The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-03-07

nounce the renting of the Butler mansion
for Senate committee rooms the most use
less act of governmental extravaganza on
small scale yet recorded. The annual rent
al amounts to 10000. and the building was
procured to provide five committees with
rooms, neither one of which has any public
business on hand or to report at this late
stage of the session. When the building
was leased tn furniture of Senator Jones of
Nevada, who had occupied the mansion,
was for sale. A portion of the furniture
was bought by the government for use of
the committee rooms, and the judgment
displayed in making selections is mani
tested in the purchase of number of chairs
at the price of 225 each. Some of the ele-
CANT carpets, which Senator Jones had put
down when he first furnished the mansion,
were also taken by the government at high
figures. In few days Congress will ad-
journ, but resolution has passed the Sen
ate for the appointment of extra messen-
gers and janitors to guard the Butler man
sion and the costly government furniture
it contains during the recess.
The idea of Congress in leasing this
palace may have been to do Ben Butler
good turn, for incredible as it may seem, the
old man is believed to be very hard up. The
recent transaction by which he placed q
5000 mortgage on two of his Capitol
Hill houses was quite astonishing to a null
titude of people. It has been believed that
Butler was always able to draw his check
for at least 500, 900. The common expla-
nation Of his financial condition is that he
spent great deal moress money in politics
than he could Immediately command. l
am told that Buffers presidential aspira-
tions cost him over 5000, goo, and that he
borrowed in all for the last campaign,
through Cassell, 100000; $4,000 was
loaned to him for use in the campaign in
which he was defeated for Governor of
Massachusetts,; $4,000 was borrowed in
September last. He gave his note for $10,-
COO, payable this month, and mortgage
on the two houses for the balance.
The more detailed account of the work
Of the Civil Service Commission, made
public the other day, shows how successful
the operation of the act has been. The
stock slur on the rules, that they require
fancy learning, is disposed of by the fact
that of those who have passed the examina-
tions seventy per cent. have had only
common school education. The Commits
sion say that SO far as can be ascertained
the appointees are about evenly divided
between the two great parties, and we're
apportioned among the States in strict con-
formity with the act. The new system,
therefore, can not be objected to properly
on either sectional or partisan grounds.
That the examinations have been effectual
in giving satisfactorily class of clerks to
the service appears from the fact that out
of the 1922 appointees only three have been
removed for cause.
Among the epicures of Washington, Sem
ator Bayard is regarded as highly qualified
for the Office of Secretary of State, if for
no other reason than that no one is better
skilled than he in the art of preparing ter
rapin. This consideration, however, it is
thought, did not influence Mr.. Cleveland
when, as it is reported, he rendered the
State Department folio to the Senator from
Delaware. It is considered among those
who have cultivated tastes in matters of
cuisine rare treat to be invited to Mr..
Bayard's table. He will allow no blunder-
ing cook to mar the perfect joy Of the feast.
He goes into the kitchen himself and pre-
pares the terrapin with his own hand. He
has learned the secret of the terrapin, aud
can dish it up in most tempting way.
Terrapin is credited with having played IN
important part in America diplomacy.
When Reverdy johnson went to England
he took the late James Wormley, the IA
nous caterer, with him, and delighted the
Court of st. James with terrapin. Mr..
Bayard' 8 knowledge of terrapin might be
seryiceabls to the country if he were placed
in control of the diplomatic branch of the
Government.
The invitation to the inauguration ball
is deserving of special mention. It was dc
signed by an artist of this city, and the en-
craving was executed at the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing by Mr.. Lorenzo
Hatch, who is recognized as an artist of
high rank, and particularly as portrait
engraver. He has displayed excellent taste
in giving to the three feminine figures
pleasing expression of countenance as we'll
rs graceful proportions. The portraits of
both Cleveland and Hendricks are perfect
likenesses. The Capitol, White House and
Monument are grouped in their respective
positions in commanding view, and on
either side of the President and Vice Pres
dent the American flag is suspended.
Yours truly, ALERT.
When you hear man sneering at the
local papers because they are not as big.
cheap Or newsy as the city papers, you can
safely bet that he does not squander his
wealth in assisting to make them better
and that oanaraliv fhe papars have dome