Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-14
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Mr.. Balls Speech.-Upon the strength of
representations made by the Hon. Mr.. Ball of
Ohio, the House recently voted to have the
super1ntendence Of the erection of the addi-
lions TO the Capitol and Treasury buildings
transferred from the able and accomplished
Government Engineers who have MANAGED
them up TO this time, and placed in the hands
OF civilians In the course of the former con-
troversy upon this subject, we defined our DO
suon upon this scheme to open the works of
the Government in this city to peculatiOn and
fraud-for it amounted only to that, however
honest Mr.. Ball may be in believing that he
is doing his duty in laboring to carry out the
projects Of those who are advising him.
The result of the former controversy on this
subject satisfied the last Congress tn at the only
way to insure honesty and rigid accountability
In the construction Of such works on Govern
ment account, was to keep them as, at present,
Ia charge Of engineer officers Of tho army
Then, as now, disappoin ed bidders for con-
tracts, and men who would not be trusted by the
orcers In charge because they knew them well,
prevailed on members Of Congress to "kick up
dust over allegations Of improper expendi
lures and faulty plans in the construction Of
the works In question. But on that occasion,
unfortunately for the success Of their schemes
Of plumber, they commenced the attack early
enough to enable those sought thus to be
injured, to defend themselves to the satisfae
tion OF all unprejudiced persons, and com plete-
a On tha;r
now engaged at such work have taken care to
time their attack 70 az if possible to obtain
decision by Congress only on their one sided
stories promulged in the speech Of Mr.. Ball
knowing Mr. B. as well as we do, we are
simply amused at the part he is playing as
their spokesman. He left the neighboring
county Of Fairfax, Va, for Ohio, with barely
sufhcient education to allow him to get on de-
Gently in his calling of deputy sheriff, and,
subsequently as a sheriff Of an agricultural
county in that State. He comes back to this
region without an iota Of education or attain.
ments In addition to those with which he left
us' not obtainable from experience in the dis
charge Of deputy sheriff calling, and grave.
~ undertakes to sit in judgment upon the
plans, estimates, measurements, &c. Of works
OF science and art more elaborate and commit.
ca'eo very properly, than any others Of the
same description now in course of construction
ELSEWHERE In the civilized world There is q de-
gree o. modesty manifested in his assumption
OF htness to discharge the duties he has under.
'sAen' exceedingly refreshing, even in these
times, when everybody seems to fancy himssls
competent to everything. While We sipcerslv
believe Mr. Ball to be perfectly honest in this
matter, We as sincerely believe him, in HIS
profound ignorance of the task he as in hand
70 be the dupe of designing men who have &C..
iected him for their instrument. as best fitted
OF all the members, because he really knows
less OF the subject matter than almost anv
other one Of them.
assumed to vouch in the hall for the
correctness Of the allegations of the interested
pAi'eS VINO are apparently using him .nd
oei're ne gets through, We take i, e., -,
that the gentlemen assaiIed tb,o e,
siy TOE country that he has been the v.,;..,
eats-pa" for designing and unprincipl.d I've
oIators conceivable, and has succssa.i
demonstrating but single fact-yiz th., :.
constituencies will send ignorant men 10 Con.
gre's without sufficient brains to keep GU, of III.
clutches of the harpies who watch so unceasno.
ly to use such subjects for their own interests
'hey may expect year after year to find the
construction of public buildings delayed and
'nSif cost thereby enhanced by the drawbacks
eUn'equent upon efforts to carry out the
es Oh those who have failed to obtain
opportunities to make money out of such gov.
eminent work. e''
NJ TaarAe'er and reliability of the charges
o. mr. Daii' 10 which We cannot now refer in
t'''l .'r want Ct space, are so capitalIv iI,ua
hS'ed in an article in the New YorL go