The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
Jobbery in Yellow Fever.


When the scourge was raging last sum-
mer. which dcsolated the homes OF the
South, and added so heavily to the drcary
catalogue OF misrortuncs that weighed down
its hope of recovering from previous mis-
rule and corruption, IA movement was started
at Washington for relief Of the sufferers,
professcdly like that in which the Northern
communities had so generously partici-
pated. A meeting was called for that pur-
pose, and members OF the old Ring and its
sympathzers seized the occasion to thrust
Boss SHEPHERD to the front, with the avowed
intention OF giving him prominence which
might be utilized for his and their profit.
The Boss was quick to see this chance IL
he did not inspire It, and to convert the OPP
portunity thus offered into speculation for
present and future advantage. With his
usual enterprise, exhibited so often and 50
daringly in the various projects Of plumber
that were devised during Ring rule in the
District, he set out to nationalist the yellow
fever movement, or, in other words, to make
Washington the central and directing point
for the collection and distribution Of funds
and supplies.
In this way some forty thousand dollars
were collected of which sum only thirteen
thousand went into the hands of the Treas
urer SO as 10 be regularly accounted for In
a satisfactory manner. 1t is Of course
claimed that the remainder was expended
in relieving the sufferers; but no statement
has ever been rendered showing how they
distributed two-thirds of the money admit
ted to have been paid in; and all efforts on
the part of citizens of Washington, who sub
scribed literally to this fund, to get an item
lied account have utterly failed.
Ring strikers, and bummers, and adven-
turers lived sumptuously, and their COM
mittees drove about the capital in snowy
carriages, while the subscriptions were com
ing In. They had their headquarters on
Pennsylvania avenue, in one Of the numer-
ousy mortgaged houses OF the Boss, with
flags flying, and q banner stretched across
the centre OF the street. The old guard Of
ringsters had good time while the money
lasted. They got much more speedy relief
than the victims Of the scourge.
The Boss himself-he does things on n
grand scale-kept up an active correspond
ence before the public. rushed to St. Louis to
charter a steamer, with a tail Of his clans
men to help him enjoy the trip at the ex-
pense OF the fund. and piled the telegraph
with bulletins, chiefly designed to make him
appear as the manager OF Il charity to which
he had contributed nothing but assurance
and audacity.
Now, when Congress is nearing the dav OF
adjournment, and when schemes II all sorts
are floating about the Capitol, the motives
for this pretended philanthropy become
| 10 huc . !.
plumbing business; or rather. 1t gave him
up soon after MULLErr left the architects
Office against his own will. The exodus OF
BABCocK from the White House too, had n
bad effect on the perennial piping and re.
| pairs OF that much-roofed edifice. In this
emergency the Boss turned lobbyist, and he
has made some successful strikes in his new
| vocation. At the last session he and HE
coniedcrates managed TO get more than
$4,000 voted TO buy old Globes containing in
all but two complete sets. the rest being
valueless except for waste paper. There art
now bills pending for settling claims against
| the District, created during the Ring regime
involving millions OF dollars; and "A bill T.
authorize a Delegate-the Boss-in Congress
from the District, to be elected by negroes
from the adjoining counties in Maryland anc
Virginia. Besides these, there are multi
tude Of jobs on the calendar, all waiting the
turn of the wheel OF fortune.
The Boss is backed by all the GRANT man
ayers in Congress. by the carpet-baggers
and by the traders on both sides, and es
pecially by those who are about to retir,
permanently from public life. These ele
mcnts are combined but the Boss has par
TALLY succeeded in adding to the combina
tion a number Of Southern members, som,
Of them leaders, upon the ground Of hi.
activity In using the money which Others
subscribed for the sufferers by yellow fever
In his rude and violent way the South ha,
had no bitterer or more malignant enemy
than this man; the more so from his having
been originally Confederate sympathizer
1t is, therefore, lovely TO see Boss SHEP
HERD and his Ring followers sitting side By
side with LAMAR, CASEY Young, SINGLE
TON, and that set OF Southerners, frater
nizing and making common cause witt
Grantism and its vulgar tools. But th'
Treasury will have to pay for 1t.
'