Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-05-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nav 10. 1883,

AshiNGION, may ~, 1000.
The civil service commission has at last
got its rules, Its chief examiner, and its
rooms in the new Museum, and il is ex.
pected to soon begin reforming things. As
the new rules do not contain provisions
for competitive examination for promo
tions the clerks now in Office do mt regard
them with more than passing interest. But
speaking of the clerks recall. the scene
about Washington last Wednesday morn
ing. The capital has welcomed within its
gates many distinguished men OF the world
seeking honor, pleasure, or pelf, but it
never extended more generous reception
to any than was accorded the renowned
Phineas T. with his "Greatest Show" etc
No man ever received here such a contri.
button of filthy lncre in one day. When
the parade came up the broad streets, "the
animals, two by two, bippopoiamns and
the Kangaroo" the entire "cIassified de-
partmental service" forgot the civil service
rules, leaving their desks in haste for n
more congenial spot near the cnrbstone
Here conld he seen the messenger rudely
jostling the chief o. his division IN his
eagerness to catch n glimpse Of Jumbo's
dirty playmntes. Here was the confden-
tial clerk of Il Secretary roughly pushing
aside the "bootblack" who hml d,red to
come between him and the oc,oroum beauty
on the painted wagon. Clerks, male and
female, of all sizes and colors, from first to
fourth class, for once stood upon the same
footing. A correspondent strolled into the
Treasury department during the passing
of the pageant. but the desolate appearance
OF the nlace and the dismal sound nf his
footballs reverbernling through the corri.
dors made him think of the illustrlous
dead in Westminster Abbey. lie Withdrew,
rem"rking with patlms-empty il the
Treasury -clerky's gone.
| hear rumors al mn enterprise that in
breadth and bigness il the largest thing in
this decade. IT, IN n plan to get out Of the
grip of The United States thirteen millions
of dollars. with the accumulated interest
for nearly twenty years. When the Hon.
William E. Chandler wnR Assistant Secre-.
tnry of the Treasury he organized the Cot.
ton bureau. In il was deposited the mon
ey received for cotton taken from private
individuals and sold by Government agents.
This money belongs 10 many persons and
a few corporations in the south. II was
the intention of Mr.. Chase to hold this
money in trrh for the person to whom the
cotton belonged, but Tor some years no one
has been able to obtain a dollar. The
largest amount ever recovered from the
Government by any individual was $780,
900, which The estate of Charles Lamar, Of
Georgia, got by employing General B. +.
Butler and sx-Attorney General Williams
Boutwell, could not resist the persuasive
powers OF these two eminent men, and 40
he gave up the amount mentioned. The
fee was $50 900 TO each attorney. The
new combination with iis guns aimed al
this fund has, hear, brsins courage, and
money lehind 1t. So perhaps IL may win.
II will play for big stake.
OF course the Fair diyoi ce case excites
interest and comment in Washington.
though we do not assume here TO know
anything about The real merits Of IT, There
is considerable speculation az 10 the Sena-
tors wealth, since il is reported that his
wife has heen allowed four millions and a
half. There seems To b. something in the
atmosphere of the free, nnfeliered west"
that plays the deuce and all Of II with the
bond matrimonial, and induces an alarm
ing Ii kitty IN The observance OF the seventh
commandment. Especially has this been
noticeable In the last three or four years,
and among what are known as "bonansa
statesmen" When the Hon. William
Sharon came here Nc n Senator there were
many stories told, which could not well b.
: put into print. But Sharon while here
comporlod himself about ~ well as the
, average statesman. The country has moi
J yet recovered from, the spectacle famboy.
ant Tabor furnished It, when, behold, his
brother statesman, Fair, occupies its at.
tentiop. Well, il Is the old story. old
, story. ms old as ia the history Of man. Ever
> Solomon. with all his wisdom and expert
ence--haying three hundred wives-die
not escape, and why should Fair7 TIN
. has been > bad year for the righteous--for
! how many good men have gone wrong
g and no wonder wicked man, with IN,
bank account that Fair possesses, shoult