Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD

Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1898 There
are times when entire communities re-
nam for days in state OF semi-paralysls
On account of some stupenduens and
hOrror-fying public catastrophe, Wash
ington has apparently bad more than its
share of such periods. For instance,
that which followed the first arrival IN
the city of the dead and wounded from the
first battle OF Manassas; that which fol-
lowed the assassination of President
Lincoln by J. Wilkes Booth that which
followed the shooting of President Gar
field by Giteau, and that through which
il is now passing by reason of the falling
of the floors OF the same building IN
which President Lincoln was killed,
killing twenty-five government employees
and wounding sixty eight more, a num-
Der of whom will either die or become
helpless ,ripples or iabbering Idiots.
II is now three days since this awful
accident occurred and men and women
90 about their ordinary occupations II
The usual way, but the horror Is still in
their faces and actions and will be for
many DAYS to come. Ii is only stone
hearted person who can think Of these
men being compelled to 90 to their desks
in a binding known to be unsafe for
wears past-it was condemned in 1850
and several times siRcC-ln order to earn
living for themselves and families,
without becoming horror stricken. 1t
was an inexcusable and criminal accident.
Generous citizens promptly cOntri uted
money to temporarily relieve the families
of the dead and wounded, and doubtless
Congress- will some day make an ap-
prepriation for them, but nothing can re-
store losf ives and lost limbs. An army
court of inquiry is now inquiripg into The
accident, as the building was occnp',l by
branch of tie Surgeon Generals office,
but it is from the cOroner's jury, now at
work. that the people expect a verdict
that viii move Congress TO put an end to
the other death traps still standing IN
] Washington and occupied by government
employees.
The terrible disaster has bad a most de-
messing effect upon the employees in the
other government buildings that have long
been classed as unsafe. In the Govern
ment Printing Office, which is probably
the worst of the lot, add which has more
EMPLOYEES about 270O-than any of the
rest this feeling amounts almost to a
panic II the responsibility of the failure to
erect a new Government Printing Office
is divided with Congress by lot of po-
litical real estate speculatoIs who lave
defeated every attempt made 20 purcl ase
site. because their ground was not
| selected the Money was appropriated
three years ago, but is stiil unavailable
because of failure to agree upon site. In
tho Patent Office Sec. Smith is doing bis
best to quiet the excitement 10y having all
the heavy files, etc, that are stored upon
the upper floors removed TO the basement,
The gold reserve fund of the Treasury
gained about 81 600, COO, during the past
week. President Cleveland stated To a
gentleman who made an appea, to him to
order an issue of bonds that he w0nld not
allow single bond TO be issued no matter
what happened, until specially autaOriz-
ed by Congress to do so. The gentleman
10 whom he said this did not understand
that Mr. Cleveland doubted his authority
to issue bonds, but that he preferred that
! Congress should assume the response
bility of deciding what shall be done ia
relieve the fUanOial striESency. While
one in authority has authorized the state.
ment. ii seems to be generally believed
among those who have carefully studied
the situation that Mr. Cleveland is dis
inclined to do anything that Will make
the situation less grave when Congress
meets, for fear that it would les en- the
chances for The repeal Of the Sherman
silver law, which he now considers good.
Outside of Congress and the Cabinti
millionaire Office hold 3rs are exceedingly
rare, but the position of the Chief Of the
Bureau of Statistics. IN the Treasury De-
partment, will be fiji ed during the re-
mainder OF this administration Ivy z
millionaire, unless Sir. WoIthngtou Ford
of New York. who has been appointed Il
the place. should die or resign before
then. Mr Ford will have one great al
vantage over the ordinary office holders
he will have no dread OF the Omnoui
yellow envelope and pay days Will mo-
seem quite so far apart to bin rs they dc
to most of bis cO-laborers for uncle Sam
There is nothing the matter with th'
Treasury building, but there is almost as
much fright among its employees a.
among those who work ia the unsafe
buildings. owing to the impression they
have that reorganization OF the enur'
clerical force is soon 10 be made. The
reason for this is an order Of Secretary
Carlisle's for complete list OF the EN-
plOyees, with full particulars as to whei
and how they came into the service, wha
they do, etc, also a list of those having
relations in office.