Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-05-07
Correspondence of the Herald.l
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,
items. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Sc

Mr.. EDITOR AS Reavis, the cap
itol mover, has not yet sent his prom
ised earthquake, which was to shake
the bottom out of Washington and
startle the country generally, we
venture to offer another column of
thoughts for your readers.
This month, usually ono of alter
nate smiles and tears, has been near
ly all tears this time, and patches of
sunshine have been rare as angels
visits. No wonder the Confederacy
is submerged, if the rain has fallen in
the Mississippi valley as it has here.
The Investigation of the Board of
Public Works is about ended, and
for day or two all parties engaged
have been on tour of inspection of
the improvements here and can see
for themselves what they are, and
how they were made. The rascality
unearthed thus far seems to have
been perpetuated by contractors and
their attorneys, who invested large
sums with parties who were suppos-
ed TO have influence enough to pro-
cure large contracts at high prices,
this being done of course with the
knowledge that the funds thus used
must eventually be wrung from the
poor tax payer. 1t will not be strange
ii as result the congressional heel
should crush the Board and that the
character of the District government
should be changed.
A science congress has just closed
it's labors here, held under the
auspices of the Smithsonian Institute,
that grand monument of English
generosity to the Americans, and one
that would pay for journey across
the continent to see. Mr. Sutro is
now entertaining the people by a
series of lectures on mines and min-
ing in California which are admirable.
Capt. Samuel Adams is also delight
ing large audiences with vivid descrip-
tons and word pictures of his newly
discovered Eldorado in the Colorado
valley. Our Methodist brethren had
a large meeting O few days ago on
the occasion Of the removal of the
body of Lorenzo Dow from a city
cemetry to Oak Hill, Georgetown.
| Learning that he was buried near
our residence we gave small fee to
the oolored sexton and were shown
the grave of this remarkable man
whom some OF your readers will re-
member. On the moss grown slab
were the words, Born at Coventry,
Conn, Oct. 18th, 1777. Died Feb I'd
1884 aged Sc years. "Christian is
the highest style Of man"
He will be remembered as a most
eccentric type Of the self sacrificing
itinerant, SO humble that he would
not ornament his coat with buttons,
yet claiming the world as his parish,
and whose opportunity alone was the
measure Of his doing good.
The temperance work goes brave
ly on under women's leadership, and
they have districted the city for sys-
tematic effort, and will make person
al appeals to every rumseller and his
victims that can DO reached.
Monday oflast week in both houses
of Congress was devoted to enlogies
upon Charles Sumner; very many
fine things were said, but we could
not help but feel that most of the
speakers whom we heard failed to
come up to the dignity of the occa-
sion, and that their addresses would
suffer in comparison with those of the
colored orators who spoke in Sumner
school building under the direct in
spiratiOn of the Senator's sudden
death and their own great loss The
gift of oratory seems to come to the
colored man as naturally as does that
Of song.
The speck of war in Arkansas has
excited some comment here, and al
though both Brooks and Baxter con-
tinue to wear their war paint it is
believed the worst is over and that
they will submit to the decision of
the legislature and the courts.
We congratulate the country upon
the decrease of national expenses I'M
/ ha nf 4 -
estimates for the coming year are cut
down many millions of dollars, and
were they trimmed as many millions
more, the action would only be con-
sistont, in government which boasts
Of its Republican simplicity, and
which does not support royal family
and titled aristocracy.
An effort was made in the House
to reduce the salary of the President
to the old figure of $4,000 out the
measure found but few supporters.
Most American families would think
they could worry through the year
yes, and keep up arespectable appear
ance on that amount. But what do
they know about being presidents.
The disparity in salaries paid to
our public servants is one Of the wells
of our times which ought to be cor
rected. To give q case in point we
may say that the Hon. Willis Drum
mand Of McGregor, Iowa, who has
been at the head of the General Land
Office for the past three years, and
who has proved himself one of the
most thorough and able officers who
ever occupied that very responsible
position, resigned the office last week
because the salary of $4,000 would
not support his family in this expen-
sive city. He found the Office years
in arrearages with its work, many of
his subordinates shirks and drunk
ards whom he Immediately beheaded,
and then infusing new life and ener-
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