The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-13
COL. LESIER'S TELLING WORK
THE PUBLIC BUILDING FIGHT A
HARD one THROUGHOUT.

Supervising Architect Aiken Conn
pIiments Him on the ResuIt-CoI.
Lester Thinks Boies the Prime
Favorife of the Democrats. and
That the Convention VIII Put in
Free silver PIant-He Has Not
Yet Formally Announced Himself
ns Candidate for Recollection.
But VIII No Doubt 60 Before the
Convention.
Conerassnan Rufus 7. Lester returned
TO the city yesterday from Washington,
accompanied by his family. a dispatch
from Washington 20 the Morning News
last night says
Before starting homeward Representa-
tive Lester called at the Treasury Depart
ment and had a short consultation with
Supervising Architect Aiken, relative TO
1he work on the Savannah public build
ing. Mr.. Aiken says only a few altera-
tions in the plans VIII be necessary to
complete the building In marble The ad-
dtl0nal appropriation VIII not be availa-
bic until July /. and In the meantime the
work Of making the alterations in the
plans to conform to the marble plans will
be pushed forward as rapidly as the over
permit. 0lr. Aiken says he will do every
thing in his power to facilitate the work
on the building and he congratulates Rep
resentative Lester for the zeal he has dis
played in securing the additional appro-
priation.
Col. Lester is looking well and hearty.
and IS evidently ready TO enter zealOusly
into another campaign should he have
any opposition. He was seen by a repre-
Sentative of the Morning News and asked
about the appropriations ne had secured
for continuing the public works at Sa-
vannah.
THE fight for the additional appropri-
alton for the public building was a hard
one" Col. Lester said, "and It took con-
siderable work to get it through. The
trouble was. Speaker Reed determined, az
the beginning of the session, that no ap-
preparation should be made for public
buildings anywhere. The object Of this
policy was evidently TO strengthen him
self In his political aspirations, and to-
wards the end he probably kept up the
same policy, because he took that stand
in the beginning"
The harbor appropriation was won,
{ coi I Ig de5 h2ra h 5 ers aPa
for the work he has done through
out in Savannahs behalf. He was salts
he'd the harbor appropriation would go
through If 1t could once be gotten i'm the
bill. He said the Presidents veto of the
bill was expected, but there was no trou-
bic in passing it through congress over
the veto. The Presidents objection 10 the
bill, he said, was that IL was loaded down
with too many contracts.
How do they view the political out
look in Washington he was asked.
Well Boies of Iowa seems to be the
favorite with the democrats, though Vice
President Stevenson is very favorably
spoken Of. There is no doubt whatever in
my mind that the national democratic
convention VIII declare for the free coin
age of silver"
DO you mean in a ratio Of sixteen TO
one?'' he was asked.
oh WELL It doesn't make so much
difference about the ratio. They might
simply declare that both metals should
be basic money and not mention the ratio.
but at the same time If the act of 1873
IS repealed y would necessarily be at
me ratio q lS TO ], unless another ratio
"What is the opinion as to the chances
for the republican ucket?"
well, everybody seems to think there
IS no doubt that Mckinley viii be the
man, and great many think the re-
publican candidate will be elected, no
matter who he is. But as for that, you
all down here know about as much about
il as we do. You get all the news
What about the opposition to you in
the coming congressional racer
w hat opposition? 1 haven't any op-
position Col. Lester replied.
Why, Mr.. HerringtOn he has announc-
'Oh, but I haven't said yet that ] was
going to be a candidate. 1 have made no
announcement Of any kind. How can a
man have opposition until he announces
himself and becomes a candidate?"
But it's pretty well settled that you
will be a candidate, is it not?"
"Oh. reckon So Col Lester replied.
Col. Lester said he did not intend to
say anything about Mr. Herringtons re-
quest for postponing the date of the con-
vention as he stated he had nothing
whatever to do with II. With regard to
the promises which Mr. Harrington says
he made Col Lester, the latter stated Mr.
Harrington wrote him a letter, in which
he said he would not announce his can
didacy until Col Lester returned to Sa-
vannah Col. Lester said he did not look
upon this as any promise, as he had never
asked him TO make any such agreement
lie says he replied and told him to do just
as no pleased in the matter.
So far as is known now, there will be
no changes, and the convention will be
held in the court house here at noon next
Friday, June 10. Mr.. Harrington has not
been heard from recently with regard to
his candidacy.
NEW TELEPHONE FIRE ALARM.