National Republican., 1876-05-24
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Aslander Rsfuted by Zone Who Knows' What
Ha St atas To Ba True

He States To Be True.
The following letter is from an officer OF the
Washington Monument Society whose word is
highly valued by every one who has the honor Of
his acquaintance; ...
To the Editor of the National Republican.
SIR: 1 am somewhat in doubt whether ought
to notice the article on the Washington Monu-
ment in the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN Of the 10Th
inst, 1t is nothing but a rehash Of an old stale
slander that is ever and set aloet by certain
persons who are not over careful Of what they say;
but to put this matter now and forever at rest,
will make a brief, plain statement, that ought to
prevent any one having the slightest regard for
truth from ever again renewing the unfounded
and gross imputation upon the characters Of the
gentlemen who have had the management Of the
monument funds from the foundation to the pres
ent time.
"X" does not deny the appeals to the country
to all the sources designated in my first communi-
cation to you; but thinks that have adopted q
misnomer because do not agree with him why
have not been needed.
agement is the cause, and that twice as much
money hasbee collected rs was necessary to COM
plete the monument, and he says that
THE FIRST INTELLIGENT MAN
met in the street. IL asked would tell Won So
venture to say, and challenge tx" to produce him,
that no intelligent man who has the least self
respect would indorse any such assertion. The
foundation in fact; and, that the public may be
convinced what say and profess to know is upon
nnquostionable an authority, / will submit, for the
reports to Congress, after q thorough investiga-
tion into the operations of the society.
eect Of %eS the
Hon. Henry May was chairman, states:
at may well be questioned If any So
extensively, has met with equal success in justi-
flying the integrity Of its agents. And it is pleas
ing to state that not one cent Of the funds re-
investment. or otherwise, s ~ The oV TOrk tSs ~
far as it has been performed, has been faithfully
your committee are satisfied that it Will be endur
ing. The duties Of this society have de-
manded the constant attention of its members
that neither the president, vice presidents, treas
urer, secretary nor any Of the managers or men,
bers have from its institution received or desired
been, and will continue to be, wholly gratultous.
1--WE unanimously approve the plan Of this
monument and of the work that has been already
done, and we bear cheerful testimony to the en-
ergy, integrity, economy and patriotic love which
have animated and governed the transactions Of
this society, and especially we commend the de-
sign Of building this monument by the voluntary
contributions Of the people Of the United States.
I'VE do not intend to disturb this happy ar
raDgement, or withdraw from the exclusive lurs-
dictiOn and control of so faithful a society the
completion of a work SO well begun and prose-
cuted; we trust, and We doubt not, that IL viii
on, with continued attention on the part OF the
board ofmanagers, and Of the people Of the whole
country" 49, - q. AE.S
,st Ir-
hair- Sc. PROM REPORT
made by our late representative in Congress, the
Hon. N. P. Chapman, chairman of a select CON-
mittee during the Forty-third Congress. the fol-
IAN examination of the accounts of the society
from its organization will show that the officers
connected with the society have received no salary
o,A hat 4ha Oh maff adj hat ha
funds of the society were absorbed in ne bayment
Of sinecurcss, bas 20 tVunde.on I'm fact. Your
committee See no reason to doubt the conclusion
arrived at by the committee OF which Mr.. May
was chairman, made to Congress in 1856, which was
TO the effect that the society had exercised care
full scrutiny in the appointment Of It's agents and
although an 0PpiSn then tSa, 70 the tSose
agents generally proved worth Of the confidence
reposed in them. Upon an examination made by
a committee Of this House during the last Con-
gress a similar conclusion was reached, and your
committee find no cause for doubling the accuracy
of these reports"
ceipts and expenditures, have been again and
again examined and no fault has ever been found
with them, and the society is willing at any time
to submit to any investigation that may be insti-
tuted. They dread no scrutiny, but, on the con-
trary, invite it.
AS TO THE VERY REFINED SUGGESTION
of "X' that the members of the society should
'step down and out" and let others take their
places who would complete the work within the
next twelve months, can assure him that moth
ing would afford the members more pleasure than
to surrender the monument to the control and
management Of any gentlemen who would give
assurance Of completing 1t within the period
specified by 'X," or even thrice that length Of
time.
lam sorry to have felt 1t to be my duty to tres
pass go largely upon your kindness, in occupying
such a considerable space Of your paper, but hope
that this will be the last occasion shall have TO
ask similar favor in relation to the monument.
ONE Who KNOWS.