Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-29

house. as soon as it can be laid by In safety, till
the buildings more Immediately necessary shall
| be finished. But we wish not TO do an act which
in our opinion would be injurious, not only to
individual rights, but to the general interests OF
the city. We are informed that bill has passed
houses OF Gng na nc loan Of
this city, but that it had not. When Mr.. White
left Philadelphia, been presented to the PreSi-
dent for nus d appreciation AUTO that Appreciation we
quence have written to the Secretary Of the
Treasury to forward to us the act with direc-
lions as to the forms to be pursued In obtaining
the money.
We wish the business may be completed as
soon as convenient, to prevent the necessity OF
eng sSc K a. It's low price Part OF
with sentiments &C., G.. SCOTT
w. THORNTON,
Another attempt was made before the build
| 1ngs were completed to have Congress meet in
| the White House and put the departments into
the north wing of the Capitol, but this attempt
miSSiOnerS and defeated.
James Hoban succeeded Hallet as architect Of
the Capitol, having been appointed to that posi-
ton very soon after he took charge OF the work
| on the palace" and he soon became, in effect,
supervising architect of all the public buildings
He appears to have been capable, energetic, and
faithful, retaining his position until the Board
of Commissioners was dissolved by act of Con-
greSS, In 1902
| RAsCALLY CONTRACTORS THEN As NOW.
Much trouble and delay were occasioned by
| various causes, chief among which was the raS-
| cality of some OF the contractors. 1t was di >
covered. after the walls OF the old north wing of
the Capitol had been raised to a considerable
height, that the foundation, which neces ,ariy
| required to be OF great strength to support the
| heavy masonry, had been constructed by emp
| tying loads of broken stone and mortar into the
| trenches This mode OF making foundations
was called by the workmen the continental
| trowel."
The following letter from the commissioners to
the Secretary OF State is well worthy Of place
| commissioners at that time to have been any
| thing but snecure:
CITY OF WASHINGTON, July 10, 1895.
| SIR:-Ycur favor of the 9th instant, with the
| Enclosures, have been received, and we beg leave
| through you to assure the President that every
| attention In our power has been paid to the
| Capitol. Had we attended at the building every
| even probable, the scenes OF viainy carrying on
might not have escaped detection; but these
property at stake being well recommended,
having long been in public trust here without
complaint, led to belief that they were tncapa-
BILE of cool, premeditated and deliberate act of
villainy, which, in its consequences, might have
| OccaSiOned the death of thousands.
The board for months past having had no more
than two members with often great press of
| business, which kept them constantly employed
In the Office at least half their time, have Ger
ta1n1y not been able to visit the Capitol so often
| as subsequent events have proved to be neces-
| sary.
Those not acquainted with the motley set we
| found here, and who, from necessity, have too
| many OF them been still continued in public
employment, can form no adequate idea of the
| trksome scenes we are too frequently compelled
| to engage In. The friend OF Sir Ludovico Grant
Is one TO whom we allude.
| The enclosed estimate will show how little re-
gard is to be paid to his assertions, the estimate
is certainly high enough.
This day the wOrkmen have commenced fit
ting the freestone, and we know of nothing
which will stop the building except it be the
want of money. The second payment of $4,000
| due from Morris, Nicholson and Greenleaf, by
their acceptances negotiable in bank have not
been made, the days OF payment were arranged
agreeably to their own request. Their bill has
been protested, and we are left almost without
hope of any relief from that quarter. We had
right to expect by this time about $40, 900 from
these gentlemen.
Under such circumstances it is difficult to say
doubt our power to sell the property of these
gentlemen to make good their engagements as
has been mentioned in former letter. The
present object is to rid the case of this difficulty
| by obtaining the necessary powers for this pur-
pose, II payment is not made at the expiration
| OF sixty days
| How adequate the powers granted to Mr..
| Cranch may be, is subject now under in
Vestigat1on. But at least supposing his powers
as full as can be wished, sale, whilst 1t yields
no certainty OF being productive, is Injurious to
| the city and d1sgraceful to the parties, and
| nothing but necessity can induce our giving In
| to it.
The result of the English loan, however NOR
| Trying, was not very much matter of sur
| prise. While such various scenes are every day
opening for more profitable investments, there
is no solid ground to hope for an extensive loan
either abroad or at home, on the terms pro-
posed. We wish we could point out some more
probable source to apply to-we know Of none
The subject will be considered and ii anything
should occur, a communication will be made to
| the President when he comes down.
| The Presidents wishes have been anticipated
with respect to Mr.. johnson. The sale made to
Col Forrest has, some days since, with his con-
| sent, been cancelled, and no further sale has
| been made, or is meant to be made, pending the
! dispute. Whatever may have been Mr. John
| sons conduct to the Commissioners, they viii
mingle no resentment with theirs. A just re-
gard 10 olllclal character and not resentment, led
| TO our refusing to hold further correspondence
| with him.
The survey of the city being completed, the
levelling such parts as may be soonest called for
| is begun. 1t is a work of absolute necessity, or
we should have declined entering upon it at
| present.
ever the affairs of the city required the united
exert1ons OF full board this appears to be
| crisis.
We are, with the highest respect, yours, &C.,
| GUSTS SCOTT,
WILLIAM THORNTON.
| EDWARD RANDOLPH,
| Secretary OF State.
| The Commissioners thought the matter might
| be remedied by pulling down small portion OF
| the wall, but the fact was it necesstated the
| pulling down OF very large portion, and be
| ginning again ''de novo.r
THE PLUMBERS GOOD ON THE CHARGE THEN AS
| NOW.
| Many other instances appear in their transac-
| lions showing how very far the promises OF
contractors fall short of their performances and
| how often fraud was attempted. Even Mr..
| Hoban was investigated" for having certified
\ to bill for fOrty-nine thousand pounds of lead
| for the Presidents House. He was however
acquitted OF anything more serious than an error
| OF Judgment in passing plumbers bill of very
| extraordinary magnitude without due tnveSti-
| cation.
| Carrcatures by Photograph.
| The necessity for stringent regulations about
! photographs has occasionally been demonstrated
| by some ugly occurrences. A few years ago
| Partisan society was startled by rumorS of the
most cynical immortality in high places; and pho
| tographS were privately passed about in proof
OF the truth,of these allegations. Credulous peo-
| pie gaZed with astoniShment upon the portraits
| OF well-known grdltdes DANES in the most eX-
| traordinary costumes and OF statesmen In the
| queerest company till at length the police went
| to work, and after grand seizure of carteS dis
| covered that it was the practice OF certain
| scampS to buy the photographs of respectable
persons, remove the heads and stick them on
| the bodies of persons who had been photographed
| In