Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-21
SHOULD GIVE NEW BONDS.
Objections % Sureties Of Commis.iOner
EdmOn6s and West.

Dlstr1ct commissioners EdmOndS and West he re-
ferred the matter TO Judge Neal, solicitor OF the
Treasury, for investigation. In his report on the
subject, the solicitor says appears that lone OF
the sureties on the bond Of Mir. West is member
of firm now under contract to furnish supplies to
| the District, and one Of Mr. Edmonds' sureties is
also member OF a firm having a similar contract
1t appears, however, that at the time said bonds
were executed and approved these suretieS were
not connected with contracting firms, and there
fore not ineligible as sureties."
The solicitor says that as the spirit or the law
would seem to make 1t improper for the Cotnms
soners OF the District and the contractors for Dis
trlct supplies TO sustain the relation OF principal
ana surety on "bondS required to be given to the
said Commissioners be required to execute new
bonds with understandable suretes, In conformity
with the statute.
Suspended District AccOunts.
THE SUN OF S19S90 SO ALLEGED TO BK DUE THE UNITED
STATES ON TER ACCOUNTS OF Ex-coMMrssIoNERs
PHELPS AND DENT AND THE LATE COMMISSIONED
TwINNG-No IMPLICATION OF FRAUD IN THE NAT
TER.
The first controller Of the Treasury has submitted
transcript Of the accounts OF S L Phelps Josiah
Dent and W. j. Twining, ex-Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia to the solicitor OF the Treas
ury, for such action may be necessary to recover
the sum of s79,S % alleged to be due the United
states. The accounts cover period between July
1875, and November %, 1879, and were suspended
or disaOwed by the controller, for the reason. as
stated by him in his annual report for the yesr
1881, that 'n settling these accounts IL has been
found that some vouchers were for payments which
were not technically and strictly authorized by
law, but which would, upon an examination by
Congress, probably be approved, because of the
1t is conceded that there was no intention on the
part OF the commissioners to defraud the govern
ment, and it is admitted that they received no per-
sonal benefit from the expenditures They were
diSallowed simply because they were not made In
strict conformity with the law. In view OF the
fact that Congress VIII be asked to relieve the ex-
commissioners from all responsibility for the
pendturea In dispute 1t Is not likely that the soc
itor OF the Treasury VIII press the matter.
The white House.
4 TALK WITH COL RoCKwELL-PREsENT CONDITION
OF THE sTRuCTURE-wHAT WILL BIZ DoNE TO PRE-
PARE 1T FOR THE NEW PRESIDEST-LOoKING TO
THE FUTURE.
"The only work being done to put the White
House In condition to receive the new President Is
a little patchwork here and there" said Col
Rockwell this morning. ITO be sure" he con-
tnued; "the lower portion OF the house has been
thoroughly overhauled and improved during Presi-
dent ArthurS administration as to practically need
nothing at present, but the private parts OF the
house. particularly the bedrooms, need attention
badly. There is not enough money available for
the purpose, however, and with the exception OF
new carpets for the state bedroom ard one or TWO
other chambers, which the President has selected,
and little papering and painting here and there,
President Cleveland will take possession with the
White House unchanged"
SIT seems to me-" continued the colonel, s'that
the people of this country ought to be willing to
give the White House thorough renovating with
every incoming administration The retiring Presi-
dent ought to be allowed to make such changes and
improvements for his successor as he deems advS-
able. The expense would never be more than sixty
or seventy thousand dollars. Some parts OF the
building need changes oftener than others. but the
necessary changes ought to be made once In every
four years The fact OF 1t is he said "nobody out
Side can realize what an expense and trouble
it is to keep the old rookery In repair. It
was built so long ago that 1t is not at
all sdapted for the hundred and one mod
ern improvements and convenienceS, and 1t Is
difficult TO make things work satisfactorily There
IS no doubt about 1t the President ought to have
residence separate from his business Office. The
people would not consent to his living in an inac-
cessible locality, suppose, and judging from the
difficulty OF securing site for the Congressional
library, II would be next TO impossible TO secure
upon the White Lot reservation and the present
building turned over to public use entirely, there
would be much more satisfactory condition OF
affairs. The western part OF the house could be
thrown into an immense state dining room to CORE.
Sp0nd With the east room. Perhaps there Will be
new order Of things some day."
The Navy Department Voucher Cases.
The grand jury to-day reported twenty
indictments against MeSSrs j. ". Drew, A. Burg
dorf, G. A. Whitaker, W. II. Dempsey, z. c. Kirk
wood, and D. Carrigan, on account OF the alleged
Navy department frauds, the only change from the
Indictments formerly reported being that In each
indictment kirkwood and Carrigan are Joined with
Others.
Did Gov. Cleveland Snub Them!
From the New York Sun, to-day