Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-09-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
what Comptroller Chenowcth I'm.
earthed in the Alabama Court
Of Claims.
a Unique Document--Thc Original Records
aud Journals OF the Mason and
Dixon survey.
.Iom our Rcgnlar corre.pondenl.

mat was beautiful nest of young
birds the first comptroller found feathcred
away in the Alabama court of claims.
There was Walker Blaine, the son Of
his father stuck in at $500 per annup
There was young Fish and Young Fro.
linghuysen, also sons of their fathers put
in at high pay.
There were two dozen Of these pau
pered iavorites feeding from the public
crib without warrant of law.
Some OF the young bloods scarcely ever
put IN an appearance at the court room
except on pay day. Walker Blaine rot
mis- cushioned chair as compliment TO
the GARFIELD administration. George Ere
lihghuyscn owes his elevation to the Ar
thur dynasty, and young Fish was some
thlng left over from the Grant era.
Inc Blaines and Frelinghusens are
sworn Toes, and this may account for the
long absence of George Frelinghuysen
IRON the courtroom. He and Walker.
you know, were two eaglets that could
not roost under the same roof-tree long
ut time.
Arthur seems to have had a great and
growing tondness for the Frelinghusen
family. He made the old gentleman sec
rotary of the state; his son-ln-law, John
Davis, assistant secretary of state, and
George was fastened upon the Alabama
court OF claims under the head of Incl
dental expenses, at fat salary.
There was fearful scandal here about
President Arthur and Mrs. Davis. IL
was published In several newspapers and
hawked about thr streets here, the news
boys making the welkin ring with call
about the heightened society scandal"
But this did not disturb the rosy rela-
tons of the two distinguished families.
They all appeared together in box at
the opera few evenings after the
scandal was started,
Just before going out of the White
House Arthur made John Davis Judge of
the court of claims, lifetime position.
at plentiful pay. So the Frclinghuyscns
Jared well at Chester's hands.
just before going out, Brother Arthur
had his mullatto valet, Powell, appointed
to good clerkship In the interior depart
ment. Powell's wife, comely cream
colored lady, also has clerkship under
the same roof, and so on.
All OF the bureaus have been used as
places to pension off the sons of promi-
nent politicians, congressman and sena-
tors.
] am sorry TO say that some Democratic
members took advantage of this species
of bribery, aud stuck their impecunious
sons and relatives among these "soft
snaps"
This was particularly the case In the
coast survey, the geological survey, the
Smithsonian institute, the fish commission
and such places.
BY appointing tho relations of members,
the superintendent not only silenced OPP
position on the floor Of congress, but rot
votes for enormous appropriations, half
of which were tllched or wantonly wasted
believe che discoveries already made by
Judge Chenoweth and Judge DORIAN in
their respective departments will save Il
million dollars annually. Besides, ii will
stop the stealing in all sorts of ways.
Judge James H. Harlan, the head and
front of the Alabama court of claims, is
the father-in-law OF Robert Todd
Lincoln, late secretary OF war.
lie was formerly United States senator
from Iowa. j. A. j. Creswell, the coun-
sci for the court, at a salary of $1,000 u
year, is also president of n hourishing
bank here. The printing for the court is
said to have run up 10 q fabulous figure.
Altogether IL is Il great court. But the
sinecure salaries which have footed up
over 1874 900 year will henceforth be a
thing of the past. The government has
returned TO the days of strict construc-
tion OF law. The harvest time Of the
latitudinarianS has passed for n while at
least. We are going back to first princl-
pies.
In the consular bureau of the state de-
partment a day or so ago was allowed
to look over the original journal Of the
commissioners who located Mason and
DlXofs line, giving a full and complete
account relvative TO the proceedings
each day. This document was
in the possession of parties
in Halifax-heirs-- few years ago,
when the fact was communicated to
George Washington Childs of Philadel-
phia, who at once wrote to Mr.. Fish,
then secretary of state, advising him to
secure IL II possible. Negotiations were
at once opened up and the treasure trove
was sold TO the United States government
for five hundred dollars. II Is rare old
book, and curiosity TO glance over.
The commissioners commenced 10 run
the line in 1868, by order Of the crown,
the line had nothing TO do with
slavery, which existed in that day in Mas
Slaves were first introduced
into the New England and Middle States,
but the climate was against them and
they were Improbable. The slave line
receded until years afterwards II
came to standstll on the north
border of Maryland-the Mason and
Dixon line, surveyed just one hun
bred years before the emancipation act
was promulgated by Il man born south OF
It.
The spelling, punctuation and whole
of the journal present queer
appearance. 1t was mostly written by
Mason.
Many outside incidents of the expedi-
ton are narrated Among them copied
verbatim the following; "Left Brandt
wine and proceeded to Lancaster (dist
about 80 miles, town in Pennsylvania,
dist. from Philadelphia 70 miles, bearing
NNTl.- n. -