Show washington LETTER doings about the nations capital THE economical MEN IN CONGRESS ex randall much worse alie blaar educational bill sad deaths in the cabinet circle washington D geb Es speaker carlisle is the hero of the hour in democratic circles for tho able manner in which enles to act in reporting the code of rules sooner than they had intended the new rules are abent as one sided and unfair to the minority as they could well be and ne speaker reed almost as anch authority as he has exercised without them it took seven hours to get a majority vote in their favor from the republican caucus and from all accounts the discussion at times was extremely bitter A democratic caucus alo considered tho rules reported and although they so many gag laws it was decided that if the republicans public ans would allow a reasonable time for their debate so that no injustice might be country no unusual obstacles would be inter by the democrats to prevent their adoption by alie majority as they only wish to put themselves on record as protesting against their adoption economical men in congress were surprised to learn from a speech of senator gorrills morrills Mor rills eliat owing to the overcrowded condition of the public buildings in washington a year is spent by alio govek nent to rent private buildings the buildings that are worst off are the house the patent office and government printing office alie last named is in a deplorable plo rable condition looked at from every standpoint it is old and its walls are in a dangerous condition it is unhealthy and is in constant danger from fire there ia a pretty general agreement that it will be cheaper to erect the necessary buildings than to pay such a large amount torrents early action is expected in congress to relieve this unsatisfactory state of affairs the republicans of the house did not dare to seat smith of west til they had a legal quorum of their own members present to vote him in had they done the supreme court would probably have been given an opportunity port unity to pass on the constitutionality of mr reeds ruling in the matter of a quorum of the house the fact that waited till they had a quorum present to take the decisive vote shows how little confidence they have in the legal status of mr reeds rulings A gloom has been spread over official and social life in washington owing to the deaths in the cabinet circle sunday secretary blainer Blai neB daughter died and monday secretary tracys residence was destroyed by fire the lives of his wife and daughter lost and himself brought out in an unconscious condition by the fireman the funeral of mrs andmios and Miss tracy was held in the east room in the white house on wednesday and a more affecting scene has never been witnessed here representative of pennsylvania who is one of the shrewdest democrat in the house says reeds rulings have made it a certainty that the democrats will have a good majority in the next house the united states supreme court has decided that alie test oath clause in the constitution of idaho ia constitutional the blair educational bill which is beginning to look hoary was taken up this week in abo senate it will get through aho senate and it may get thrones the house I 1 n it is doubtful another re rated pen m office official first deputy commissioner hiram smith has gone when asked for his resignation he sent it in and thereby secured an extra months pay the resignation being accepted to take effect march 5 and he has been given leave of absence to that date he was appointed last may considerable excitement was created wednesday by the news that ox speak er randall was much worse mr kandall has been so deeply interested in the fight in the house that he has oyer tasked his brain in order to make suggestions for the democratic leaders and it has had a bad deflect upon his health A bill has been introduced in the sen abeto admit new mexico an attempt was made to have the senate pass the bill providing for the organization of oklahoma territory this week but it failed not because of opposition but because precedence was claimed for the biair educational bill the ohio ballot box forgery gation was resumed this week among the most interesting witnesses were governor campbell halstead ex attends every session of the committee and adems to fully realize that he is on trial aar harrison did not attend the supreme court centennial in new york on account of the sad bereavement in the homes of two of bis cabinet members |