The sun., 1897-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Slow Progress Of Coast Defense Work.
An Enterprising Fellow - The
Monetary Commission.
Especial Correspondence.1

WDIh, " HINil 10 taNAiDSu w lCsSAOA
al shortsightedness, though some one
else appears to be culpable in at least Q
contributory degree, is shown in Secre
tary Alger's recent action revoking the
orders to battery of the Fourth artii
lery to garrison Fort Delaware and
Finn's Point, N. j., and postponinp
the occupation of these important places
guarding the entrance to the Delaware
until next spring. This is due to an Of
fetal report that the old quarters there
are absolutely uninhabtable, and there
fore several hundred thousand dollars
worth of guns and their mounts are left
without the care they would have were
troops available in the vicinity, and the
men will not have tho advantage Of be-
coming familiar with the weapons, not
to mention the defenscless position in
which Philadelphia is left. OF course
congress will be asked to appropriate
money for quarters, and this demand is
emphasized by the failure of the de-
partment to man the posts, but many
persons will wonder that the proper Of
ticials never thought of this phase Of
the matter several months ago.
An Enterprising Fellow.
There is an cnterprising individual in
town who for months past has been try
ing to obtain an audience with a certain
high official, but the high official, being
well aware Of tho nature of the enter
prising individuals S wishes, has persist
entity avoided him. This person, how
ever, is versatile as well as enterpris-
ing One day recently he went over to
Baltimore and called up, over the long
distance telephone, the high official,
who, being aware of no possible reason
why he should not answer call over
the long distance telephone, which indi-
Gated that there must be matters of I'M
portance that demanded his attention,
"Is that General A. % asked Balti-
more.
eyes. What do you WANT" asked
General A.
"This is Mr.. B. want to speak to
you about little matter" Then Mr..
B, proceeded to tell his business.
"Come, come" interrupted General
A., this is no matter for the tele-
phone"
"Woll, when can l see you, them"
asked b.
Come to my office at 10 O'Clock to-
growled the general.
And the interview took place.
Monetary Commission Hard at Work.
The monetary commission is constant.
ly at work, and it will be some weeks
yet before all the questions it has under
are disposed of.
The members of the commission are
all well known men, but the most noted
Of their number is the chairman of tho
ex-senator Edmunds Of
Vermont, who for 25 years was a con-
spicUous figure in the senate aud regard
ed as the leading lawyer Of that body.
The active part he took in the debates
III the Pacific railway funding act and
antitrust laws is still remembered, and
ne was the author of the "I,dmunds
aw, . which aimed to suppress pOlyg-
my III UCah. He was, too, Il member
If the electoral commission and one of
hose who took part ii the trial Of An
lrcW Johnson Senator ElmuLds' vol
antary resignation Of his seat in the
senate was " subject Of surprise and
Nonler at the time. Since his retire
mcnt.to private life he has devoted HIM
self to his law practice and has seem
ngly never regretted leaving the senate.
Tho Library of Congress.
Mr. AlvDrd, the superintendent of tie
lTt department Of the library Of con-
.rcSs, is hard ut wuk putting that de-
lartmcnt in order and hopes to open it
O the public by Dan. !. 10 assert and
rrHngo AL the prints That have accu-
nulated il the library is, Of course,
undertaking, but when it is
lone the collection will be useful to the
tudont as showing the hist,ry and
,rowth Of the cngraycr art and lhotoy-
Apply i'll tbs country.
Mr.. Alvord has any quantity Of ma
crial at his disposal. There are now
tortl iii the library some 70, OCO en-
cravings, 1000 photographs and 20, coo
besides a quantity Of other
pictures that have not been classified. 1t
would naturally. if it were possible, BE-
Iuitc useless to display all Of these, but
rom them have been selected about
900 prints which viii be framed and
ung III the gallery.
The library has rich and very in
crcsting collection Of political cartoons,
nd among its treasures are more than
80 rare cid cngrayim%S, copies uf tho
Id masters, which were purcIlH1,l in
he carly days Of the library. But lust
When and by whom these pictures were
ought is not known. Surely the person
yho lad the tCm"rity to USE govern.
lcnt funds iur SO aesthetic pUruusu as
he acquiring Of rare old prints must
ave been q man Of courage and strong
for utilitarim ideas govern
Il the government expenditures in tie
aEly days, and the fathers were opposed
Il rule to the appropriating of public
loncTsf for the purpose Of buying works
t art, regarding such outlay as 'ncour-
cement to idlcne,s and the reckless ex.
ending Of peoples money.
CARL SCHOTIELD.
A Feathered Surgeon.
A story is told which would indicate