American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-12
AMERICAN ELEGRAPH b,
9ll[Communicatsd.l / isi.

Jas presume upon authority, in the editorial
department of last evenings Telegraph, touch
ing the structures upon what that high officer
Qfthe Government suffers to bedone, which ap-
peared in my former communication / have
also read the defence of what Mr.. Stuart has
suffered to exist, and sanctioned, which ap-
peared I'M this mornings Inteltigencer---an ema-
nation from the Patent Ofice.,apsqs taamd1ia
h. Neither the explanations nor the defence
will answer, ] asked if there were more than
aerenleen clerks engaged on the census Of 1910,
and if there were not now engaged on the cen
sus Of 1850 seUeaty.fOe clerks? The answer is,
that the country and it's products have greatly
augmented since 1840, and that the census
tables are more complicated and full than those
Of 1840.i But is not the increase Of labor and
expense on the census far greater than the
growth of the country, its population and pro-
ducts, since l84O? And are not Mr.. Superin-
tendent Kennedy's census tables little too com
pl;cated and full If not, who can foretell what
will be the limit to census tables and census
clerks on the census for 1850 ?-aas.t .;l at.H4
If Mr.. Kennedy is authorized to augment the
number ofcensus clerks from seventeen to sepeatl-
foe, for single decade, what number of clerks,
at the same ratio, will be required on the census
for 1860? The statistics in Mr.. Webster's
Fourthl of July Grafton may show the necessity
of an increase of the census force for 1850 over
that Of 1910, but they show no necessity, nor
propriety, nor justification for such an increase
as Mr.. Secretary Stuart sanctions r~.,
bo q %,
chased by Mr. Kennedy, in the name of another
person, to the Government, at the enormous
rent Of $1,750 per annum, when everybody
knows the rent of said house would be high at
5000, cannot be SO explained or justified as to
satisfy the public mind that all is right in the
matter. The much larger and more elegant
house., on F street, between Sixth and Seventh,
lately occupied by Mr., Crawford while Secre-
tary Of, War, was rented by that functionary
for 5000 per annum. Mr.. Donoho's very large
and commodious house, on the Apenue and adj
joining the United States Hotel which contains
more than twice the number of rooms in the
"Steiger house." could have been rented by
| the Government, and understand was offered
! to it for 500 per annum. H.
| The plea of e-and justification Offered
| by MIR. Secretary Stuart and his apologists is
| that John w. Maury and William A. Bradley,
| esqs., experienced business men and property
holders, and high-toned, upright gentlemen,
were requested to examine the "Steiger house,
and give their opinion as to the rent the Gov
ernment ought to give for its use, and that they
decided that the rent ought to be 81, $50 per
annum, taking into view the rent which the
Government is paying for the "Corcoran build
ing" and the I" Winder building" 9T
Now have very great respect for Mr. Brad
ley, and also for Mr. Maury, and for their
judgment in most matters. Indeed so highly
do esteem both of those gentlemen, that, al
though opposed in politics to one of them
would rejoice to see either of them elected
Mayor Of this city. n ,n. ,rua.. a ID. .a|
But l ask if it is good and sufficient reason
that three times as much as IL is actually lcorth
should be paid by the Government for the rent
of the "Steiger house." because the Govern
ment pays thrice as much as it ought to pay for
the rent of the "Corcoran building" and the
"Winder building" Three wrongs do not
make one right. ,. .....
Messrs. Corcoran and Winder are wealthy
capitalists and dashing spectators. They wine
and dine Cabinet ministers and members of
Congress most sumptuously. They do every
thing on large scale and a high figure. They
erect expensive buildings, and rent them to the
Government at an enormous rent; and there
fore-for that is the argument, the plea of JUS
tifcation-Mr. Secretary Stuart must allow
rent of 81 ,750 per annum to be paid for
dwelling-house, the rent Of which everybody
knows is not worth farthing over 5000.
must be permitted here to put question,
which may have some bearing upon Mr.. Maui
ry's estimate of house-rent, where Uncle Sam,
or an individual, has to foot the bill. Does not
Mr.. Maury own the st. Charles Hotel, corner
of Third street and the avenue Are there not
some sixty rooms in that hotel? Is the rent of
the hotel over 81 400 per annum, including the
stores and offices in the basement? And even
at that, Mr.. Mary pays for the insurance and
repairs.
But will do Messrs. Maury and Bradley the
justice to say, that they did not know that Mr..
Kennedy owned the "Steiger house, when they
appraised its rent. They thought it was to be
rented for only one year and, taking into view
the rent paid by the Government for the Cor
coran and Winder buildings, they passed their
judgment that, under the circumstances, the
Government should pay $1,750 rent, for one
year, for the "Steiger house" But the rent,
at that enormous rate, goes on from year to
year.
1t must be recollected that almost every
wealthy man in this city made his wealt b off
the Government. Hence, it seems to be gen.
orally conceded that everybody who has any
thing to rent or dispose of to the Govern pent,
must be paid not only promptly, in the hard
cash, but mngnifcently. a".'t