The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-27

plished the vast rise in the price of cereals.
which it was professed to be the result
of its enactment. But" continued the
secretary, admitting that the American
would get twice as much in silver for his
products as he would get in gold Gf it
were on a silver basis) would he not have
10 pay for all those things which he is
Obliged to purchase likewise as he pays
now, or is it that free coinage would be so
adjusted as to raise the price of all the
farmer sells and lower the price of all he
has to buy? 1t cannot be possible that
the farmer is gullible enough TO believe
nobody's services or products are to be
doubled in value by free coinage except
his own"
CASH BALANCE.
Washington. Dec. 24.-The cash bal
ance in the treasury today is $153, 756,-
9SS; gold reserve, SS9,061, PA.
QUIET AT THE CAPITAL.
Washington, Dec. 24.-The capital was
practically deserted today, only few
congressman remaining. Now and then
a stray senator or representative woke
the echoes of the house corridors. The
charm of the Xmas festivities at home
was the magnet that had withdrawn
gressonal grist MILL Only a few MEN,
bers from the Far West and South, and
those whose families are in Washington
remained here. Several of them were at
their desks for a time today examining
their mail, but they had put their con-
gressional labor behind them and mat
tiers congressional were in state Of sus-
pended animation. Speaker Crisp vas
in his room about noon debating answers
to his letters, but he was almost the only
member in that division of the capitol
Mrs INricn onH a nd AanUbtnr
are here to eat Christmas turkey with
the speaker, and he will remain here
throughout the holidays. No committee
work will be done at the capitol during
the recess.
Senator Blackburn says the committee
on rules will not take up the question of
the clOture rule or any other subject I'M
til January 6. Some work will probably
be done in appropriation bills unreport-
ed by Chairman Sayers and some from
the members of subcommittee, but their
work will be subject to ultimate revision
when the full committee meets.
REPORT APPROVED.
Washington. lee. a.. Secretary Her
bert has approved the rerUtt of the board
consisting of Constructors lIans"om aud
Rowles, with Con: IAN Or lira'lf 'rl as
president, which Was instructed by him
10 ierort upon rhe joining and wood
work in he batt'esnips, cr"is,is AMI e"h
boats now building, w I'cl may lie advan
tag, ously dispens,j with; the Increased
facilities for exiting Snisc Ore NL!n en-
gagged in action (which should l." pro-.
Tided, and c,n '1rr the question of
ceiling the sides Vi lie living space vt
said vessel with papier mache or any 9th
er substitute less inflamahle than wood.
The board visited the ships at Norfolk
and Philadelphia and made a detailed
report showing the condition of each ship,
recommending the substitution of CORFU
gated iron instead of wood, as in the
Texas in many cases. The board re-
ports itself embarrassed for want of
knowledge concerning the fires in the
ships engaged in action off the mouth of
the Yalu river. The board was favora-
bly, impressed with the system of joiner
work on the Texas. 1t is thought that
considerable of the wood work could be
dispensed with if time and opportunity
were permitted to experiment. In the
case of the battleships Indiana and Ore
gon, which are nearing completion, the
estimated cost of the recommended
changes is $685. in the case of each yes
col