Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-29

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One OF the strangest features In the whole swind-
ing business OF Ward was the confidence he appar-
ntly inspired among men who should have known
better, that he was able TO control government
contracts The law ON this subject IS clear and all
Business men might reasonably be expected to
Know 1t. Government contracts are given BY law
70 the lowest responsible bidder after pubic sdver-
tsement The competition is open and sharp bids
are cut down 10 the lowest rates consistent with
safety, and the profits are small and generally well
earned All goods sent in under contract are
ngidy inspected and II not up TO requirements
are rejected Hence the profits on furnishing sup
plies TO the government are no greater than In any
other business OF like volume and description The
only way by which quick and large fortunes can be
made Is by dishonest collision between the contrac-
tors the side and government officials on the
other. Is IL possible that Wards victims did not
know that, or were they Indifferent to 1t long as
the money rolled In?
The great Derby race, which was run yesterday,
disappointed the Americans who pinned their faith
and bank notes to "Plunger" Walton's colt Rich
mond, as that horse came in ninth In field Of
eleven. The race ended In dead heat; and also in
considerable heat of very lively sort among bet
ting men, who accuse the "noble'- owner Of one OF
the runners OF cheating. Among the million Wis
itors was Mr.. Vanderbilt, who to be taking it
street bears are worrying his stocks.
---->%--
The developments to-day showing Col. j. O. p.
Burnside, dsbursing officer OF the Post ONCE de-
partment, to be q heavy defaulter to the govern
ment, Will cause shock to the community In which
he has been held In such high regard though In
these days OF crumbling regulations people are
prepared TO hear OF downfals in almost any quar-
Ter Col Burnside seems TO have come TO grief In
the usual way from stock speculations. 1t is
rather curious fact that two OF the predecessors OF
Burnside discussing officer of the Post Office de-
partment-Olmstead and Macartney-were default
ers.
Minister Morton has given onense by seeming to
recognize the pretenSons OF the Count OF Paris to
sovereign rights by introducing a lady to him in
The form proper 10 be used where royalty is one Of
the parties In this ceremony. The error, If indeed
II was committed, was not very grave one, and
sprang most likely from polite desire to please hts
guests but in France great importance is attached
10 etiquette, and the act may, therefore, have
enough significance attached to 1t to give rise to an
incident" OF all men, the representative OF q
republic should not embarrass the republican
government OF France by any act that could con-
strued into recognition of the claims Of the fallen
dynaStieS OF that country
While the members of the Kentucky delegation
In the House were playfully interchanging compn-
menus yesterday on the alleged prevalence OF
"moonshiners' in their respective districts the Of
neers Of the law were locating the Whereabouts OF
these outlaws In all seriousness; and one desperate
band, at least, was discovered in Phil Thompsons
District as sheriff and his posse, in attempting
70 make an arrest Of Illicit dstillers In Laurel
county, were fired on, and the sheriff killed.
Representative Reed has again run the gauntlet
successfully, and has secured a denomination to
Congress- In the teeth OF a StrOnp OnpoSftton Mr.
Reed has developed exceptional powers as a men,
Der OF Congress- and by his retnrn the republicans
viz retain one OF their ablest leaders
The Penn bank at Pittsburg is found to be rotten.
Ana Is now closed up for good after an attempt at
plu0 that did not succeed As usual the officials
had been gambling with the bank funds and the
wrong numbers had turned I'D.
The Blaine end Of the see-saw is up this week