Garfield by Glteau, and that
through which /, IA nov passing by
reason Of the falling Of the floors Of
the same building In which President
Lincoln was killed, killiug twenty
two government employees anu
wouuding slxty-oight more, number
Of whom will either die or become
helpless cripplcs or lsbbrring idiots.
II now three days since this awful
accident occurred anu men and women
40 about their ordinary occupations IN
the usual way, but the horror IL still
In their faces and actions AM
will be for many days 10 come. IL IL
only ftone.heatlod person who can
think Of these men being compelled 10
20 10 their desks in n building known
10 be unBafc ior years pAst-it was con-
Uemned In 1866 and several times
siucs-in order 10 earn "a living for
themselves and families, without bt-
coming horror stricken. AZ was au
inexcusabe and criminal accident
Generous citizens promptly contributed
money ~ temporarily relieve the
families OF the dead anu wOunde I, anu
doubtless Congress will some day
MAKE an appropriation for them, but
nothing can restore lost lives und
Lost limbs. Annfmy court OF inquiry
are now inquiring into the aCciduu', w.
tue building WAS occupied by a hfau Gu
OF the surgeon generals office, but II
u from the c0fOner'a Jury, now at
work, that the people expect a verdict
that Will move Congress to put an end
10 tho Olher death traps still standing
In Washington and occupied by Low
eminent employees.
The terrible dissster has made n
At depressing effect upon tho EN- &.
p oyes Ia the other government build :
,ngs that have long been clafHad as un.
safe. In the government printing
office, which IL probably the worst Of
the lot, 80 which has more employee
about 27O0-than any OF the rest,
this feeling amounts almost 10 a panic.
The responsibility u the failure 10
erect new government priDtii x
office IL divided with COngtrts
Ivy lot OF political real estate
speculaioTs VINO have defeated every
attempt made TO purchase blte, be-
cause their ground was not selected;
the money was appropriated three
years ago, but IA sin Unavailable be.
cause Of failure 10 agree upon site.
In the patent office Secretary Smith l.
doing his best tO quiet the excitement
by having all the heAvy flloe, ETC., that
are stored upon the upper ilgom TO-
moved TO the basement.
The gold reserve fund OF tho treasury
gained Rbout 81 900. 900 during the pact
week. President Cleveland stated 10 a
gsntlen AN who made an appeal % him
10 order an istun OF bonus that lac
would not allow single bond ~ be- H.
sued. no matter wnut happened, until
specially authorized by Congress t. d.
40. The gentleman 20 whom he "a d
,niH did not a.. eTs,and that BIZ.
Cleveland doubted hiH authority 10
issue bonds, but that he preferred that
Congress should assume the responsi.
biiity OF deciding what shall DO done
tO relieve the financial strlngenoy,
While no one In authority has author
izod the statsme {, IL seems 10 be gem
orally believed among those who have
carefully studied the situation that
Mr.. Cleveland IN disinclined TO DO
anything that will make the situation
less grave when Congress meets, for
fear that II would lessen tho chances
for the TeIsal Of the sherman silver
law, which he now considers good.
Outside OF Nongr ~ aud tho cabinet
millionaire otllce.hollers are exceed.
ingly rare, but the position Of the
chief OF tn bureau VI statistics, In the
treasury department will be filed dur
ing the temainder Of this Administra-
ito by millionaire, uults- slt. Wof.
thington Ford, Of New Yo.k, who
has ueen appointed 20 the place, should
uIe or resign before then. Mir. FoTu
VIII have one great advantage over tho
ordinary office holder; be Will have no
Tread Of the ominous yellow envelope
and pay days will not seem quite 40 far
apart 10 him ~ they do To most Of his
eO.laborefs for Uncle Sam,
There Ia nothing the matter with tho
Treasury building, but there In almost
- much night among ita emp Dyes as
among those who work In TIE unsafe
buildings, owing 10 tho Impression
thoy have that a reorganization Of the
entire clerical force Ia soon 10 be made.
The reason for this Is an order Of
Secretary Carlisle for complete list Of
the employees, with full particulars as
To when aud how they came into the
service, what they do, etc; also list
Of those having relations In office.