Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-01
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP


WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP
To Buy, OR NOT TO BUY,-THAr is THE CUES
TON AS we find in many papers contradic
tory accounts concerning the resignation of Mr..
Glover, the naturalist and artist attached to
the agricultural branch of the Patent Office
bureau-some saying that he will resign
others that he won't resign, others again that
he has resigned, and still other statements
that he has Withdrawn his resignation it
strikes Us that some portion of the public may
take interest enough in the matter to JUS
tify US in unrayeling all this jumbo, and ex-
planning how 1t originated. We have. therefore
to say, that Mr. Glover is the gentleman who
for some years past has been employed in inves-
tigating for the bureau the habits and charac-
teristics OF insects and other vermin that are
pests to agrieulturists, delineating them for en-
craving, &c, &c. His pay is s., 900 per annum
Previous to taking this employment he spent
some years In getting up, in a composition,
beautiful and really valuable collection Of ex-
act representations of various American fruits
cereals, &c, &c, which were shown at some
OF the Northern agricultural fairs and duly
blown over in the newspapers He has been
deslrous to sell them to the Government at
$4,000 ; probably not dollar more than they
are really worth, as their construction was cost
~, evidently, IN the actual expenditure of
money necessary to get them up, as well as in
ms own time, for which he should be paid hand
someiy, as he Is man of genius and singular
accomplishments In his walk of art and science
The Commissioner of Patents more than a year
ago recommended to Congress to appropriate
the sum he asks for them. to that end For last
years expenditures of the Patent Office bureau
on account of agriculture, S75, 900 was appro-
pnated by Congress without specifying the par
oeuiar objects for which it should be disbursed
Secretary McClelland, in view of the fact that
nothing was said in the clause of the law making
this appropriation, refused to sign the reauisi.
ton necessary to permit any of it to 90 to pay
for these works of art; declaring that to Justify
him In so doing, Congress must specify that
slO'VoO OF the money 1t appropriates for the az
rlcultursl purposes of the bureau is to be so ex-
pended. lie was then presented with a peti-
ton signed by more than half the members of
both Houses, asking him so to expend $40, 900,
(of. the whole S70,O00) which pole failed to
fetch down the persimmOns; for he held that
If the members really desired to have the money
30 expended, they could have secured that OBJ
ject by inserting in the bill such simple clause
as the following: And that $40 900 of the amount
so appropriated be expended for the purchase
of Mr.. Glover ) collection of representations of
American fruits, 6c.,-Or something of the sort.
Or, III other words, he elected to make them
take the responsibility for the particular ex-
penditure, if they really desired il to he made :;
knowing well that gentlemen in their position
arc prone to sign any and every petition put at
them
For the purposes Of the agricultural branch
OF the Patent Office bureau for the current fs-
cal year, 100000 was appropriated, and the
new Secretary OF the Interior, rumor says has
been requested TO use $4,000 of t. purchase
this collection of composition fruits the whole
Of the $4,000 appropriated the year before for
the service Of the agricultural branch OF the bu-
reau having been otherwise legitimately ex-
PENDED.
But, there is no authority Of law To expend
portion Of an appropriation for the service Of
this year TO make up a deficiency existing in
the appropriation for the service Of the last
year. So. the present Secretary j. said also to
have declined TO make the purchase Where
upon, Mr. Glover being anxious TO dispose of
his composition fruits, &c, not long since ten
dered his resignation Of his g, 900 per annum
position in the Patent Office bureau, we hear,
In order that he might 20 elsewhere to find a
purchaser for his articles Subsequently he has
withdrawn his letter of resignation.
II is the duty Of gentlemen filing the post o.
Secretary of the Interior TO regard the strict
letter Of the law in authorizing expenditures Of
the public money. IT, in this case, by SO doing
the public service might lose the labors of Mr..
Glover, we presume the present Secretary, how
ever much lie may regte; the catastrophe. will
quietly supply his place by another appoint-
ment as soon as possible; there being no re-
markable scarcity of artist-naturalists ON either
side Of tie Atlantic at this time. and 50 600 ner
annum being a rate of compensation that will
he very certain TO attract to the service of the
Government some very competent gentleman.
In tire meanwhile, we trust that Congress
WILL al Its next session, appropriate openly and
sPecincally for the purchase of Mr. Glover
composition fruits-well worth every dollar
asked Tor them 10 the bureau, and will, in that
way END this tempest in a teapot-for. for the
lie OF US, we can make little more out of the
current - imbroglio'' upon the snbisc,
IHE SOUTHERN Press ON KASs.s-Eocb
succeeding mail loads our table with Sop.bern
democratic journals earesuy engaged in tho
work Of defending the policy and acts of ,Lo
Administration with reference to Kans.. &C
fairs, that not long since were quite az earnos.
In the condemnation IF what they then upde,,
stood to be IT'S policy and acts, and also those oc
Gov Walker. The Stars readers will see that
we were correct in holding that denunciations
OF and recriminatiOns against them were ILL.,
timed that We were not cut of the way in hold
ing that nine tenths of them were sincere friends
OF the Administration, earnestly anxious to
sustain it in all things, but led temporarily
sstray by incorrect information; and, also, tina.