Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-09-25
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.


hlud which the President rides were
at the depot little before eight
o'clock on Monday last, attached to
the Presidents carriage. There was
nothing stuck up or distingue in the
appearance Of the brutes, and l be-
'ovo they would be just as happy if
they were the property Of a butcher.
The sable coachman who has driven
Grant, Hayes. Garfield aud Arthur
got down, pulled out his gold watch
and looked like man with an ap-
pointment. 1t was five minutes af-
tor eight when the New York train
glided almost noiselessly into the
station. The railroad employees were
evidently expecting somebody and
turned thor eyes 20 u sleeping car
which was closed. 1t was not long,
however, until stout gentleman
with u hronzed face descended the
s'eps followed by a smaller and
more slightly built gentleman. They
w,ro the President Of the United
States and his private secretary, Col.
Lamont. The President bowed
pleasantly to the solutions of the few
who witnessed his arrival, and enter
ing The carriage with Col. Lamont
was driven 10 the White House
where breakfast awaited them.
The Presidents vacation has been
less than thirty days, the time al.
lowed to other employees. and he ap-
pears TO be much improved in health.
He has not been indisposed a single
day and the recent reports relative
to his illness were wholly without
foundation. He has had his holiday
in his own fashion and comes back
to his duties improved and invigor-
ated. lie has not spent the time in
the hardest Of all work, society ser
vice at fashionable resort, but has
taken the relaxation he needed.
These weeks in the open air, the
fishing, cunning, boating, the set
ting asido of all restraint and anx-
iety, the robust exercise-every in
grcdient in the situation-has been
auspicious. The President is great
~ im.'uY,d by his outing, every
hour has brought him strength and
rejuvenation; he returns to his work
in overy respect better qualified to
prosecute it with vigor and success.
Since the Presidents return he
has been in consultation with Sec
rstaries Manning. Whitney, Bayard
and Lamar. 1t has been definitely
settled that there is necessity for
a thorough investigation of the Coast
Survey Bureau. Some additional
facts have recently been brought out.
About year ago when the new
coast survey steamer Carlisle Patter-
son was launched, Prof. Hilgard and
a party Of ladies went to New York
TO celebrate the event. This, of
course, wss useless, but it would
have been more innocent if they had
paid for their fun. Several hundred
dollars were expended on this trip
out OF the contingent fund for a
luncheon ct which much wine was
spilled. When the voucher was put
in at tho bureau, the wine lunch was
put in the bill of items and called
by its proper name. This, Mr.. Par
sons informed Prof. Hilgard, would
never do, as the account would not
DO allowed at the Treasury Depart
ment. He suggested that a blank
voucher be signed by some contrac.
tor for the work of the bureau and
accordingly Julius Bien & Co., en-.
gravers, Of New York. were used for
this purpose. They were induced
to sign the blank voucher, the
amount OF which was 1920, and then
the body Of the instrument was filed
in by Mr.. Parsons as drawing plans
for tho United States steamer Car
Isle Patterson. Under this change
the voucher was put through, and
nothing moro was thought about it.
First Auditor Chenowith and Second
Comptroller Maynard were acquaint-
ed with this circumstance in the
course OF the investigation, and they
took pains to lay it before Secretary
Manning. Tho Secretary talked
with the President on this subject,
Monday Of this week, whom the con.
clusion was reached that the present
coast survey officials had better be
removed. 1t is probable that within
ton days the Secretary Of the Treas
ury will rid himself of the present
crowd now in the Coast Survey Bur.
eau and fll their places with more
competent and less corruptible per-
sons. DEN.
THE steamer Merico brought 26