Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-11

The MONUMENT BOARD AND Mr.. ArLEE
Mr.. Ex-Secretary Alice walks into the Board
Of Monument mis-managers to-day, giving a
second instalment Of his expose, which, as fur
nishing rather rich detail of inside operas ons,
we append in full: !
THE MONUMENT BOARD OF 1s55-No. 2.-Hav-
ing proved that the Board perverted the organi-
zation, whose affairs they have been administer
ing, to partisan and sectaran purposes, I will
now proceed to the second proposition, viz: that
they have grossly neglected the interests ofthe So
cety. The evidence to this point is multitudinous
the correspondence in the Offices the loose rec.
ords, and the forlorn solitude Of the monument
grounds most lamentably attested. When the
trumps seemed to have been eIpepded al the rhe
Board were left soon without a single card Of
mark. The spasm of patriotism began to subside
In three months, and some Of the partners threw
May, the designations commenced and although
SOS were voted to the use Of the Secretary Mr.
Tucker, Tor the purchase Of stamps, &c, neces-
sary Tor lie transmission Of the circulars that
onaeer gave signs Of disgust. So far as nv re-
searches have extended the councils of :. breth-
REM did not respond with enough material aid
10 reimburse. the Board for the cost of printing
and distributing those remarkable documents.
Special embassies were sent to Baltimore, New
York, Boston, &c, which did not pay travelling
and hotel expenses.
On the 18th of July, 1855, a gentleman Of dis
unguished administrative talent was elected gen.
eral agent, at a salary of 80 600. and he promptly
cessary 10 resume building operations. Agents
were appointed and a spirit OF order wrought as
efciently as il possibly could with such hetero-
On the 18th of September foreman OF stone
cutters was, after some trouble, elected. and the
Syorkmen were Immediately employed the
monuments but the Board, at their meeting of
November f3th, 1S55, by an unanimous vote or
dered the Building Committee to stop the build
Ing operations on the 18th instant. The treasury
was exhausted in two short months; by an expen-
diture Of about %, 500. The General Agent then
threw up his commission, and the records exhib-
II no evidence Of his ever having been paid one
cent on account Of his $4,000 year. The hearts
Of the Board again sank and the old shifless rou-
tine OF ''no quorums and adjourned meetings"
recommended. Many names disappeared, and
tons would have disorganized the Board
Mr.. Tucker, the Secretary, resigned on the LIST
OF APTil, 1856. was nominated for the vacancy
formed Of il expressed desire for the appoint
ment- The nomination was ''laid over. !" At the
next meeting, April 3, il remained upon the table
The meetings Of the 18th and I'D lacked the
number necessary for a quorum but on the 10Th
was unanimously elected by the six gentlemen
present. During all this interim I solicited no
ones vote or influence | appeared IN accordance
with the notice Of election at the regular meeting
Of May 6, but there was quorum. had in the
meantime attended daily in the Office in the CITY
Hall II was so diSOrdered and filthy that was
almost prompted to decline an honor involving so
much personal discomfort. AT nv suggestion a
member OF the Board moved to appropriate $40
lOl putting one OF the IOOInS IN ndDltdDle order.
The question was taken BY ayes and noes and was
carried four TO one. O. The three succeeding meet
ings were djourned without quorum. This
would surely have driven me to a resignation, il
had not become meanwhile interested by INV en-
beavers 10 comprehend the admirable confusion
surrounding me. could find no book exhibiting
The regular receipts and expenditures.
The funds were, IL appeared received by no
one in particular. the rule established by the
Board was, that contributions should be sent to
the treasurer, and that the Secretary should be
informed thereof by another letter written to that
officer by the contributor; and this was the only
check upon the Treasurer's accounts. The CORE
spondence was wrapped up in bundles and stow
ed away in pigeon holes, damp and thick with
dust. The blank books, shut up in cupboards
were green and Shiny with mildew. The monu-
Inent was IN opposite condition the mortar crum-
bling from between the foundation stones and
the internal structure of the base exposed to the
deieterious intrusion Of wind and rain. The me
moral blocks were piled one upon the other in
two shanties, which afforded no protection from
the weather and ladders, etc =, were living unshel-
tered on the ground. The treasury was consider
ed In collapsed state, depending altogether on
the contributions of the visitors at the Patent
once and monument grounds and an occasional
Offering from some eccentric patriot. Debts to the
amount OF several hundred dollars were ''hotsam
and Jetsam with no money to 80 take them up.''
Notwithstanding all this, the Superintendent
oithe Monument, with three watchmen, were kept
on pay; the first on a salary of 81 600 year and
the latter on salary OF 81 % each per day; add
10 these amounts a clerk at 500 a wear, and we
have an aggregate annual outlay of 81, l65 IS. l
suggested TO some members of the Board that the
TeneTal Agency, the Superintendent and two
w1tchmen could be dispensed with, and that the
clerk was also unnecessary if the Secretary
able to devote all his time TO duties constitution
ally belonging TO himself All these with other
suggestions, were approved by the Board at SUBJ
sequent meetings, and Were by its order carried
out. called the attention of the Board also to
the condition OF the monument grounds and re-
eelved authority to tear down the block shanties
ana ana eTeet new laPidarium large enough to con.
tain all OF those interesting memorials contributed
IN honor Of Washington. By using as much of
Inc old lumber as was DIT for the purpose and
giving daily attention to the business, ! carried
cut my instructions within ten DAYS to the uni
VerSal satisfaction Of the Board. | purchased a
barrel Of cement also, and pointed up, the base
Of the monument, and the offices in the City Hall
Were cleaned, painted. papered, and carpeted.
The journals will exhibit many other changes in
trOduced in the Board, all Of which were heartily
approved, but afterwards became thOrns i'm the
neSh OF three or four members OF the Board
must here take occasion to say that from GER
tain members Of the Board received undeyiat-
ing Encouragement and support in my reformatory
measures. Not a member of the party until some
months afteT the advent Of the Board, and elected
without solicitation, / accepted the office, with
an express reputation OF partizan obligations 1
entered upon discharge Of the duties Of my Of
nee with the single purpose Of promoting the
eonsummation Of the patriotic enterprise. had
no personal prejudices against any of the men,
bers Of the board and sincerely desired to main
tain good understanding with all of them With
hsssEs- Addison, Belt, Brooke, Douglas, Evans,
Ellis, Gordon. Libby, Plant, Polk, and late Secre-
tary, Mr. Tucker, my relations of personal friend
ship continue undisturbed. Some Of those gen.
men have never attended a meeting since nv in
eumbency, and none Of them participated in or
sympathised with the pettifogging mOlestations
which have forced me iato this explanation
The general character Of these mOlestations has
been so freely elucidated by the public journals
thai my readers may be spared a resumption OF
the theme y special meeting of the DIST Of April
last, cOnvOked at the instance of petty cabal in
the Board, and tor the purpose of snmmarily dis
missing me on charges Of official malfeaSance
undivulged until the meInent Of arraignment,
was an impressive illustration OF the uncertain
issue Of intrigues dehed then, and still defy
all assaults against my official integrity. At the
adjourned meeting my salary was abolished with
out any provision for paying the balance of up-
wards Of thu Re hundred dollars then due and stil
unpaid; andSwitIl like magnanmity the three