Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
written and compiled for the HERALD.

Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1893.-"Do
the elements exist in the membership OF
the House to defeat Mr.. Crisp for
Speaker 7" was asked of Senator, and
in view of Representative Jerry Simpsons
proposition to combine the populists, ST.
YER democrats and republicans for the
purpose of electing Representative Bur
rows, of Mich, who has been classed as a
free coinage republican Speaker of the
House, his answer is interesting. Here it
is: Eyes they do, but do not think
any human power is strong enough to
weld them together. While Mr.. Crisp
was a model OF fairness IN presiding over
the last House, there is undoubtedly
feeling among the democratic Represen-
tatiyes who favor free coinage that in the
next House be will be against them,
Notwithstanding his official record as
fres coinage man ; do not pretend to ex-
plain why this feeling exists. but l know
that il does. Now this element, if mem
bers voted their own and the sentiments
of their constituents, would be very large
but tie less of patronage or the fear Of
such loss will keep them in the party
traces and largely reduce if 1t does not
entirely wipe out that element The
populists could, of course, be depended
upon to support new man for Speaker
and also the republicans, provided the
new man was nominated by their caucus.
So YOU see that the uncomfortable ele-
ment in Simpsons combination is the
silver democrats. If they would vote
with the populists and the republicans.
Crisp could be badly defeated, but IN my
INDICTMENT they will not bolt their caucus.
Yet. the mere fact that they can by TAX
ing such action bring about the defeat OF
the caucus nominee surrounds the or
ganization of the House with unusual in
terest, and while the PROBABILITIES AL
favor the election of Mr.. Crisp there is
hare possibility of a different result"
Congress has from time to time for a
number of years been asked to enact
law prohibiting the employment of con-
yict labor BY any contractor for govern
ment work. but some how Congress never
didit Mr.. O'Rourke, the new superSis-
ing architect of the Treasury, has adopted
a policy which will, if not upset 10y
court decision, have the effect of shutting
out convict labor from all public build
ines. the contracts for which are hereafter
made. He Smp'y inserts in every adver-
tisemeDt for proposals published by his
office a clause stating that no proposition
will be entertained from a mar using
convict labor, and that no product Of con-
vict labor shall 60 into the building Mr.
O'Rourke takes the ground that the
absence of any specific law covering con-
vict labor on public buildings leaves it
discretionary with him, and that he does
not believe in subjscting honest labor to
competition with dishonest labor.
1t is denied by the Post Office authori-
ties that the decision to open the Worlds
Fair branch of the Chicago pOstofice on
Sunday "during such hours as may be
deemed necessary for the sale of stamps
aud for the receipt and delivery Of the
mail' indicates any sympathy with the
opening OF the Worlds Fair on Sunday
and the instructions to the employees at
the exposition post Office, telling them to
rope off the exhibit as far as possible on
Sunday. are cited as [roofs. They claim
that it is the business demand that has
been met in ordering the Far pOstofice
kept open on Sunday.
Ihe news from Buzzard's Bay cOrrobo-
rates what your correspondent wrote
several weeks ago concerning the pre-
carious state of President Cleyeland's
health and caused no surprise among the
few people here whe know his condition.
He lett here so suddenly because ho was
ordered to rest by his physician.
The last issue of the Patent Office
Gazette was four days behind time, be-
cause OF a change in the contractor who
prints it, and the Commissioner says some
delay may be expected for several weeks
The death OF Justice Blatcbford has
opened lively cOntestIn a dignified way,
of course, for the vacant seat in the L. 5.
Supreme Court. Justice Blatchford was
appointed from New York and the New
York politicians will try to have his sue
c9ssor appointed from that state, but it
does not follow that they will succeed, as
there is no iron clad rule governing such
appointments. Two members of the
cabinet. Gresham and Carlisle-have
been ambitious to become members Of the
Supreme CoErt, but as both Of them are
credited with having hopes of the demo-
cratic nomination IN 9G neither may be
50 anxious about the Supreme Court as
they once were. A local paper suggests
that Mr.. Cleveland follow the example of
Mr.. Harrison in appointing democrat
and name ex President Harrison for the
; vacancy, but It's great big dollars to last
years's birds nests that he will not adopt
the suggestion, and it would be rather
crowding poor, weak, human nature to
expect him ID d. so.
A Murder Mystery
THAT IS PROBABLY CLEARED UP BY CON