Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-12-12

o'FERRALL's ExPER1ENoE-BLAINEs HOUSE,
HOLD GooDs-THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE
LOUISIANA RETURNING BoARD-BEN. BUT
LER-soCIAL NEWS.
&C, &C., &C, &C.
Especial Correspondence of Stanton Vindicator.l
WASHINGTON Dec. 10.-Hon. Charles T.
O'Ferrall has started an inquiry into the
abuses growing out of the projected new Uni
ted State Court House and Postoffce at Har-
risonburg. At recent elections it has been
used very much as the navy yards and other
government works are made political ma
chimes. The BILL passed in 1882, authorized
the erection of public building at that place,
the cost not to exceed $780, 900. Before every
election, squad of men have been set to dig
ging the chief aim of their employment evil
IDENTIFY being to enable them to get in their
work at the polls. In the two years they have
only scratched out hole in the ground. Yes
terday Col. OFerrall introduc ed the following
resolution, which was referred to the commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds
ResotUed, That the Secretary of the Treasury be,
and he is hereby, directed to report to this House
as follows.
First Whether he has purchased site for
suitable building for the accommodation of the
United States courts, postofice, and other Govern
ment offices at Harrisonburg State of Virginia. as
authorized and directed by an act entitled IAN act
for the erection of public building at Harrison
burg and Abingdon, State of Virginia, approved
July T. 1882.
Second What price was paid for said site, if
~ booI
ed in the United States, and whether the State Of
Virginia has ceded to the United States exclusive
jurisdiction the same during the time the
Unite States shall be remain the owner thereof
for all purposes exceptthe administration of the
criminal laws of said State and The service OF civil
pl ocess therein.
Third " hat amount of the money appropriated
for the purchase of said site and the commence
nent OF the erection of suitable building has been
expended, and how and for what expended.
Fourth. The estimated cost, including site of
said building aud the amount necessary to be ap-
propriated. in addition to the sum already appro-
priated. to complete the same.
Col OFerralls bill to remove the political
disabilities of DR.. Hill, of Front Royal, is in
the hands of the committee, and will doubt
less be reported favorably to the House.
THE PRESIDENT ELECT
Although Governor Cleveland has engaged
suite of rooms at the Arlington Hotel for a few
days prior to the Inauguration, it is probable
that these will be more for the convenience
and accommodation of his numerous friends
and callers than for his own personal use. 1t
is understood that he will be the guest of W.
W. Corcoran, ESQ who has extended to the
Governor most cordial invitation to accept
the inequalities Of his elegant home. The
statement so generally published during the
campaign that Mr.. Cleveland had never been
in Washington is not true. He wrote his name
on the Riggs House register March 18th, 1875
He occupied room $50, stayed two days. paid
his bill and left. He has been here once since
that time. The President elect has engaged a
pew in the N. Y. avenue Presbyterian church.
This is the largest church of that denomina
ton in this city, and is but four squares from
the White House. Presidents jackson and
Lincoln worshipped-more or less-in this
church. The PASTOR Rev. William A. Bart
lett, was classmate at college of Governor
Cleveland. They have been intimate friends
for many years. During the campaign Mr..
Bartlett stood faithfully by him, defending
him against all assaults, from every quarter.
"wHAT ARE WE HERE FOR ?"-coL. o'FER-
RAILS EXPERIENCE.
The pressure for positions under the new
administration, in all departments of the civil
service is enormous, and increasing daily. A
great number of persons constantly arriv-
ing in Washington on errands of this nature.
Senators and Representatives are beset on
every hand by applicants in person and by
letter, and to many of them life is fast becom-
ing burden Col OFerrall tells me that his
mails averages forty to fifty letters day, and
that nine -tenths of them are from persons
seeking places. He said : 6 For each of the
| more important and lucrative Offices, there
| are score of applicants, and of course a
| good many men are doomed to inevitable dis
| appointment There are $50 postoffces in my
district, and the larger ones are sought by
many good men, No selections will be made
for good while; it is too early yet. am
| careful not to commit myself 1 am anxious
in all cases to do the very best thing, and, as
far as possible, carry out the wishes of my
constituents and conserve the public good. In
| order to do this I must wait until the returns
| are all in. There is no occasion for hurry.
These matters Will all be fixed in good time"
! During the hours when Senators are access
I ible by card, the marble reception-room is
| thronged with visitors communing with Sena-
tors The door-keepers and ushers are kept
busy as bees, fitting between the lobby en-
trance and the chamber, bearing cards and
supplicatory messages. They say they have
never before seen such rush. 1t may be OBJ
served that it is not the Republican statesmen
| that are in such great demand.
THE DEFEATED MAN.
The other day strolled past the house of
| ex-senator Window, on the corner of Sixteenth
street and Scott Circle which has been rented
| by Mr.. Blaine, for the coming year. Blaines
big house, in Dupont Circle, is an elephant on
| his hands. Some time ago, he leased it to
Letter, formerly dry goods king in Chicago,
and good Democrat, who pays him $12, 900
a year for It, AS passed the Sixteenth street
house large wagon had just driven up, loaded
to the guards with the household goods and
J gods of the late Republican candidate. There
| were boxes, barrels, bundles, and pieces of
| furniture, addressed with marking brush
| they were plastered with the labels of the ex-
press company: Forwarded from Augusta,
| Maine" There appeared to be about the same