The Press., 1885-09-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.


 Washington is just now enjoying the peace ard quiet which yearly precedes the autumnal hub bub-the political and so- cial opening. Everybody as he calls himself, is out of town. But everybody here, as elsewhere, means only that favor- ed small per cent who have money or who can borrow or beg it for trip to.Europe, 8 month at the seaside, or two weeks stay at mountain farm house where board is cheap, and the contrast with city surroundings is sharpest. In spite of the unusual heat of the summer the stay at home people of Washington have managed to live in tolerable comfort. There is more breathing space in this city than in any other of it's size in the country. The wide streets and many parks afford the amplest space for the free circulation of air, and the malaria, so much complained of, is suffered only by the incorporate. 1 The return to Washington of her holiday population will begin in week and will be complete by the first of October. At present MT. Lamar of the interior depart ment is the only cabinet officer in the city. MT. Garland left this week for his home in Arkansas. The other members of the cabinet have been out of the city for sev- eral weeks.
 The president had not been expected be- fore the last of September, but learn that the present cool weather may cause him to alter his plans. After roughing it in tisherman's camp the luxury of the execu- tive mansion will doubtless be enjoyed.
 The habiliments of mourning have been removed from the white house and all the government departments, the thirty con- ventional days having expired. The re- cent rains had washed out the cheap dyes of the miles of black cambric in which the white marble columns were swathed, and it will cost several thousands of dollars to remove the discoloration. The white house will be re-painted.
 The most sensational news of the week is in relation to the discovery of the alleged frauds in the Alabama claims court and al- so in the pension office. The Alabama claims court was organized in 1874 to hear proof of the claims to be paid out of the $15, SOC, ,OOO awarded by the Geneva com mission.
 It is charged by Comptroller Durham that this court has on its pay-rolls large number of officers and clerks not author ized by congress who have been receiving in salaries about $s35, ,OO0 per year. Among those who have been paid as special coun- sel are Walker Blaine, F. D. Hunt, Ham, ilton Fish, George Frelinghuysed, and others.
 The force of the court of Alabama claims is demoralized by the decision of the first comptroller cutting off their salaries. The judges have been telegraphed for and are expected to arrive here very soon. They will probably prepare defence and make | a fight for the retension and payment of their employees. It is claimed at the court that the authority given the court to organize included the authority to employ all necessary clerical assistance, and they l claim that the force they have is barely sufficient to perform the work required of them, and at one time extra assistance had to be employed and they worked night and day.
 They say, too, that Judge Lawrence, the former first controller, was not ignor- ant of the manner of the establishment and management of the court, and ap- proved of it in approving the accounts. During the six months limit before it would become too late to file claims and extra force was necessary besides those objected to ill Judge Dunham's decis- ion and the court applied to Judge Lawrence for an opinion as to the au- thority of the court to employ more clerks, and he replied that the court had the authority itself. There were 5,75O claims originally, and 1,4OO of these are still to be adiudicated. The papers in these cases fill two rooms.