Ellsworth American., 1874-07-16
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. July II.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., July IL.
THE STORM.
The storm which smote the city on the even
since 1869. Whole blocks of houses were un.
rooted, some were blown entirely down. ma
ny beautiful trees were broken Of or uproot-
ed. and the food Of waters that poured in up
on the roohess tsnements, msde sad work
with walls and furniture. Some estimate the
damsse at one million of dollars. but that is
about five times too great probably.
CONGRESS & THE TREASURY.
Mr.. Charles +. Consnt, the new Ast. Seere-
Beck, Democratic member from Kentucky,
tho ablest man in the Department. Mr.. c. is
a good man. and understood his duties rs
chief of Warrants. bat Beck not being ac-
qusintei with more than dozen or two OF
clerks. out of two thousand In the Treasury,
was hardly justified in making such sweep
ing assertion.
The Committees Of Congress- know moth
ing OF the details of Department business. and
they 90 down from the Capitol TO investigate
impressed with the idea. that they can see
through things in about five minutes. aud can
teach the clerks chow to do it." When they
reach the Department. they find great and
intricate system, with men in charge who
hardly ask question that will not provoke
laughter at the ignorance il betrsys. They are
nj disadvantage at once which they feel. and
alter day or two, they become satisfied that
Il would requiie some years study and close
application to get even with the compete Mt
clerks; 50 they soon begin 10 look wise. and
say little, and get out OF the way ~
decency will permit. They 60 back to Con-
gress and report that they have found nothing
aud guess nothing Is there, keeping out of sight
the fact that they met too MANY guns. and
were worsted. The only exception TO this.
was when they got hold OF Richsrdson. and in
moment Of panic. he confessed that he lid
business by routine. This was nuts 10 the
Committee. aud because Richardson sisned a
few papers without reading them, they report
ed the Treasury Department all at sea. and
announced the discovery Of a first-ciass msre's $
nest.
Bristow continues the bureau. Of Boutwell,
with one exception. and the general smashing
that was announced, consisted in sending
Madge Chief OF Specials, TO the nursery OF the
Commissioner of Customs. Bristow therefore
does do all he is told to by Newspaper Row.
Even Prince Vanderbilt il retained, Prince OF
-clegant m anners. and a rival OF Tallcy-
rand in diplomacy.
FERTILIZATION STILL.
alluded last week to thu tribulaii ion eau. ed
by the removal Of clerks in the Departments,
ana which l. far from being ended. II was
al using 20 see the efforts made by Congress
men TO save thci. particular friends after haY-
ing voted for the general slaughter, they hav-
Ing east their votes under vague impression.
mol uncommon with the tOngressonsl mind.
thst II l. some other mans OK that j. about 10
( be gored ALWAYS
The Frcnchmaus Bank i In the hands Of a
commission 10 be wouGd up. The commits
| sioners are Creswcl,. Dr. Puryis. OF Philadcl-
| phla. AID MIR. Leopold. Of the Trca-ury.
The Commit ssion 10 administer the District
/ Government, finally made up. consists OF
I Dennlson. Blow, and ketcham. They have
been practising with the proyrrbial new
( broom, aud al on" fcll Swoop cleaned out some
I three hundred officials OF III. old Boards.
Thc heat for several davs has been very op-
/ pressive, aud last Thursday night was the hot
/ test night for many years In the Judgment Il
that economical class who are obliged to lodge
| Ia attics.