The news & observer., 1897-02-25
The Same Being Vice-Pres
ent Andrews Of Southern.
THEY DISCUSS THE LEASE
A PROPOSITION OF COMPROMISE
30 YEARS AT PER CENT.
NH. SKINNER IN FAVOR OF IT
Is Col. Andrews? SINNERS Exact Posi-
tion--Gossip Connects the Federal
Judgeship--How the Boilers
Stand Skinner's Ultimatum

Stand-- Skinner's Ultimatum
This is in some respects an everyday
story IN other respects, not.
Tuesday afternoon might have been
seen walking mp those tiresome steps of
the Marlborough House, Col. A. b. An
drews, First Vice President of the South
.ern Railway Company.
Perhaps the main reason why Col. An
drews walked was because there was ne
elevator, for Col. Andrews is a big man,
physically. and had there been an ele-
vator, he, no doubt, would by that partic-
ular line have reached his terminus
which turned out to be the room of Col
barry Skinner.
Col Andrews remained there some lit
tie time.
Whence comes this reasoning:
First. Col Andrews wanted to see Col.
Harry Skinner really desired to see
him.
Second. Col Andrews had business
with Col. Skinner.
Third, the business was the business
OF Col Andrews as contradistinguished
from the business of Col. Harry Skinner.
Therefore, Col. Andrews, good bus
mess man that he is, observed the rules
of business, and he was the visitor. Had
the business been the business of Col.
Harry Skinner, then according to bust
ness rules, Col. Harry Skinner would,
au courant statesman that he is, have
gone to the Office of Col. Andrews.
Again, had not the matter been, per-
haps, awfully pressing, in fact, any way
you take it, had Col. Andrews asked Col.
Skinner to waive the customary rules of
business, Col Skinner, with that knight
illness betokened by his waving hair would
no doubt have consented to come to see
Col Andrews, fashioning his reasoning,
besides the grace of the thing, after this
manner:
1t were easier for me Of lighter weight
to descend the steps to the office of Col.
Andrews than for Col. Andrews Of great
er weight, to ascend the steps after me.
Well!
Well-what did the old Marlborough
House do-that darling old House Of
Usher, wherein presences can be discern
ed without the test Of sight.
Tongues were set a-wagging in the POI
litical set.
What was the object of the visit of
Col. Andrews to the apartments or apart
ment (it was, to be accurate, only one
room), of Col Harry Skinner.
But first let the departed spirits Of the
just (and the unjust) of the dear old Var
borough be appeased-tlat hostelry
wherein the SEEN is next door to the
UNSEFlN-that hosiery OF halls and
aHey-ways of gloom that is so grateful to
the growth Of raiIroad-politieo coups-
that confine Of the Offices Of the First
Vice President Of the Southern Railway
which are central to a complex system
of ''ausgangs" and ''hereins," after the
manner Of dim underground functions in
great L0ndon's underground railways
dear old Marlborough, whose heart mufied
under memories yet echoes the music or
footsteps on momentous errand hent-oh.
the dear old Marlborough, whose chambers
retain only intent and persuasive whs-
pers even Of grinning skulls
voiceless now the world oyer-the spirit
ual ear Of the white-hooded, white-haired
old Marlborough, grooming to itself regis
tered a new note when the footstep Of Col
Andrews fell upOn the threshold Of the
apartment of Col Harry Skinner. And
one more hair whitened under the foot
step-and theincident passed as one
among unnumbered thousands which are
colored with the voices of Presidents and
Senators and statesmen-essenc that
live in the dear old hostelry, even after
the substance is gone.
BY any Of those dim conduits, Col.
Harry Skinner could have visited the
sfrices of Col. Andrews, whereas there
was from the offices to Col. SINNERS
room only one conduit.
And along that conduit Col. Andrews
passed.
The rumors were many.
Some folk said that the subject Of
Tease" and Federal judgeship" was
Mooted-some may have done Col. Skin
her an injustice in the theory that be
had at all changed his position toward
the lease question.
For not so many days ago he told n
reporter OF the News and Observer that
the nineteen bolters would stand solid for
the lease bin. and if it didn't pass, it
would not be the fault of the Populsts
Had he changed front? Boo!
Lit was due Col. Skinner to be informed
Of the ftful and spiteful conferences
THAT had been hatched out of the long
Setting" of Col Andrews in his apart
meTFts.
Accordingly about two o'clock yester-
day morning. a reporter OF the News and
Observer went to Col Skinner's room
and stated the case directly and without
reserve.
1t was true that Col. Andrews had
made the visit, that the cease" at Iease |
had heen discussed. that Col. Andrews
of course, would have liked to seeure
the help Of Col Skinner against the bill
"But. Col Skinner. il is said, that |
proposition has passed between you and