The news & observer., 1897-02-25

/ -AN NO1Onel SdLI LndJ SOME SUCH pTVpO-
sluon had been discussed, and he per
| sonally was in favor of it, but only on
| the condition that the passage of such
a substitute should be guaranteed in the
| House, and the guarantee should be
nothing less than copperfastened and
eternally secure.
Did Colonel Andrews propose this OF
! youw
He refused to answer, but the impress
sion was gathered that Col. Andrews
though not now willing to agree to sueh
settlement, later would probably be.
| DO you stand, Colonel, exactly where
you did when you told News and Dbser-
yer reporter in your first interview that
YOU and your nineteen bolter Populists
would sustain the bill?"
Precisely; l have not changed an
iota."
An interesting part of this was that the
straight proposition seemed to come from
| Col Skinner, which, according to rules
Of trades didn't leave much Rooms for
counter
Colonel, viii not, or has not such
| proposition been submitted by or through
YOU to the majority Popuhsts"
The Colonel would not answer, but it
was afterwards learned from other
| sources that such proposition either
had or would come to the majority Popu-
| lists for their cooperation or eonsidera
ton 1t is quite probable that it will be
considered at their next caucus
This ended the night interview with
Col Skinner
Yesterday afternoon, Col. Andrews had
every evidence of good feeling about
/ him and when he does feel good he can
| no more conceal it in his hearty walk
| and way than can a Franklin stove bury
| the winter blush that glows warmly
| from its great throbbing heart of hard
coal. This simile does not mean that
| Col. Skinner had been filling Col. An
drews with hard coal, soft taffy or any
thing of the sort, but it means only what
| it says.
| In such good humor, q messenger was
dispatched by Col. Andrews to the SECOND
| floor of the Marlborough and-was it a con-
| sequence or coincidence ga little while
| after Col Skinner came down in his
| going-away gown of slick doe-skin over
| coated and hand-bagged for Washington.
| On the route before reaching the Var
| borough House front door, Col. Skinner
got side-tracked and seooted down the
| coal-chute. or, to speaking vulgarly, he
shot the chute into the Office of Col An
drews
/ But not for long. After coaling up at
Andrewsyille he steamed out again down
the main track. 1T was at this point
| that a News and Observer reporter board
ed his tender. and his safety-valYe began
letting off some Of the axtra steam.
Said Col. skinner: Il come not here to
talk. You know too Well the story of our
| forefathers.'
Has Col. Andrews yet accepted your
| propositionW e asked She reporter
| Col. skinner would not answer; but be
| said: Elder the present bill viii be
| passed by the Senate, or guaranteed
substitute of 30 gears at s per cent"
DO your IlineEeeaI bolter friends assent
to this?''
Answer was eya5Ied here also, but the
impression was left that some of them
We're coming into= the new scheme with
some show Of uI}wilingness- indeed,
they Weg'e conring at all.
Col. Skinner, suppose such a 30-year
8 per cent. bila Were to be agreed upon on
all sides, have :you reminded Col Andrews
Of the fact that 1he present rate of per-
is exclusive OF faxes, which, in the town
Of Charlotte aTnount to over 2 per cent,
and that, therefore, a straight naked s
per cent. lease might not be advantageous
lin other ws)ryls, that any new lease for
s per gent. naust include. also, taxes?'
The Col. was Fastening to the train, and
did not have time to go minutely into this
phase OF tlEe matter. And in a few mo-
ments he ;gas gone-f0r the train was
about to move as he stepped aboard.
Therefora,,to leave Col Skinner for the
moment-snd one dislikes to leave him
even for ! .monent-there was a rumor
that the :Senate Lease Committee had
prepared as= their report a substitute built
on the lSnes Of the 30year s per cent
programEle. I'he refutation or confrma-
tion Of .hls rumor which may or may
not turn. olIt to be all a rumor, will prob
ably come to pass Friday morning If
this tur@l eorIt to be true there may be
strange: coincidence of thought noted by
some, end should Col. Andrews develop
openly :nto an advocate of the proposition,
it win 9e nothing less than a case of Col
Andre9s, Col. Skinner and the committee
being fsone and the same mind
But .the moment is out-enter Skinner
again.=
anu: at TIE rlsk OF SpOlilug une Iecnnlcal
unity sand poise OF the conventional pro-
fessiolal news story-at the risk of be-
coming adnateurish, as 'twere, let this
lbe supposed.
8 SUPPOSE Senator Pritchard were, in ac-
5 =cordaalce with those wicked rumors, to
propose for the Federal judgeship his
friena Skinner, who helped him in time
Of neLd.
Fikst, President Mckinley might not
app1snt.
Sesond, if he did appoint, Senator But
Ter N0ould offer opposition.
TAird. there might he land doubtless
wou|d) other unpleasant obstacles to con-
hrnlation.
Fourth, any way one looks at it, ap-
poiHtment or no appointment, Skinner
wogld never be confirmed.
0ol Harry Skinner will find that this
sbasement will pam out.
Ehen.
Suppose Skinner should have facilitated
in a NY uoy in the IN irving ONT as to tha