The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Work of Redeeming the Potomac
Flats Stopped.
Senator Sawyer's Pension Bureau
Causing Him Much Trouble.
The Post office Appropriation Bill to
be Reported Monday.
rSpecial TO the Press I

Especial to the Press
WASHINGTON, April 23.-In all modern maps
of the city of Washington will be found long mar
row tongue of land running from back of the
House just above the large bridge down the
Potomac for half mile or more and terminating
in point little below the grounds of the United
States arsenal. This is tray yersed by paths and
drives, and dotted with fish ponds and beds Of
flowers AT present this park which is intended
| as a continuation of the government reservation
which stretches from the Capitol, westward to the
river, exists only on paper and in the imagination
of the projectors. 1t is now only the well known
Potomac fats' and the repository of the greater
part of the sewerage of this great city, For severa
years work has been slowly progressing, dredging
out the river channels on each side OF the Hats
and filling up the flats themselves, so that at
present the whole outline of the proposed
reservation is out of water, and near the long
bridge is quite an area of solid ground upon
which trees have been set out. The work is now
in condition where it must be carried on to COM
pletion or the work already done will be render
| ed utterly useless. At this stage OF proceedings
Congress has decided that because there are some
| existing claims to certain portions OF the area
| covered by the Improvement, the work must be
| stopped until these claims are settled, and they
| have consequently dropped from the river ana
harbor appropriation bill the usual appropriation
| for the work of redeeming the Potomac Flats ana
unless the Senate adds it as an amendment, the
work will have to cease Not only will this be
disastrous to the work already accomplished, but
it is acknowledged that these flats in their present
condition are the source of all the malaria which
makes the city so unhealthy as it is well knownto
be during the hot months of summer Considered
as business operation simply, the government
can hardly afford to cease work now, for the dam
ages incurred by a cessation of the work at this
time would amount to fully as much as all the
claims even if allowed by the courts, while the
large amount of work already done would be rem
dered useless. Both the business and the sanitary
views of the case demand that the work be con-
tinued, and considerable pressure will be brought
to bear upon the Senate to procure the addition of
an amendment for this purpose to the river and
harbor bill. All attempts to add the amendment
in the House have failed.
Senator Sawyer's Pension Bureau.
The accounts given by the newspapers of Sen
ator Sawyer's pension bureau, are causing that
good old man much trouble. 1t was reported that
he had taken upon himself the business OF adjudi
eating all the private pension claims pending be-
fore the Senate, and had established regular
pension bureau at his house with himself as chiei
examiner. He has the most leisure of any Senator
upon tu6 COuliulIt6c anu CiOUoCo W OihPoJ IL III
that way. On one day this week he reported to
the Senate nearly seventy cases. Since the pub
catlon Of his business, he has been overrun with
letters from all over the coantry from poor soldiers
and widows who desire him to take an interest in
their claims. They bid fair to make the balance
of the old mans life in the Senate misery. He
says he wishes they had not done it.
Personal
Ex-Congressman Geo. W. Ladd of Bangor, E. ID.
Healey of Gardiner, D. F. Litchfeld of Saco, Chas.
Weeks of Wiscasset, DR.. Ludwig and wife, Mrs.
Heath, and S. D. Smith, wife and daughter, all of
Portland have been visiting here this week.
Nominations Confirmed.
WASHINGTON, April 23-Tne Senate has con-
irmed the nominations of e. G. Ross to be Cover
nor of New Mexico Zach Montgomery to be as
sistant attorney general of the Interior Depart
ment, and w. S. Rosecrans to be register OF the
Treasury.
Notice of the confirmation of Gen. Rosecrans to
be register of the Treasury has not yet reached
the President Upon inquiry it is learned that the
nomination is still hung up in the Senate upon
motion to reconsider the vote by which it was a
few days ago confirmed.
The Post Office Appropriation Bill.
The Senate committee on appropriations has to-
day finished the consideration of the post office
appropriation bill and Senator Plumb will report
it Monday. The Frye amendment in substance is
adopted, providing $800,0oO for the foreign
mail service, and last years provision that no
more than SAC, 900 shall be used for the extension
of the free delivery service is readopted.