Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-17
SALE OF AN OLD MANSION
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT IN
WASHINGTON RECALLED.


roll mansion on Capitol hill has just been
sold to ex-RepresentatIve Ellis, of Louis
lana, for 100000. The place comprises
acres and is situated at the intersection
of Second street and South Carolina ave-
nue., s. K. The brick mansion stands In
| the centre of the grounds, surrounded by
| fine old trees. Daniel Carroll was one Of
the original proprietors of the land upon
which Washington is built, and his tract
OF land, which was known as Duddington
Manor, extended on both sides of South
Capitol and North Capitol streets, from N
street south to l. street north, and in
cIuded, the ground now occupied by the
| Capitol building. The house which has
| just been sold was the manor house of
| this large possession and was rented by
Daniel Carroll shortly after the sight for
the capital city had been fixed upon. Mr..
! Carroll had begun to build a house on
site which stood in the middle of what
L'Entant had marked out in the plan of
the city as New Jersey avenue. The
irascible Frenchman, as soon as
| he discovered this, directed the
! house to be torn down, which Mr., Carroll
refused to do. ThereUpOn L'Enfant sent
gang Of men one night to the new build
ing and had 1t razed to the ground. LEN
! FAINT, however, was soon relieved from
| duty, and the commissioners, who were
| lntrusted with The work of laying out the
| new city and erecting the public build
lngs, made proper compensation to Mr..
| Carroll for the damage sustained. Soon
afterward he began to build the present
building. 1t is built in the Grecian style,
and is two stories high, with an attic
story. There is q pillared portico in front.
! The house has been continuously occu-
pied by the family, but at present the
only occupants are two maiden daughters
of the original owner. In the early years
of the capital city this house and the Van
Ness mansion were the most notable pri-
vate residences here, and the wealth Of
the occupants enabled them to dispense a
| lavish hospitality.
THE COAST SURVEY EXPENSES,
Congress appropriated at the last ses-
sion $685., 900 for the coast survey for the
| current fiscal year. Of this large sum
$345, 900 are expended in Washington di-
rectly, or for the services of persons from
the capital employed temporarily else
where.
The salaries of the principal and secon-
dary officials are among the best in any of
| the departments. The hard workers are
the worst paid. The superintendent re-
| ceives $4,000 year; two assistants get
| $4,000 each; one assistant gets $4,000; one
assistant gets SO, 200; two assistants get
| $4,000 each; two assistants get $500
each; four assistants get 50, 400 each; two
assistants get 50, 800 each; six assistants
get 50, 200 each; SIX assistants get $1,000
each; ten assistants get 81. 800 each: nine
assistants get s., 800 each; three sub-assist-
ants get 81, 400 each; two sub-assistants
get $1,000 each, and four sub-assistants
get 81, 100 each. Aides and other inferior
officers are paid in proportion.
These appropriations are for what is
called field service. The assistants go
into the field in summer to make survey,
and the results are computed at Wash
ington when they retura. An allowance
is made for subsistence, and the practice
has been TO collect 1t and divide the total
pro rata among the whole party, so that
the burden would fall on the subOrdinates
forming the bulk of it, while the assist
ants with the large salaries would profit
thereby.
The clerks, draughtsmen, mechanics,
and other employees are paid proportion
ately With the assistants. In fact, this
bureau has been one of the softest and
choicest spots in the whole public service,
and has been run like the Agricultural
Department, as a sort Of independent
concern, mostly for the benefit of its in
cumbents, contractors, jobbers, and IA
vOrites.
A very limited investigation has shown
that it is rotten from top to bottom, and
has been 80 for many years. The fragrant
abuses and chronic corruption existing
there have been long known to a few, but
scandalOus as they were, there seemed to
be some hidden power of protection that
silenced criticism and prevented pub
licity.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
In an interview the other day regarding
the tariff question MIR. Morrison said:
1--WE cannot avoid, even if we desired to,
some consideration Of the tariff next WIN
ter, but l am not prepared now to say
what / shall do myself in that respect.
The Democratic party will not fail though
to do its duty in the premises. We must
stand by our pledges made last fall, and
meanwhile. until the time comes for ac-
ton, il is sufficient to say that we will do
what seems 10 be the wisest-the best we
can"
OF the speakership Mr.. Morrison said:
''Mr. Carlisle will be reelected doubtless,
without opposition"
In answer to n question regarding
the Civil Service act--its repeal or
continued eniorcement-Mr Morrison
remarked that he did not want 10 be
interviewed. He added that PresI.
dent Cleveland's methods are CAREFUL,
conservative, and honest, and he
predicted that they would prove TO be ac-
ceptable in the end TO the party at large.
He did not blame the ''governmentv for
gong away from Washington Just now.
after the siege It had withstood since
last March, and he concluded with the re-
mark that the appointing officers In the
several departments would be ready by
next fall, or soon after the Presidents re-
turn. 10 20 ahead without a number OF
delayed minor changes.
100000 STANDARD DOLLARS.
Mr.. Muhman, Of the treasurer's Office,
will sail on the Swatara from New York
for New Orleans and represent the gov
ernment In receiving aud bringing 5,00O,-
600 standard silver dollars from the over
crowded vaults OF the New Orleans mint
tothe treasury vaults atWaehlngtOn. Tue
davs OF pirates have passed, but still the
denartment officials endeavored 10 keep
me errand Of the Swatara a secret. Since |
n has leaked out there will probably be
aome precautions taken against being run
down, Commodore Harmony says the
swatara il being cleared OF ammunition,
etc. only 10 the extent necessary 70 make |
roon for the shipment Of silver. She will /
be We'll enough armed during the trip 10
he An efficient man-Of-war. and II any pi- |
rates should show up they would meet
win a very warm reception.
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No Cause for Action.