The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-29
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
THE CITY GRAND OF CONTRADICTIONS
SMALL ssPoTAToEs' AND MEN OF DIsTINc
TIoN-EcoNoMY so-CALLED-PovERT1
IN THE CITY-CoNTRACTs.
Special Correspondence of the vIRG1NIAN.
WASHINGTON, D. C. May, Oath.
Beneath the pomposity of Washington
the great National Capital, notwithstanding
its palatial residences, splendid hotels, daz
cling chandeliers, unique candelabra, gor
geous 'sturn outs," dashing men ant
''showy'' women, it hides more pinche'
gentility, exquisite misery and intense SUI
fering than any city in America.
People in the country talk of Washington
as the business mans Mecca and the poo
mans Paradise. and many Of the lyinl
newspaper correspondents advertise it as I
Central Utopia to which every one In search
Of riches, greatness and glory should hie.-
It is safe to say that at the present tint
there are 10000 people in Washington look
ing for employment, waiting for something
that will never come. The reorganization
OF the United States Senate, which has not ye
been thoroughly accomplished, brought many
a gentlemen in decadence' to the city
Every '.patriot' in the South, it seemed K
me, was here, ready to serve his country il
any capacity from the Secretaryship OF the
Senate to a place at the head of spittoor
cleaners. Each one was factor in the
Democrat politics not only Of his own dis
trict, but as well, sir, Of this nation Some
of these omuiscient and omnipotent "factors'
wanted an office, not SO much that they
needed one, but because the welfare OF the
country demanded their presence. I do not
mean to say that offices were filled by such
nonenities, nor do wish to be understood
as branding men by abiding to them as Of
fice-seekers. Far from it. But have al
ways noticed that the greater the power the
louder the talk, the bluer the blood of ''ti-
tled'' off1ce-seekers, the more worthless the
individuals. There are, at fair estimate,
two thousand of..such unfortunates in Wash
ington and they are literally ION the
streets.''
THE CURTAIN lifted.
Warrington Is not Utopia. Its life is
spasmodic and its prosperity for the last five
years has been contingent upon the influx
Of travellers. Appropriations for public
work and internal improvements are SO mig.
gardly that only ''shysters'' dare undertake
contract. The wages paid to workmen
ange from Is cents to $l.25 per day, and
twice as many men get Is cents as obtain
$1.25. Legitimate business men at distance
know this and keep away. Skilled mechanics
and artizens have no business here. am told
by citizens of the District-honest men
efficient men-able business men-that the
system Of giving large contracts to the low
est bidder has run everything in the ground,
and no man with conscience can afford to
touch work. The result therefore is that
every Tom, Dick and Harry has turned
ssbidder," and bondsmen are secured by
hook and by crook. What's the final re-
suit? Laborers are paid starvation scages.
have found by investigation there are hun
dreds Of men working under "small bid
ders" at the graceful salary of
SEVEN DOLLARS PER WEEK
Seven dollars per week to men and broth.
ers struggling for the sustenance OF body
and the miserable eking out of life Seven
dollars a week to battle with the gaunt
demons Want and Death. Seven dollars
week to protect the parting thread OF
very existence J. This is economy preached
BY Atkins and Blount in the House, by
Salisbury and Withers in the Senate and
by other narrow minded small souled po-
tatoes elsewhere. The best thing can say
of Atkins is what distinguished Democrat
ic Congressman said OF him some time ago.
"Atkins," said he, sis our Chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations; he is one Of
these gizzardless fellows who can live on
cbinquepin burs and peanuts, just as Dur
ham, of Kentucky, would live on Bourbon
wbiskey and tobacco. We are sick of this
niggardly economy. The Government is
being turned into junk shop and heads OF
bureaus, clerks and officials are treated as
peddlers." 1t has always been mystery
to me to.understand how such veritable pig
mics as Atkins and Blount and Buckner feel
that they are diuinely constituted to carry
on their shoulders the entire weight Of this
Government. II there be any truth in the
old Latin adage,. ''vir sapit qui pauca To-
quitur,'' these men haven't semblance Of
wisdom, for they talk co continually. And
committees, under the Speakership Of Ran
dali, are placed in the hands Of such "blath-
erskites," who assume to lead
MEN OF DISTINCTION.
The able men of Congress have the least
to say. Carlisle. Garfield, Hurd, Hawley,
and men like Walsh, Of Maryland, (not now
in Congress) talk but seldom, but that little
is said remarkably well. Although I differ
in many things with, Gen. Garfield, I must
acknowledge his transcendant ability as a
scholar of wide and varied learning. AS "a
political econoni ist,as historian,as plead
er, it is my candid opinion that he has nc
equal in the Republican party. He is un.
questionably the ablest man in the House Of
Representatives. l am not such short
sighted Ultramontana that 1 cannot uttel
my s'convictions.' No wonder then the
system Of legislating appropriations brings
on starvation. dishonesty. not to. say inca
pacity and total unfitness, for no man car
take contracts, position or Office and receive
the wages of beggar. No wonder Their
that Washington is called city of grand
contradictions, for here poverty, gaunt, grin
and gloomy, walks side by side, with great
ness and grandeur.
The mail closes and cease.
CHARLES SELBY.
FUN FOR ALL CONCERNED.-In Plymouth
avenue the other afternoon boy and CIR
held rope across the sidewalk, and accostee
every one with, "Won't you jump, sir, be
fore you go past?" A gentleman settled hi