Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1899 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our regular correspondent.) Unless some of the shrewdest politicians in Washington are much mistaken, the death-knell of Algerism was sounded when Gov. Pingree announced his deal with Alger to try to put the latter into Senator McMillan’s seat. Secretary Alger, who has just returned to Washington, is said to be as mad as a hornet because Pingree gave out the deal before he was ready to have it made public. He wished to remain in the Cabinet and to make as much use as possible of the many plums at the disposal of the War Department, before the deal got out. Now, friends of Senators McMillan and Burrows say, that if Alger doesn’t resign voluntarily, they have the means to compel Mr. McKinley to ask for his resignation. Some think that Mr. McKinley will do that without any compulsion, not only because of his friendliness towards Senator McMillan, but because of his dislike for Pingree on account of his free criticisms on several occasions of McKinleyism. At any rate, everybody is again hoping that the end of Algerism in the War Pepprtraent is near. m Hon. R. M. Finley, the popular Comptroller of the State of Texas, is enjoying a visit to Washington. Asked how things were in the lone star state, he said: “Texas is enjoying a fair share of prosperity. The crop prospects are fine, and there ie a greater demand for our our unimproved land than there has been for a: long time. The next census will show that we have a population largely in excess of three million, which in intelligence, morality and thrift will vie with the citizenship of any state in the Union. Gov. Sayres is making a fine record, and his administration is popular with all classes. There is but little going on politically, and we will not have any excitement in that line until next year. The state is overwhelmingly for W. J. Bryan for. President, and a solid delegation pledged to him will be sent to the next democratic National Convention. • * * Judge Nash and Boss Hanna’s man Dick, were hobnobbing in Washington, when news of Gov. Bnshnell’s open' attack upon Hanna, Nash and Dick, and nis incidental attack upon Mr. McKinley, reached them. They had intended to remain in Washington un-

til Mr. McKinley returned, but all plans were at once abandoned, and they rushed back to Ohio, to ascertain the extent of Bushnells open revolt against the Hanna machine. Private advices indicate that the revolt will be strong enough to give the state to'the democrats, unless they put up a weak ticket, which is not likely. * ** \ If there isn’t a job concealed in the erection by a private party of a building for the use of the Census Bureau, the signs are all deceptive. From the day of his appointment, director Merriam insisted that only a building large enough to put practically all of the employes of the Bureau on one floor would answer. That shut out every existing building in Washington. Then there was talk of the bureau erecting a temporary building upon government property, but the accounting officers of the Treasury ended that by deciding that no part of the appropriation for the Bureau could be used for such a purpose. Then the shadow of the job became visible. Offers were asked from owners of lots large enough to erect the sort of building required. The only one that suited Director Merriam was submitted by a man who became rich as well as familiar with jobs while holding office under the old Government of the Distiict of Columbia. It was accepted, and a lease made for five years, which is likely to be extended to seven or eight before the Census work is completed, at an annual rental of $25,000. The ground upon which this building is to be erected has been used as a coal yard for years, the rental hardly being enough to pay the taxes, and it is claimed that SIOO,000 is to be spent in erecting the building. Even if that amount were to be expended, the lease i would still be a very profitable one,! when it is considered that money is going begging, when the secur-j ity is as good as this, at 4 per cent;! but an expert who has seen the rough plan for the building says, it will not cost much, if any more than §50,000. * * * Not a little surprise was expressed in Washington, when it was learned that Gen. Wood had for the time, if not absolutely and; finally, declined the offer of s;io,-! 000 a year made him by the Street! Railway and Electric Light Trustj which has been buying up nearly | all of the street railways and all of the electric light companies of Washington, to become its Presi dent, and announced his early resumption of his duties as Military Governor of Santiago. Inasmuch as General Wood was fresh from a Conference with Mr. McKinley when he made that announcement, it is inferred that he has received some definite promise of further preferment of some sort, if he will remain in the army. He is now a Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, but that pays less than one-fifth of the salary offered him. His rank in the regular army is what it was when he was made Col. of the Rough Riders —Captain.