The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-07-11

his own gives out, which, from the
numerous hints they volunteer to
him, there would seem to be on their
part some apprehension.
The city government, Board of
Public Works, and all their belong
tngs, are also off-cut off, like the
dogs tail, close behind the ears; and
with their taking off, the jolly con-
tractor finds his occupation gone,
gone forever, so he's off. We have
no mayor, No aldermen, no governor,
and no dignitaries but the iaiIor, chief
of police, and the justices of the
courts, all very well in their way,
perhaps, but a great let-down from
what we have been enjoying for some
months, with President, Congress,
the foreign Legation, and a host of
investigating committees to take care
of our interests and keep up the tone
of society. We shan't have much
high life for some time, but the taxes
are to be high enough in all conscience
to make up for all losses of other high
things. Three per cent. to be levil d
and paid in September, besides ar
rears and Improvement leyies, which
will amount to as much more. They
call the climate hot in September,
but the members of Congress who
have voted this tax will find it full
warm enough for ordinary constitu-
tons next December Taxes six per
cent, and one-fourth of the clerks
voted out of office, and who won't
have money enough to pay their rents
on leaving.
When Cakes Amos gave his testi-
mony in regard to the subscribers to
Credit Mobilier who were sick, he
said they called it "off," and how
much went off then and since Alas!
many fine regulations, as well as
trades. Our District government got
off, but there was no salute, and the
Boss was not serenaded. Not a
drum was heard, not funeral note.n
Some Of the members of the Assembly
tried at the last moment to steal the
furniture of the legislative hall, show
ing that they were rulers with the
ruling passion, said by Pope to be
" strong in DEATH" and so proved in
their expiring struggles. What was
not stolen was attached by the dealer
who furnished it, as it had never
been paid for, and yet some men,
like our good brother Harlan, think
the government was no failure.
A TERRIBLE DAY.
The Both of June will long be re-
membered as day of appalling
blackness in the Departments at
Washington, for no such scenes were
ever witnessed there before. Con-.
gress having reduced the appropri-
ations, some five or six hundred en-
ployees had to be dismissed; and it
not being known npon whom the axe
would fall, all were apprehensiye and
troubled except those whose political
support was of the strongest, or
whose special talent made their SER
vices indispensable. Heretofore, when
large numbers have been retired. it
has been on change of Administra-
tion, and the victims have had six
months warning of their danger
time to arrange for other employment,
and to brace their minds to meet the
calamity. But now the bill had just
and only a few days elapsed
for considerations, so all were unpre-
pared and unfortifed. The calamity
was nearly as sudden as the bursting
OF the Mill River reservoir, and in an
instant the means of support of more
than three hundred families were
washed away by the ink that flowed
from the pens of a half dozen Secre-
tarles of Departments. The victims
are mostly poor, because it is usually
the poor who have no friends and in
Huence, and because nothing but pow
erty could ever have induced most of
these people to accept positions in
these miserable Departments. MANY |
ladies tainted. and hundreds were in
tears. The halls were thronged with
'le unfortunate, wringing their hands. |
IND with friends who yraro o,,oc4: