The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-20
Washington Letter.
The chef Of the District Triumoirate Dead.--
Guiteau's Appeal Io.Ddy-7he Gar
feld Memorial Hospital! Far
(Regular correspondence


.feld Memorial Hospita! Far.
Irregular correspondence.)
WASHINGTON, d. G., May 0, 1882.
No death since that of the late President
has caused more sorrow In Washington than
that of Major Twining, President OF the Board
of Commissioners for the District of Column
bia. You know, perhaps, that the District Of
Columbia and the Territory Of Alaska are the
only despotislns over which the stars and
stripes wave All the other states and terrific
ries, whether composed of railroads or ranch
es, have representative government. That
Is, the railroads and ranches vote. The DIS.
trict OF Columbia, though partaklng Of both
the nature of railroad and ranch, cannot
this sovereign right of right But Washington
has been all the happier and cleaner for the
deprivation of the ballotbox. II 1t had been
In her power to select governor, aristocrat,
autocrat, democrat, she would not have select
ed one so wise, honest and able as Major
Twining. He came to take charge of the i'm.
provements of the National Capital at a time
when there was great dissatisfaction, on &C.
count of the dilatory and uncertain manner in
which great contracts for improvements had
been given out and performed during the four
years that followed the removal of the Board
Of Public Works. He soon showed that he
was master of the situation, and quietly i'm
pressed upon his two associates the force of
his ability. There are three District Commits.
sioners, but Napoleon the First was not more
the head of the government when ruled by the
triumvirate, Bonaparte, Seyes and Camberces,
than was Major Twining the autocrat in the
matter Of District improvements He had
none Of the arrogant superciliousness that
usually attaches to West Pointer placed in
an uninportant civil position. He was cour.
teous and kind to those under him, and at the
meeting of the District employees on Saturday
tears attested the commences of their sorrow
at the loss Of the Commissioner. His death is
regarded by property owners as real calaml-
ty, and much anxiety IS felt in relation to the
appointment of his successor.
To-day the appeal OF Guiteau to the Court
IN banc will be heard. The Chief Justice Is
DESTROYS that full bench, with the exception
of Judge Cox-who is prohibited by law from
sitting on case originally tried by hlm-shall
sit on this appeal. But Judge Wylles time IS
so completely taken up with the Star Route
cases that he will not be able to leave Court
-Four Judges Carter, James, Hagner and Nc
Arthur, WILL at all events, occupy the bench.
The Government will be represented by Messrs.
Corkhill and Davidgc, while Mr.. Chas. Reed,
of Chicago, will appear for Guiteau.
The National Ladies' AID Society of the
Garfield Memorial Hospital held fair in the
Rotunda of the Capitol last Saturday evening,
the object of which was to raise money tor the
proposed hospital. The fair was attended by
the President, and by the elite of Washington
Official diplomatic and social circles Many
Of the different states were represented by dis
tlnctve booths or pavilions, from which chick
ca salad, coffee, devcled crabs, ETC., were sold
by the tar maids and matrons at fabulous
prices. 1t IS not yet known how much was
realized, but 1t IS supposed that the fund for
the hospital was considerably increased.