Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

1t will be gratifying assurance to
thousands of American citizens, par.
ticularly many of those who had their
interest revived in the Wash
ington Monument, on their visit here
last summer, to know that the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hayes have both ex-
pressed their determination to forward
its immediate completion by every
legitimate means in their power. On
the 9th of last July Senator Sherman
moved by the patriotic spirit melted
by visit to the Centennial Exposition
the day previous, moved an appropri
alton of $500, 900 out of money not 9TH
erwise appropriated, to finish che mon
ument, which remains precisely as it
was lett some years before the war.
A board of Army officers was immedi-
ately designated to test the fOuuda-
tions, aud much dissatisfaction has
been heard at the seemingly leisurely
manner in which they Went about the
work. But they appear to have faith
fully performed their duty in the mat
ter, boring down to depth of many
feet to ascertain the character of the
earth foundation. How important
this Information is will be appreciated
when it is stated that il will have to
support shaft of marble about 600
feet in height, 81 feet square at the
base, gradually tapering in its upward
growth. 1t is understood the tests have
been satisfactory, and that immediate
steps have been determined upon to
resume work. There are 5000, 600 minus
the cost of the testing experiments
available, besides quite an amount
realized by private contributions. 1t
hand is sufficient TO complete the
structure according to the original
plan, but with the hearty cooperation
of the President and the females of his
household, it is thought the balance
needed can be readily obtained. As it
now stands Ill feet high of white mar
bic, it is a marked feature in coming
up the Potomac, and when completed
it will be without rival.
Active work is going on in all the
Government Departments here with a
view to their early reorganization upon
the basis of the new civil service re-
form methods to which the adminis-
tration stands pledged, and which it is
understood the President means shall
be a prominent feature of his four
years rule The substitution of Mr..
McCormick Assistant of.the Treasury
is eminently satisfactory to those bav-
ing personal knowledge of many of the
higher grades of officials who have
held responsible positions there in the
past, and his appointment is generally
regarded as directly in the line of the
DfO
During the past few days many
Democratic papers have made their ap-
pearance here with long editorials Sc
verely commenting upon an alleged
misappropriatiOn or theft, by ex-Secre.
tary Robeson, of the public money de-
rived from the sale of the old Philadel.
phia Navy Yard. These are presumed
to have been based upon vague state
ment sent away from this city to the
effect that the officials at the Depart
ment were unable to find any trace OF
it. 1t seemed to have just answered
their purpose, as all remember that no
officer Of President Grants appo at
n ent was more persistentiy dogged
than Robson, and with less real fOun-
datiOn of their outrageous charges, as
they reluctantly confessed when uoth-
ing further was to be gained by such
Misrepresentation. Yesterday, Mr..
Robson made a statement which, il
true, will satisfactorily account for the
money, and whether true or false will
be shewn by the books of the several
bureaus of the Del eIartlnent. In this
we may just refer to the
Of the appropriations of |,
House to meet current ex-
penses of the Department. 1t is found
that the balances of last years appro.
priations. out of which to pay the off,
,ers and men, are nesrly exhausted,
and there is still three months to be
provided for before the expiration of
he present fiscal year. The reductions
we're made for their effect upon the
Residential election, and there is no
lope of relief from the resulting EN-.
until July.
The report is revived that the Presi-
ent will, in a few days, issue bis
concerning the Forty
fth Congress In extra session as early
5 the 1lth of May. Rival Democratic 4
spirants for the Speakership show no g
gns of relaxing their efforts to secure C