davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
CIRCUMYENTING CONGRESS.
How Measures for Retrencbment are Evaded
in the War Department.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: 1t
would be well II the Committee on Expenditures
of the War Department would mako inquiry Of
some subordinate, who 10 not interested in sup
pressing facts, to learn why the various bills re-
ducins tho clerical force and looping OF useless
expense work no reduction In reality.
Take, for instance, the Bureau OF the Chief Of
Engineers. The Appropriation bill provides for
eighteen clerks and proviso In the bill st ties
that no clerks except those named therein and
appropriated for shall be employed or paid,
yet the bureau has some forty clerks,
consisting OF draughtsmen, eneravers. printers,
lithoRraphera, &c, who are pa Il as temporary
employees. Tho most Of these are employed In
correcting errors In the vouchers OF engineer
officers on discussing duty, eacn OF whom Is au-
thorized to employ EXPERT clerks at salaries
rect accounts. These vouchers are simply ex.
amined as to the correctness of the accounts
and compliance with regulations, and after
months, are finally sent to the Treas ury, where
the same duty IL again to be performed and paid
for.
Frequently an officers full set OF accounts are
returned to the bureau to be forwarded TO him
for correction. Most Of these clerks at the bead
quarters OF the Chiel OF Engineers are paid from
the fund for contingencies OF fOrtincations.
rhe facility with which this fund can be drawn
voucher Of Capt. {. w. Howell, In charge Of
works around New Orleans, for 5000 expense
incurred in showing tho late Secretary Of War
by the secretary after disapprovai by Gen. Hum
phreys. The simple "Approved, ". W. Bel
knap. Secretary Of War" did the business.
Claims that properly should have been brought
before the Claims Commission, and Others that
were never incurred under or by direction OF any
officers OF the bureau have been saddled upon
this fund readily by the claim agents, who
worked through dishonest clerks In the Trea-
sury ana the Ring that exists In the ONCE OF the
Assistant Judge Advocate-General. The divvies
were usually made at French's, Fifteenth
street, opposite the Treasury.
The CommIssary e GENERALS and Quartermaster-
Generals Bur aus are run on the same plan, all
having funds, known only to the initiated, for
paying numerous appointees, and gencr. ly they
run in families Comparatively few army officers
are capable OF making out correct set Of nc-
counts that can be sent to the Treasury without
revision. Congress should provide In the Mill
tirJ Academy bill professorship OF accounts,
for this item alone costs the tax payers $4,000
annually for clerical hire In Washington before
the accounts reach the Treasury, and including
cierss to officers, great deal more. ROSTER.
WAsHINOToS, May 8. 1870.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

At precisely half past six o'clock on
"Wednesday night the bell in Trinity Church
sterulr. RrHnfurd. commenced ringing. and rnu-
;iuued for several minutes, in an uuaccustumcd
manner. II was not properly call for church,
Foors. neither was II n fire alarm; but not a few
thought II 10 be the lattCr AID FASTENED To learn
the locality Of the fire. But fortunately nothing
Of me Kind prevailed; II appears that a purpose
had been announced to notify the public when
the church debt lad been wholly paid. hy ring
ng the church hell, and such proved Ia lie the
happy event. Whicn had been effected through
Tic l'hcgality Of the wrll-hnown session Of Grace
church. New York. Mr. Isaac II. Brown, who
within the past year has contributed. To Haui-
date the church debt. the haud~ome sum ~
ELY" csHot which wa, donated ON "Wednesday.
RMS amount caucelcl the indebtedness, and
leaves small SURF l.s in the treasury.
Mt !tNWn WA Ina town on Wednesday might.
ana received numerous expression, 81 Profound
ana heartfelt thanks from the pCopl, Of Trinity
Church. llc spent most Of the summer in Bran
iord ia 50, stouiug al kimhorN's Hotcl.
During hi visit holr his pocket book opened
WIDE 4" the a.. Stance ot benevolent objects.
ana tu the bail PLAYERS. the bradford curuct
band. and Widows Son Lodge t. and \. ~. he
made a,yeWahle gifts. For his deeds of Kind
ncss and Nh, raliiN ne viii ever be assured Of lie
good feeling + tie pool lo of lrauugd
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

One OF the most ingenious applications
OF the auger Is that OF Telling trees, especially
practlced on the mammoth growths peculiar to
California 1t is stated that 1.-THE big tree" as
It was called, which grew in Calaveras county,
contained half a million feet OF inch lumber,
and was felled by five men working 22IS days,
making 1l2k days labor of this kind upon one
tree. This tree measured nnety-two feet In cir
conference at the BASE according to statements
which admit Of no question in respect to genu-
ineness. 1t was not cut down With axes, but, az
a more practicable method, was bored down
with long pump augers, and the wood remain
ing between the holes was cut OF with chisels
on the ends Of long sticks.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

The Rev. DR.. JouN HALL did a good
thing the ether nght, when he urged the bus
iness men at the Chamber VI Commerce dinner
to think Of justice, integrity, purity, and
right" They cannot do better than to heed his
warning. He cannot do better than to repeat 1t
often In the ears Of the business classes to whom
he breaches in his Firth avenue church. There
IL n monstrous amount OF injustice, falsehood,
dishonor, and wrong in business circles. Tho
transactions Of many Of them are In direct vIo-
lation Of the moral law their dealings with
each other are often governed by the grossest
selnshness their treatment OF the men and
women In their service is often a parody OF the
Golden Rule. Many OF them seem to be wholly
unaware OF the wrongfuness Of greed. decep-
ton, arrogance, and cruelty. They will prac-
tise them every day Of their lives, though they
10 to church every Sunday OF the year. 1t would
seem that the preachers have serious duties In
respect to this state Of things.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

ST. LOUIS, May Gin the United States Dis.
rlct Court this morning, snidaylts showing facts in
mitigation Of the offences OF John 7. Howard Louls
Kcerman John A. Mead and II. u. Jones' gaueers and
sloTekeepe were read to the Court ana brefremsrks
were made by counsel for the defendants beha
OF the Government. Sent ce then passed az FOL
lows; Louis kellerman, Hauger, six months ia the
county jail ana 81 900 hne; JOhn f. Howard gauRer :,
John A. Mead, gauger r. h. Jones, stOrekeeper and
Henry AIm.tead tIore9eeptr, each nftsen months in
the county jail and u, 0lV ans.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
Washington Children Wearing diamonds.
WASHINGTON. NAV 5-Do Won loroli,,

WAsnlNGToN, May 5.-Do you love little
girls do. Well there are some Of the sweet
esi htlle creatures here that ever wore pinafores
I'VE IN the same street with Senator Mitchell
ot oregon, and meet his little girls coming or
going schoolward almost every day They are
every time see them trolling their hoops about.
Senator Mitchell's little girls are pcttcd enough
thty wear watches Of their own and diamonds
IN helr ears. Well, II one ia rich and can afford
such things ! suppose IL is a pardonable weak.
ness 10 lavish them ON ones little girls
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

Mr.. Blaine felt Il good deal OUTRAGED last
year, ia common with the public generally. that
Nr lay Hould insisted ON masking stock divi-
uruu' en- the Union Pacific Railroad before pay
ne mas NOT made himself conspicuous this winter
IN 'Hung the management 10 account. There
were threats hat MIR. Jay Gould should he nat
Upon - the gridirun,' when Congress assembled
mere Is no Appearaucc Yet of that interesting
NJ "mcht OF torture II may I've that it Is o,cll-
pied At present with the New York Tribune MIR
Blaine tending ii with fork.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

To THE EDITOR OF THE Sun sir | also
enter protest against the swindle of charging Ave
cents for rnE suS IN the city OF Brolhery Love- which
your pantr.
Boston 10 more than twice far from here as Phila.
delnhla anu all ever was asked Tor IHK Sun In the
former cN was three cents and yet village ike Pha.
dephia wall exact nNe cents Tor the same papcr Whrh
shows they sll keep up Ada Ion Diyis and silence
DRUMMER
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

Some OF them will prefer TO take promenade
up or down tho Fifth avenue, where IN the AFTER
noon they VIII witness procession OF FEMININE
IoVeIness ana manly muscuarity that cannot
be equalled In any city Of the world. Some OF
item, again, will visit those libraries, reading
rooms, and galleries that are open; though we
are sorry to say that they will Ind the hest OF
our libraries and galleries shut up on Sundays
In the evening there arc numerous entertain
ments to he enjoyed, not only in the llowery
ard the German quarters, Tut also in more
fashionable localities. We presume that few of
the Ccntcnnialists who spend joyful and uront
attic Sunday in New York Will feel disposed to
return to Philadelphia when Monday morning
comes but we can't help that
---s---------
our correspondent VINO lhteiy UNDERTOOK
10 bIot the oscutcheOn or GEORGE inc count
JoANNEs, Ia evidently sour bnRlishman, VINO
envies America the possession OF nooleman
WHO bears his title by charter from an Imperial
Paiatine. HIS charges and insinuations viii
have no moro effect on the reputation of the
count than peas hred from pop-gun on the ar
mored turret OF modern man-of-war. They
VIII roll on his noble soul like water on the sides
OF duck. GEORGE, the Count JoANNEs, though
bearing title conferred by foreign potentate,
is an American citizen, and the sneers and slurs
OF British subject are nothing to him. What
do the charges amount to, any way2 Engrossed
with literary and oratorical labors " Is possible
no may have forgotten to pay a trning bill to the
oxford Chronicle. Charmed and cheered bv the
society OF tho oxford dons, he probably forgot,
In his classical discussions, that there was such
aiming as paper called the Chronicle published
In the university town; and, wrapt In high
thoughts, he departed from tho ancient seat OF
learning, oblivious to the Insignificant circum-
stance that he owed petty advertising bill.
Great men cannot waste their time over tribes.
SHERIDAN frequently let his bills remain over
due and even suffered his notes to 90 to protest.
The further charge, that In moments OF oratori-
cal excitement the Count exhibited rent under
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

jectcd to a similar exposure, behaves In n much
worse manner. Iron may melt, or crack when
played upon by water; but, while 1t is sell
dom that an iron front Is thus rendered incapa-
BILE ~ repair and future use, nothing would be
left ~ stone columns but dust. slabs and sralls
There Is no defect in the application Of iron
that cannot be either remedied or partially OBJ
Waited.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

To THE EDITOR OF THR STN-Sr: VIII YOU
please tate through hr columns of fHE sVS VINO Mr.
Arsonc Huussaye l., wat his character and why the
Agc lt1t n 'bnHe employs HIM as GORE ponGrnip
NEW YORK, MAY 5. fREp.
Mr.. Arsene Houssaye Il a Frenchman and
n writer of thrd-rate merit. His character !,
bad. Jay Gouds Tribune employs him, prob
ably, because II is attracted by the obscenlty
which is characteristic OF his letters.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

II requires no unusual powers OF dlscernment,
We inA On the part OF any reader OF the Iionns. to
discover what sort OF candidates II would
rsr, or. the other hand, what sort would
sympathy aud aid It5tme.
Certainly not. JAY GOULD and his stool
pigeon will encourage, sympathize with, and aid
only that sort Of candidates which Is prepared
to paw well for their support. what they must
have Is money. Unless JAY GOULD can sell out
his newspapers Influence during the coming
Presidential campaign, the whole concern Is
hkcly TO go to smash at once.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
A Freebooter Punisbed

FfeehoIder Robert BLACKWELL who ioInod In
tue opposition to Director HAlsteAds ruling in the
Board OF freehoders In Jersey City on Thursday has
peen removed by the Director from the Committee on
NVunl insutu!lons or the Board and FreehodeT Hall
,Ss MI Blackwell without place oH any Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

new book of religious essays is dedi-
Gated 10y its author to his living wife IN these
words Whatever IN this book IA untrue, or
uncertain, or incomplete, is mine whatever Is
true, or noble, or helpful, IL thine" We should
say that tho wife OF this author ought to have
written the book which gets all its value from
her mind. 1t is very largely made up OF things
that are uncertain and incomplete, to say the
least: and he claims to be the originator OF them
all. 1t has few ideas that may be helpful to
some people. and these he GOT from her II II
had not been for her We presume that his whole
book would have been uncertain and II It had
been written by Der instead Of him, We assume
that 1t would all have been noble, helpful, AMI
true. This author ought TO refr lin from writing
any more, since he has found out his tendencies.
Ill, wife ought 10 take up the 1rk OF reli gious
authorship In his behalf, being careful that he
shall not get hold Of her manuscripts before
publication, lest he reduce them u the uacer-
tainty and Incompetence OF his own nature.
Perhaps however, the author in question put
that dedication at the front OF his book merely
TO shield himself against the blows Of the critics.
when they rush at any passage, he can get be-
hind her, and say she did IL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

The President of the Union Pacific Rail
road Company makes the following frank ad-
mission in his recent letter to the Judiciary
Committee Of the House Of Representatives. in
regard to the mortgage bonds Of the comp ny
to the United States:
The amount to become due from the company to
the tov nuent on the maturity OF the bonds about the
1897 is large that annual sinking iunr Payments
money sufficient to cancel II that date would
beyond the reasonable means Of the company"
That is TO say, It Is out OF the power OF the
company to pay even a portion of its honest
detts, To say nothing OF dividends. Its stock,
therefore, Is practically of no value. and yet Mr.
JAY GOULD is loaded up with 1t a, a high figure /!
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

The practical difficult, -, closing the Centen.
MAJ Exposition on tnEdlNs must become apparent at
nultltude of people coGpcI up IN Phadc phIa % sun.
a. 40, without the Exposition ? tmclnUn tOia.
n.eic'dL
II great multitude should find themselves
cooped up In Philadelphia during the tunes II
the Exposition, they will feel the nece, silly Of
taxing change Of air at least once a week, espo-
cially those Of them who are visitors from for
elsn parts when Saturday evening Is APPROACH
lug, therefore, they will jump aboard a train for
New York, reach here In time to enjoy the even
ihg at some Of our places Of amusement, then
take late but light supper, II they please, at
some one OF our restaurants, then retire to their
apartments IN some one OF our hundred hotels,
and when the sunlight Of Sunday morning
rouses them from their slumbers they will be
able TO decide how they shall pass the day, after
they have perused some sound and practical
religious newspaper-let us say, for example,
THE sun. Doubtless some Of them will be dis
posed to view our stylish churches, where the
music, the eloquence, and the art will charm
their minds. Others will feel disposed to take
an excursion down the bay. where they will
behold picturesque scenery and take in the
salty breezes OF old ocean. Others will prefer a
drive through our Park, where they can be
touched to rapture by the beauties Of nature,
art and lfe-where they can study the monu-
mental ngures OF SHAKESPEARE and SCOTT, the
OF MORSE, the Angel Of the Fountain, and other
sculptural works, and where, moreover, they
can pass an Interesting hour In tie msnageyie,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

1t Is an unconplimentary alluson that
the London Telegraph makes to one Of our most
distinguished lawyers. when, IN speaking Of tho
reception Of Dom PEDRO Ia New York. IL says
that ne was TO be presented with an address by
WILLIAM NJ. EvARrs, who is renowned for
possessing. neNt to CALEB CUSHING, the longest
tongue In the liked States" Now, SIR. EvAHrs
does sometimes deliver speeches 81 cxtraor-
din ~ length, containing longer sentences than
were ever uttered bv any other man, unless
RuFts CHDArE, in the English language. His
speeches in the High Cour, OF Arbitration at
Geneva were among the most remarkable OF
his me- and fairly dazei his EnglIs h hearers
His closing speech In the IlELCuER trial last
year occupied eight DAYS, and was only ended
within that time on account OF the protests Of
the jury ANA the exhaustion Of the Judge. The
courts have for many years been familiar with
the longitude OF his speeches. and were II not
Tor the CHARM Of his eloquencc. the minds OF his
listeners would often give way before them.
lie Is 70 begin the delivery Of a Ccntennial
Grafton In Philadelphia next Wednesday, Bat
MIR. EvAiSTs can, II he will, deliver spec mes tn
are at on G brief, neat, and pointed lie can do
ars'-cldss alter-dinner thing, when the Chair
man possesses the determination to hold him to
time. and takes position whcre his coat tail
can he pulled with the desired effect.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

The ten years OF which this is the record
embraced the whole period of our late
civil war. During this ANXIOUS aud criti-
cal tluc every trne patriot, regardless OF
his party affiliations came forward and
placed his life, his fortune, and his per-
sonal abilities at the service of his coun-
try. But MIR. FIsH, according to his pro-
f,ssed eulogist. could nnd no better occu-
patton, while the agonizing struggle was
going on, than playing the scaoolmastcr
and the student and enjoying the ease of
his luxurious homc While other men,
VINO like HIM had obtained honors and dis
tnctions in time Of peace, were showing
that i'll war, too, they could he useful, he
never compromised his dignity and self
respect rs Christian gentleman" but re-
mnined ian attentive observer OF politi-
cal events in which were involved the in
terests OF his country" This il n round
about way of saying that during the war
Mr.. FISH was either "a coward or copper
head in disguise
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
1t has looked as though political issues


were to occupy great part Of the time OF the
Nationh Methodist Conference at baltimore
After the Postal bill before Congress had been
debated and condemned ON Tuesday, the Con-
gressonal bill for the transfer Of tho Indian
bureau to tho War Department was taken up
on two successive days. One II tho leading
members demanded that this conference Of
Methodi-t preachers should send delegation
Of Ave to Congress, To protest against the passage
Of the hill and It was only after the discussion
had run into excitement, that the subject WAS
given Over to a special committee. The Daltl-
more Conference also took ground against the
opening of the Philadelphia Exhibition on sun
day, and subsequently passed vote OF thanks
To the Centennial Commissioners for their de.
termination to close II. They are not afraid,
these Methodist preachers, to handle any Of the
public or business questions Of the day and
they have evidently made up tn ir mind tn t
their voice shalt he heard In Congress nd oyer
the land. They must not forget that discretion
and valor should go hand in hand.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

We often urged Brother MoopY, when no
was operating upon the masses OF this city and
brooklyn, not to condne himsefto the teuets Of
theology in his pre2chin-, bat To cnflrcs the
great practical duties Of life, aud impress upon
his hearers the importance OF truth, integrity.
and justice. lie gave but little heed to the ad-
vice that was given him. lie almost wholly neg
lccted those features Of religion which bear
upon the action, conduct, and ways of mankind.
Look now nj HENRY A. SOLOMON. Just put un-
der arrest rs an embezzer, who W one OF tho
most faitiiui attendants upon Brother MoODY's
preaching, and vino was head usher az his
meetings. SOLOMON can say TINT he never
heard from Brother MOODY any dcnunciatlon Of
the practical wckednesS in which lie was even
then engaged, ana which has at last brought
him to grei; aud Brother MOODY can see that
his anxiety about points of belief did not make
~ for his Disregard OF duty in these matters.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07

When Gov. FIsu left the Senate. stated with honors
and ucdrcd vita long labor ia the pubic service, with
his private iatrrcsts nCcc satly neglected, Noun
tAriy retired from the desirable position known
to tue Constitution aud again sought tue repose Of do
uettc NE For some years he continued To reside
private citizen at his elegant mansion the city OF
New YORK. surrounded Oy an Interesting family TO
whom he T. ccNotedy attached, tupcrying the
ton and moral culture of his children. storing hi mind
with knoNcdyc by dtngent reading, patronizng art
aud science VITA unaffected lmlraOu, anu ds
aOepit ahty with liberal hand and genial welcome
st he was an attentive observer II political events
which were Involved the interests Of s country. With
decided coyciuus Auu anxious concern for the public
good he rca III cuuturmrd TO all HE obllgato ns a.
pryst- citi1sn. But h. never COMPROMISED his dignity
and Sc Tree Dfct Us n Curstian gentleman. lie er
PARTICIPATED 10 tnc wrsnslug- OF the huEtug- or the
lrlcAs and lIIculnYentlons VI paTtlsan Achemes."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
Mr.. Fish,s War Record.

A long eulogy of HAMILTON FISH ap.
pearcd in the Times OF Friday. Whether
IL was an obituary notice which got pre-
maturely published by accident, or was
contributed by an admirer of the Secre-
tary, with the purpose of helping him to u
nomination for President of the United
States, we cannot say. At all events, it
was laudatory. and may be supposed to
embody the prominent points OF his politi-
cal career. a very interesting portion Of
it is that which sums up his achievements
from hsretirement from the United states
Senate in 1853 to his appointment as Secre-
tary of State in 1868: