Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-13

officers, instead of being paid at the discretion
OF the Department, should be fixed by law.
The lots in the city belonging to the general
government are now sold by the Commissioner
Of Public Buildings, and the proceeds expended
for the improvement of the streets, nothing
going into the treasury. The propriety is sug-
gested Of selecting such as may be necessary
for the public use, and turning over the balance
to the city authorities, to be exclusively devoted
by them to the purposes of education. This
would relieve the Department from oil embar-
rassment in connection with them, prevent
private individuals from obtaining them on er
pdrte statements for q mere trife, and would
benefit most worthy class of people.
Under the appropriation OF fifteen thousand
dollars for completing the Little Falls bridge,
a contract has been entered into for erecting
on the stone abutment and piers already built
two spans of wooden bridge, in length three
hundred and twenty feet. The plan adopted
is known as "Howe's Truss" combined with
arches, and the structure is to be capable of
sustaininga test-weight or load of one ton for
every foot in length. To make it available for
travel, an inclined timber roadway will be
constructed, to lead from the river-bottom,
which is dry at low-water, up to the roadway
Of the bridge. This part is liable to be car
ried away by the spring freshets, but can be
replaced at comparatively small cost. The
whole will be completed by the 18th instant.
To finish the bridge as originally proposed,
would, according to the estimate of the engi-
neer in charge, cost seventy.fve thousand dol
lars more. If appropriated, the Department
will endeaver to expend it judiciously and with
fugality.
The erection Of the buildings of the National
Hospital for the insane-h been prosecuted
with great energy, and strictly with an eye to
utility and economy. 1t was supposed that ere
this it would have been ready to receive in
mates but on reflection, it was concluded
best to defer its occupancy until the erection of
permanent appendages, which otherwise must
have been temporary, and, in the end, far more
expensive. The present intention is, to receive
the patients of the District--now under the
care Of the Maryland Hospital and Mount
Hope Institution at Baltimore-on the first day
of January next. 1t is probable the present
edi6ce will be completely finished and in read
| mess for occupation on the 30th of June next.
1t will then accommodate eighty-fve patients,
with the usual proportion of officers, attend
ants, and servants. There are now twenty in
sane persons belonging to the army and navy
establishments, and fifty three INDECENT insane,
In the Baltimore institutions, supported by the
| government; and eleven are detained in the
Jail in this city so that it appears there are
| already eighty-four who will be entitled to the
| benefits of this institution according to its
original design. 1t is conceived that no pro-
ject can commend itself more fayorably to the
attention Of Congress. To make it model
institution of its kind should be the determined
effort of the government This can be done,
with the aid and experience of the present ex-
cellent superintendent, at small cost, COM
pared with our other public buildings and sim
liar structures in many Of the States.
| The penitentiary Of the District although
conducted with care and rigid economy, is con-
siderably III debt. In 1916 special appropri-
| alton of 81 ,949 "a was made, in addition to
the annual appropriation for its support, and
TO meet, as is supposed, the then existing In
debtedness. 1t proved to be insufficient, how
ever; for, though the appropriation for the
next ensuing year was about double the ordi-
nary amount provided, an indebtedness is still
reported to have existed on the 3lst of De.
cember, l847, of $l,055 10, which continued
annually to augment until the present warden
took charge of the institution, on the 9th June,
1853, when it amounted to about $4,000.
Collections and payments have been since
made, which enable him to reduce this indebt-
edness TO about $1,000, which the institution
/
| tons can be confidently relied upon. Soon
after the present warden was appointed, he
was instructed TO abandon the credit and adopt
the cash system, which has thus far had salu-
tary effect He is now anxious that an appro-
priation should be made TO enable him to pay
off the indebtedness for which heis in nowise
responsible.
1t is necessary to increase the number of
guards and employees about the penitentiary,
as the duties 10 be discharged are entirely too
onerous for those now engaged. In l849
there were forty convicts incarcerated in it, to
guard whom there were nine persons, includ-
ing the messenger. In 1853 there were one
hundred convicts imprisoned, and only eight
persons to guard them. That an additional
number is required admits of no doubt
| In the increase OF salaries TO officers and
clerks Of the different departments, by late
act Of Congress, no notice was taken Of the
chief clerk Of this department, whose duties
are arduous and of as important character
as those of the assistant secretaries Of the other
departments. These assistants receive each
$4,000 per annum; he only $4,000. No such
invidious distinction should exist between them.
Justly approaching the value Of his services,
/ have no hesitation in recommending the in.
crease Of his compensation, and that he be
1 u1hue tA-OuiClo dbolbthnb becrttary In the ADJ
sence Of the Secretary from the deparsment.
Temporary clerks, when necessary, are en-
ployed under the act of 18th August, 1912, and
paid for every day of actual service. The act
Of I'D April last requires their compensation to
conform TO that Of regular salaried clerks per.
forming similar duties. A modification of these
laws is suggested, so that the temporary clerks
shall hereafter paid by the folio, or piece, as
in the Patent Office. This would tend TO pre-
vent Partially, and encourage and reward the
expert, industrious, and experienced.
Within the year ID treaties have been entered
into with the Indian tribes. The most import
ant have been concluded with the Omahas, OF.
toes, and Missourias Sacs and Foxes of Mis-
souri, Iowas, Kickapoos, Delawares, Shaw
nees, Kaskaskias, and others; Miamies, and
the Menomonees. Vigorous efforts have been
made, and are still being make, to execute in
good faith all the provisions and stipuations 70
be performed,on the part Of the government.
and the Indians seem DESTROYS of strictly con.
forming TO their respective engagements. The
appropriations 10 carry these treaties into COM
plete effect were made mt so late a period. that
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