, 1877-09-01
Our Washington Letter.


EprroR STATESMAN From the action OF
Maine's republican convention, following
those OF Iowa and Ohio, 1t Is evident the re-
publican party cannot at this time lie held to-
gether Ill opposition to the present admins
tration, or in support OF it. In declining to
make issne oil the subject, the quarrel In the
party is ,ostponed till October 18th, when
congress viii meet The truce Is hollow
one certainly but neither faction seems to
] have any reasonable excnse, even if il now
! has opportunity for breaking it. The num-
berless republican 'lenlers who DISLIKE
the administration know better than to force
an issue at this time on asy Of the questions
now before the people. But congress meets
| two months from to-day, and the ;..lriaissra-
| tiOn must ask congress for action on various
subjects-inuss ia short, ask the aid of con
greSs il carrying cut "a policy"
The democratic nominee for governor Of
Virginia, Col. Holiday, has reason TO be
proud Of the greeting he has received from
the press vf the country. His triumphant
election IS of course beyond any shadow of
doubt Hc viii havc nearly all the votes
Last winter an. investigation was made by
coEgress'into the transfer of the Quarter
bY:id:na l., another, IL being alleged thai ;!e
government, had to pay 4 higher rent for the
iIew one than for the Old, aud tiiat the re-
morai cost several Thousand dollars. don't
know much about the merits of TIE case,
but il serves as an Introduction 10 :. s.bject
Of rrcat importance. anu which CGGnt 10 is
thorras,::y discussed. Both the buildings
In arestioi, are fraii structures, and not FIRE
proof. The government records kept III them
ere in constant danger from fire. For such
tanemelits as these ihe government pays,
am, las p;ii 70. Yeas, taoronS rents, rang
ing irnsa ten 20 tw'eEtYir per ceilt- per :;,i-
i,i:ln on the cost Oi The buildings. Numerous
bureaus OF the war, inferior, treasury alid
!os;oiiicc departments are i0catet IN s!ihi-
L2-Iy iEsecGIc hai:,iings at equally enurnsus
r-n;..ls N'hs5 congress and the people
shaald cnEsiie, Is the imi,o.iey of pay nag 0ur
,naley ii tiiis Way Whei The 2Gg erAiLent can
barrow money II four per ceI.t. ans, when
labor 2al ma:eri&i are SO c',eap .S ROW. For
what Il has paid out for rents IN few years ;
past, tie government could construct CON
ycnient iirc-proof buildings for all lis low
vagrant bureaus. 1t would not liay taxes
or aaeh improvements, for it pays none on
any of It's property here. Ia majority If
eases the buildings ROW hired by The govern
meat arc the property III, or through broker
age, bring an income 70 some pets OF govern
Inent officers An administration devoted 10
reform and "economy" cannot DO bet
te7c t;:a cal the attention OF Congress to tbs
:,rsc. and waste.
rraa.luie;,t Hayes and three members Of
lis c.uiie; left last night Tor New .ngiaa;i.
IL iiad hesu said tha.t Secretary hlcCrary,
~ coGEs:-yr, wouii remain here, Eu5 there
seems tU b. 10 suaciI need nj thai. Howard,
w,n i essentially as ,nIci, civilian rs
Mc; rary, Is Il: the vicinity of the Indians,
CO SENS l'e is, a,id SO the secretary cf War
ca, he spared.
M,,:::..gfi, "a The -,;i';is7' RPTIi;;cch, has
,,.e,i:.eei 10 c:;,.I.d nearly everynpsly 81 The
Est fuy years, and has, Ii Is SAID, iust Jat-
roi,ac. to src:, Al extent that his interest i,
Ire PAPER IS more than balanced by its debts
Staring few years ago without dollar, he
made a gallant iight and 1t enc time the
E'p"Jiic1a was good property. But Ii has
of late lost standing among business mien,
among politicians and, indeed, among al
classes
In recent divorce suit here the name of
Gen. Banks was freely and unpleasantly use.l.
Having 4 general regard Tor the General,
though not believing he will be made speaker
Of the House. this winter, It glves me 4 great
deal al pleasure to say thaV personS wiio
knew the parties in the case laugh at the idea
of connecting him in any way with it. DEI.