The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, April "a, ISo,

Christopher Columbus is in Wash
ington. Not the discoverer of Ameri-
ca, but his descendent, the Duke of
Veragua, guest Of the United States,
for the purpose Of attending the OPEN
ing of the Columbian Exposition held
in honor of his illustrious ancestor.
The Duke and his party, in charge Of
Commander Dickens, U. S. NJ, who
is detailed for the purpose Of looking
after the comfort of the party, arrived
here late Saturday evening, and went
at once to the hotel at which mag
nificent suite of thirteen rooms had
been engaged for them, and over
which the Spanish flag will fly during
their stay in this city. Yesterday they
attended divine service at St. Mat.
thew's church, and this afternoon a
special reception was held in their
honor by President and Mrs. Cleve-
land, and tonight musical entertain
ment at the residence of Senator
Brice. Tomorrow will be devoted to
the sights of the National Capital, in
cluding Mt. Vernon, and Wednesday
the Duckal party will 60 to New York
with President Cleveland, Mrs. Cleve-
land and the cabinet, where they will
see the great naval Review from the
deck Of the U. S. S. Dolphin. The
Duke and his wife and daughter ex.
press themselves as being delighted
with America and with the more than
cordial reception which has been given
them in New York and Washington,
the only two cities they have yet visi-
ted.
Prompt and decisive action on the
part Of President Cleveland and his
cabinet carried the country safely
through what at one period of last
! week looked very much like a danger
GUS crisis. The free gold was exhaus.
ted and the continued demand for gold
for export, brought the administration
face to face with the question OF
whether bonds should be sold or a
portion Of the 100000 900 gold re.
serve fund should be used to redeem
notes presented to the Treasury. Un.
der the law gold might have been re-
fused for Treasury notes, they being
4 payable in coin, but as it had been
the practice of the department to re-
deem these notes with gold it was
thought that it might have a bad effect
to discontinue the practice just now,
SO it was decided to use a portion of
the reserve fund, and $3,ooo,ooo OF
it was used but it was only for single
day. Now, the Treasury has replaced
what it used from the fund and has,
besides, enough gold to meet all de-
u mands, for the present at least. Pub.
lie opinion, as represented in Washing
ton, is with President Cleveland in the
belief that so long as there is known
to be $500, 100000 in gold in the
United States, there is no necessity
FOR the government to sell bonds to
1procure gold, and as for using a part
of the gold reserve fund to redeem
hotes, that is precisely what that fund
was accumulated for, and many promi.
hent democrats do not hesitate to say
fhat it should be used, if necessary,
until it becomes apparent that it will
oe exhausted, before bonds should be
\ ISSUED. The present indications are
thpt the Treasury will soon have plenty
\ Rf gold, as bankers, particularly in the
INest and South, are placing their
\ gold at its disposal, and visitors to the
|),$Vorld's Fair will soon turn a stream
sPf European gold our way.
III Elk Congressman Vance of Connect
4 G}cut, while on a flying visit to Wash
EPgton, dropped some pleasant demo-
h sratic news concerning his state, which,
}lready regularly casting its electoral
lfote for democrat, has been unable
1or long period to send a democrat
tIP the U. S. Senate. Mr.. Vance says
he legislature to be elected this year
|tfill be democratic and that Senator
Rlatt will be succeeded by democrat,
Ind his friends add, "his name will be
Bob Vance"
M The weather has been unusually
1ool this spring, but there is no com
Iarlson between the weather and the
ction OF republicans now holding
Pderal Offices in various states, in
Writing letters to the heads of the de-
Rrtments under which they are, ask.
Is that they be allowed to remain in
nice. Even such a pronounced par
san politician as the notorious Web
Ter Flanagan, now collector of customs
FL Paso Texas, has written asking
at he be kept in Office. Evidently
annigan is Of the same mind now
Pncerning the holding of federal Office
- ne was almost score of years