The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-09-29
IafPR IN UASHING TON.
HOW OUR SENATORS LIVE.

Notwithstanding the muoh-talked ct "f nan
cial depression" there has never been so much
building going on in Washington as during tae
present summer. People who own real estate
and have money are taking advantage OF the
cheap labor aud mat erials to improve taelr
Droperty Tue Inspector of Buildings reports
that during Jolly and August he issaed permits
for oildings amounting 10 over million dol
lars The recent legislation by Congress reor-
ganizipg the Government OF the Dlhtrict OF
Columbia fixing a maximum of taxation ana
settling, beyond dispute, the proportion tne
United States should pay towards the support
of the District has esta tab!ished values here an d
encouraged improvements.
A nromipent real estate firm has recently
suggested new and reasonable echeme "hicn
would materially benefit Washington and de-
serves some consideration Outsl de. IL Is, that
each State should erect dwellings for the &c
comm odation of it's Senators III washington,
and that the General Government should tur
nish quarters for the members of the Cabinet
ust as it furnishes the White House Ior tne
President. Tbese promtuet tefsfs-heHe
necessarily to live ia a certain degree OF s'yie'
so as to properly receive and entertain llelr
constituents aud the representatives OF foreign
nations, ard it requires private 1oItune 70
enable them 10 do this. In the last Caolne'I
which Was noted TO: It's fl ne establishment, ),
Secretaries Fish and Chandler each expended
eyery wear $50 OC0 or $50 600 above their sala
ries. At present, Secretary EVarts, VINO ID Inc
only member of the pre- sett Cabinet VINO con
tinues to give large entertalnEnents' pa! uIs
entire salary for house rel 1t is necessary
for the Cabinet to entertain, yet there 10 nc
one N the present Cabinet, except perhaps Mr.
Evar,s who afford to do it: 1t has Dsen
charged in the pas as every body knows, tn2t
Off ,ials were less able to resist corrupt In
faences, on account of the social expenses TO
which they were subjected.
The same conditions taat exist In the Ca6i-
net oficers life surround the Senator. He
is compelled to entertain his constituents, ana
his salary is no way sufficient. Many OF the
present Senators are rich: Besioes Snaton'
there are Jadge Davis, of Illinois, who is worth
several millions; Barnum, Bornslde, Don
Cameron. Chaffee, Davis of West Virginia,
Jones Of Nevada, Mcpherson. Morrill,, Kan
dolph, Rollins and Whyte. Bot few OF these
more wealthy ones give entertainments. IL 10
even beyond their meane. a few Senators i've
in their own houses. These are B8yard, Blaine,
Edmunds, Howe, Mitchell, Morrlll, Sargent,
Thurman and Window. Allison, Burnside,
Cameron of Wisconsin. Cameron OF Fenhsy l.
yania, Davis of West Virginia, Dorsey, Jones
of Nevada Mathews, Patterson and hanoolph
live in houses they have leased. The rt 81
of the Senators board aJ hotels or elsewhere
Not oRe-ffth of the Senators are PecuhlntMliy ~
able to rent such residences Is become tnelt
social and official positions. Zach state miSnI
erect two houses here, spacious ana COMFORT
able and furnish them substantially ana Win
becoming elegance, th"s proVidlpg IespeoS- In
able residence for their moro digulhed repre-,
sentatiyes This would reduce the expenses OF
Senators one-half, at n reasonable estimate
and better men would be willing to come 20
the Senate were they assured that ~ "oulu nNE
cost more than their salaries u live aecentiy
in Washington.
II is stated that so of the more prominent
European nations intend to erect legatohs
here next spriuH as a measure OF economy
The Rritish Government is the only one here
which owns its legation building, ooL neSEly
all of the other foreign powers 1urnlsn 'Geia Uaa
represen entatives with suitable qoarters' ~ Sno
foreign Ambassador last winter paid SloOo q
month for his apartments and servlce-the
bill being footed by his royal master