Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, Mar. 81, 1894.

WASHINGTON, Mar. u, 1894.
Senator Colquitt was pronounced by
his physicians this morning as in most
critical condition, although he slept
well last night. The family appreciate
the fact that Mr.. Colquitt is dangerous
ly i'll, but have not abandoned the hope
that he may rally from this second at
lack.
At Mannboro, Amelia county, Va, W.
0. Coleman was appointed postmaster
to day vice Richelieu Coleman, resigned.
Representative Bland of Missouri is
anxiously awaiting information from
the White House regarding the Presi-
dents action upon the seigniorage bill.
If the President vetoes the bill MI.
Bland will at once make an effort to
pass it over his veto, although in this
endeavor he has no expectation of be-
ing successful. "Shall you bring free
coinage billin at this session?"M Mr.. Bland
was asked. THAT is my intention. l
hope to have one before the House at
an early day." "Shall you report one
from committee if the President signs
the seigniorage bill?" II shall try to
put a free coinage bill through the
House." replied Mr.. Bland, without
any regard to what the President shall
do with the seigniorage bill. Even if he
signs the seigniorage bill, | shall bring
in free coinage bill just the same"
Representative Marshall and the two
Virginia Senators, and Senator Harris
and Representative Patterson of Ten
nessee will argue the case of the Bristol
poStoflice before the Postmaster General
tomorrow. The Virginians want the
postmaster there to be selected from
among the Virginians of that town, and
the Tennesseeans want Tennesseean
to have it. The impression is that the
latter will win.
A large number of members of Con-
gress and other persons, including the
Secretary of the Navy, left here this
morning on the U. S. steamers Dolphin
and Triton and a government tender
for Indian Head. on the Potomac, to
witness the trial of the new thirteen
inch breech- loading gun which took
place there to-day. The ball fred by
this gun weighs $50 pounds and is pro-
PEELED by charge of 100 pounds Of
brown powder, and it is estimated that
it will be carried fifteen miles and will
pierce twenty-five inches of solid steel
armor Among the Virginia congress: :
men in the party were Messrs. Epes,
Swanson and Tyler, the latter not be-
ing deferred from going by the eXplo-
sion of the ''Peacemaker" on the Prince
ton, when that gun was tried forty-odd
years ago in the presence Of his father.
Neither one of the Virginia Senators
went down. The first two shots to-day
were entirely successful. The first shot
was with charge of 4G0 pounds OF
powder and gave muzzle velocity OF
1920 feet. The next shot was with a
full charge of 800 pounds of powder,
which developed a muzzle velocity OF
1875 feet.
1t is reported here that Mr.. Andrew
White. now t. S. Minister to Russia, a
republican, will be recalled as soon as
the Russion mission shall be raised to
al embassy, and that Mr.. L. H. Letter,
now of this city, will be appointed U. S.
Ambassador at st. Petersburg, and that
lQe ailtStu dull-SeulllIC iceliuS vi NUS
STA will not render Mr.. Letter persona
non grata there.
Among the bills passed by the Senate
to-day was one for the relief of the old
Potomac Steamboat Company. The
steamer Excelsior was run into and
sunk by government vessel in Hamp-
ton Roads several years ago, and this
bill is to reimburse her owners for the
money they had to pay the Baker
wrecking Company for raising her
5000.
The House was not in session to-day.
having adjourned yesterday in order
that its members might have an oppor-
tunity ofbeing present at thetrial ofa big
gun at Indian Head, the testing ground,
about twenty miles down the river.
Many Senators must also have gone as
the attendance in their body was ex-
ceedingly small.
Congressman Meredith was at the Post
office Department to-day, trying to get places
there for some of his constituents He did
not succeed and says he is disposed to believe
that the Treasury Department is not the only
one in which there are now no places for Vir.
ginians, and that he fears it is the same case
with all the Others