New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-14
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.

UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE HOUSE.-What Is
In store for the House of Representatives to-mor-
is exceedingly uncertain. If quorum is not
present Jerry Simpson, who reves In small things,
will make his influence felt. II a quorum should be
present and the anti Bailey contingent OF the
'Mackerel Brigade" should attempt to execute its
threats. there might be another prohtless debate
For the last two days both Bailey and MoAlillin
have been busy electioneering. and 1t would not be
by any means surprising to see them lock horns in
the House tomorrow. Meanwhile Richardson Ia
keeping quiet He seems TO be ambitious to occupy
neutral position-somewhat like that Of the
woman who witnessed the fight between her nus
band and bear Mr.. Richardson Is regarded as a
rather sly politician. 1t is said That he is some
times called slippery jim by his political advor-
saries in Tennessee.
THE CONTRACTORS BLOOD MONEY!
What you going to do about the contracts for
armor plate?" Mr.. Cannon. OF Illinois, asked
after he had read Secretary Longs letter on the
subject. "Oh. suppose we shall have 10 remove
the limit of cost and allow the contractors their
blood money. The ships must be finished, of
course. and the armor must be mad" MI Cannon
/ do not think any more armored sea-going vessels
would be built by the United States very soon. II
we had enough harbor and coast defence monitors
Of the Puritan type. and a fair number Of swift
cruisers and torpedo-boats. l think we would do
very well"
INSTRUCTIONS IN THE CAPITOL.-The wills
perng stones in Statuary Hall. the old Hall of
Representatives is called. have become a public
annoyance II not absolute nuisance. Day d1ter
day, in the busiest hours the Capitol guides and
their focks of visitors obstruc. the entrance the
southern corridor leading to the House of Repre-
sentatives. and fire inanc remarks at certain
point in the gallery from which the same
fected. TO the great bewilderment of the bucoc
visitor and the perennial enjoyment of the guide.
Persons who are on business bent-Senators. Rep
resentatives and everybody else-are compelled to
flank the distractions.
JUDGE TORREY AND THE INDIAN BRAVE.
Judge Torrey. of ST Louis. the father of the Tor
rey Bankruptcy bill had an odd adventure with
an Indian In a Washington streetcar the other day.
1T was this way" said the Judge. telling the
story. II had boarded electrician at the Capt.
to. and just was about to take a scat no
ticed a young halfbreed the opposite
looked at him intently. thinking he might belong
to my section out West. Our eyes met and just
then put my hand to my hip pocket to extract a
newspaper that always carry to begule the te-
dunn OF ride The young brave had never taken
his eyes from me, and when he that
ment up went both hands in a second lie thought
be thrown into his face He saw the newspaper
whole thing was so sudden that not a passenger
noticed the episode. but doubtless good many
hne-looking fellow, kept laughing to himself for
several blocks When he got off he nodded, to me
IN friendly way; still smiling as he recalled his
temporary fright"
MR.. sTEvENsON's APPOINTMENT-The ap-
pointment of ex-vice-President Stevenson on the
Monetary Commission recalls an incident in regard
to Mr. Stevenson as the once hoped-for sill
yer candidate at the Chicago Convention.
1t was Just a year ago at Senator Nor
rills birthday party that a silver Sem
ator from the South made several predictions all
OF which were realized except one about Vice
President Stevenson. Referring 10 the outlook for
the choice of Presidential candidate. the Senator
said: cleveland would jump at the chance to get
the nomination. But. mark my words Cleveland
will not have chance to be even named. Proph-
ecy number one Free silver will sweep the con-
vention and there will be nothing else Prophecy
number two. The Republicans will carry the cleo
ton. but we shall make a good fight. Prophecy
number three. Our man Is the Vice-President He
has not said word that would be a peg on which
stand his silence and passive holding off But WE be-
leve he Is al right and will come out squarey be-
antagonisms, and his life. private and public is
aboye TeProaGh lie was the best Of the crowd in
hold his peace. concluded the Senator To-day
ago. SAID ausRnry We ps things weni pfefy
Gd doh as said thy r Would except that Stevenson
held his peace. OF course. this Monetary Comms-
abroad T But ann rsd ba "a, TIP
place ! thought the old man was going to drop
out completely but this Will give him lift. and /
am glad of it,
SLATE PRODUCTION-A special bulletin OF the
Geological Survey draws attention the remark
able growth of the export trade in slate The las.
year seems TO nave been unprecedented in the his
tory Of slate quarrying. The value OF the slate
output in the United States was s27462O5 in 1885,
Pennsylvania was probably benefited TO a greater
extent by the Increased expectation than any other
state although Vermont came in for no small
share Tennessee made its first appearance last
year as a slate-producing State. with fair indica-
lions OF steady growth as the result of quarrying
and milling operations in Blount County Some
zoo squares Of roofing slate from Carlton County
Mimi, have been applied TO roofs. with the view OF
giving a practical trial to the material from this
new source. Not little of the material sent TO
England was reshipped 10 Australia and South
America.
FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR