Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-07


Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, has
transmitted the following letter to Gen. Gar
Held, chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations:
TREASURY DKPARrMKNr,
CGsee Of Superrtsing Architect, March a. 1874 (
Hon. Ramitton Fish, Secretary Of State.
Sir; have the honor to acknowledge tn :
receipt OF your letter of the 81 inst, transmit
mittee on Appropriations in regard to the esti-
mate for continuing the work on the new State
war and Navy department blilding and have
me so honor to say In reply, that should no un
the building, including the approaches will be
entirely completed for the occupancy of your
department. during the coming SUMNER
The sub basement and basement of the east
wing are now nearly completed, as well as the
entire granite work for the court yard fronts.
being all the contract of the Bodwell Granite
company for that portion Of the building
WORK has not not commenced on the prepare
ton OF the granite for the superstructure or the
NAN 'front.', II being impossible to authorize the
commencement OF the work uutil further APP
preparations have been made by Congress as ii
niece sssry to retain sufficient amount of money
to insure the completion of the south wing and
approaches 1t Is however of the utmost inn
loitance that an early decision should be OBJ
tanned and that the work should be commenced
on this very Important branch of the work
Should 1t be found possible to do 60, have no
doubt that the east wing could be placed under
roof during the ensuing season, for which 'pur-
pose IL would not be safe to estimate q less sum
therefore
most earnestly recommend that an appropria-
tlon OF one million of dollars be asked
ior the continuation of work on the build
ng. aiso aea.re to call the attention of the
Secretary 10 the importance of proceeding
with work upon the north wing Of the build.
rug, and have to say that it win not be
necessary Y remove the hitting at present oc.
Sp pinits oy the war department until after the
nent has been completed, and that preparation
OF me granite for that portion Of the work
would consume at least one season. therefore
most earnestly recommend that an appropria-
ton OF one million dollars be obtained for the
prosecution of work on the building. and Eve
hundred thousand dollars for the Commence
being in my opinion the least that can be ex.
pended to advantage.
Very respectfully.
a. b. MULLKTT, Supervising Architect.
AN ADVERSE REPORT ExpRcTRD.-The re-
port Of Judge Lawrence to the Committee on
War Claims on the subject Of the liability of
me government to pay for property taken, used,
the late war OF the rebellion is in type and will
be taken up for discussion and action during
the present month. 1t is understood that the
report, which Is quite lengthy, Is against the
payment of such claims as the East Tennessee
University, DR.. j. Milton Best, and Others
which have heretofore passed Congress BY more
gress.
port, just printed, on the proposed improve
ment Of the bar at Galveston harbor, adopts a
new method in the treatment of sand bars in
Producing what he calls training walls and nv
these, which do not extend above water, he pro-
poses TO conhne the tidal current and produce a
securing effect. The second notable point in
the document Is that he proposes by this new
m thod to PIT eighteen feet of water on G al-
veston bar at cost of 1881 400. The report has
been examined and approved by board of en-
gineers convened in New York last month. If
the Heuse Committee on Commerce adopt its
suggestions they will introduce a revolution
and vast economy in our system of harbor i'm
prOvement.
THE CHARGES AGAINST COMMISSIONER
BAKER, OF THE PENSION OPPIcE-Tbe
Speaker presented In the House yesterday the
petition Of Helen M. Barnard, requesting the
impeachment of Hon. James H. Baker, Com.
the Committee on Invalid Pensions The psti
doner charges that Gen. Bakers military record
g bad; that said Baker has purchased
worth of furniture for bis own house; that he
has drawn 1000 in mileage to which he was
not entitled; that he has permitted his son, a
ostensibly for the service of the department.,
and to convert the same to his own use by
pawn, pledge or otherwise; that he sent Dr.
who was Ill, and paid him 500 out of the CON
tingent fund under the charge of mileage aud
per diem. The petitioner also makes q plumber
character.
charges general maladministrstiono of the pen
sion bureau, mendacity, Partially and general
incompetency. She says that the proof of the
niegsi expenditures indicated above can be
iound among vouchers in the First Auditors
once. All these charges, she alleges, were laid
before the Secretary Of the Interior, who de-
clined to act upon them, and she therefore prsys
for an Investigation and an impeachment.
The CLAP AFFIDAVIT AND THE CHRoxI-
cLE.-In reference to the affidavit above re-
aYra 20, Nk.n xlakn -
this column yesterday the Chronicle saws:
"Mr. Clspp, the Public Printer, in place of
answering the charges made against the man.
agement OF his ONCE by Representatives in Com
gress and by the public press, has resorted to
the rather questionable course Of filing ida
wits, which he suppOses account for the charges
made against him. All we have to say is that,
so tar as the Chronicle is concerned 1t has no per-
sonai malice or grievance against the Public
Printer. He has been uniformly kind and
courteous in his business relations with the
proprietors Of the Chronicle. 1t Is true that dur
ing January, owing to the fact that the Chron-
cte Publishtng Company had the printing of
some pamphlets or bonds, part Of which was
being the only establishment in the city using
the same kind Of paper, did, at the request Of
one Of the proprietors of the Chronicle, loan the
job ONCE forty rsams of paper to meet the
emergency. Not an unusual act to be done.
And It was expected that 1t would be returned.
some two weeks ago an application was made
by the foreman OF the job Office to the manu-
facturer Of the paper borrowed to Ill an order
covering the amount, but it could not at that
time be obtained, as he had not the supply on
hand But IL was expected that it would be re-
placed within few days, and with the details
OF the delay no one of the proprietors of the
Chronicle had any knowledge. The affidavit
sent to the Senate was the first intimation that
there was any special demand for it. 1t may be
true that the Government Printing Office owes
the Chronicle bill; If 80, 1t ought to be
promptly paid. The necessary directions have
been given TO have q balance struck in this
tremendous account, and the amount promptlv
paid to- day to this suffering public officer. Oufr
grief in learning in this public manner that
there was great danger Of his losing the bal.
ance of some eighty or ninety dollars can better
be imagiaed than described. We draw o vail
over this sad picture"
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. INVESTIGATION BILL,
which passed the Senate yesterday. provides for
the appointment Of . commission Of ave 10 in
epect the alcoholic and fermented LIQUOR trafic
and manufacture, having special reference to
revenue and taxation, IN distinRuishing a. far
as possible, In the conclusions thew arrive At
between the effects produced by the use of dis,
titled or spirituous liquors - disfinguished from
the use OF fermented or malt liquors, their
economic, criminal, moral and scientific a.
poets, In connection with pauperism, crime.
social vice, the public health and general vel,
fare Of the peODle: and alDo noufre AMI taEa