Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-26

t is an old one, thoroughly understood by Con-
sress and every one else who takes the trouble
to scrutinize such matters beneath the preten-
sions of their surface.
The following extract from a Washington |
letter in the New York Express of the day |
before yesterday, illustrates what we mean:
"In many respects, the Hall is not much su- |
perior to many concert or lecture rooms, erected
greater Importance than Rochester, Syracuse |
Buffalo or Chicago. And what is far more to be |
condemned, not single American artist has |
Seeh emPlOyed TO MI the panels still
Intention to have these panels filled by inferior
Italian artists who will paint for SIS or 81 day,
instead OF employing distinguished American
liott, Durand, Kensett, and others, who would,
OF course, expect an adequate remun. ration for
their labor Applications eminent American
rejected in terms Of diseourtesy, while Brumidi,
an Italian decorator Of interiors, has been per-
mitted to exhibit his mediocrity to the annoyance
OF every person Of correct taste in the arts.
" The committee rooms of the new Capitol are
also decorated in the same unmeaning and taw-
dry style, which renders them similar to our FIRST
class eating saloons in New York ard Philadel.
phian
The truth is, if Capt. Mcgs would but ac-
commodate all the tribe who are ambitious to
be employed to decorate the building, accord
ing to each what he rates his services at, he
would be the cleverest fellow in the world, and
we should read no such criticisms upon his
management of his trust and his artistic taste
as are to be found in the above extract, and
in letter after letter from various axe-grinding
pens on the same subject. The House and the
country, however, happen TO be more than sat
isfed with the decorations of the new House
Hall and the committee rooms, though the ser
vices of the artists employed were obtained for
the shOckingly low price Of from So to 81 per
diem.
SUITABLY ANswERED.-Not long since, it
appears, some ono wrote to the Superintendent
ofthe Public Printing, making dishonest prop
osition to him to secure an order for paper.
His reply has found its way into the newspa-
pers, and is worthy of the reputation for integ-
rity with which General Bowman entered the
public service in this city. We print it, as fol-
lows:
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING!
WASHINGTON, April ii. 1858 :
MKsSRs. --: Gentlemen-Touis Of the
eth instant has been receive and contents noted
You ask for an order to furnish the Unite States
Government with certain paper, 'outside the
the privilege, to the family of deceased friend
In the first place l have no authority to pur-
chase any paper, except In the manner prescribed
by law, which is by contract, to the "lowest and
best bidder" Secondly, if had the power Of
discretion in this matter to accede to your prop
ositiOn would be, in my opinion, to perpetrate an
act. in morals if not in law, better than steal
ing; aud hence your proposition is repudated
with the advice that YOU never again ask pub
lie servant to prostitute his position and degrade
his character, by accepting for himself or others
a in the attainment of
Very respectfully,
GEO. w BOWMAN, Superintendent
MAIL LErr1NGs.-There was large crowd
at the Post Ofico Department this morning in
consequence of the announcement that awards
of contracts for carrying the mails for four
years from the lst of July next, in the States
of Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana, Arkansas,
Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas Territories
and, also, on the proposals, under the adver-
tisement of February l, 1853, for routes estab.
lished by the act of Congress of March 3, 1857
| in various States of the Union, would be made
public. The bids for the routes generally were
| very numerous, and the number of routes con
tracted for reached several thousand
ORDERED.-Carpenter James Meads has re.
ceived orders to report for duty, at the W ash
ington Navy Yard, on the LIST Of May
TIE WEATHER -Yhe following report of the
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution
The time Of observation is about O'Clock q m
APRIL 26, 1858.
New York N. Y....cIe,r ba,y,, f-ost
philadelphia, Pa..........clear, cool
Baltimore, Md ............ clear, pleasant.
Washington ID. C......... clOude, wind NE
Richmond, Va. .clOudv, tn Al.
PETERSBURG, va .......... cloudy, cool.
wilmington, y. C-........rd ining.
Columbia = u. flaming, cool.
Charleston, >. C.......... cloudy, Tia So wind
Augusta, ia raining, cool.
savannah, Ga .............cIear, til 81 wind NV
Macoh Va. ..s............ CLOUDY.
columbus, ia. ..clondy, pleasant.
Montgomery, Ala ......... cloudy.
Lower Peach Tree, Ala. cloudy.
Mobile, Ala .............. cloudy, ther G5
FREDERICK, MD clear, cool.
| Cumberland. Md.......... cloudy, cool.
| Wheeling, Va........ ....Clear, cool
| Barometer at the Smithsonian, at a. m (cOr
rected for temperature, } 80 100. at noon, 30 1U7
Thermometer, on the Smithsonian tower, min
| i"um last night. 3Ho; near the ground. $50
Maximum yesterday, Az; at noon to-day, AZ.