The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-02-28
washington Letter.
ttrom our regular correspondent,
WSurNnrnN ID @ Eeh d 10

WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb. "a, 1890.
The friends of civil service reform are
not cast down by the exposure of Commits
siouer Lyman's duplieity. His testimony
is only surprising in that it is hardly usual
for a man accused by the newspapers
and denying most vehemently
all the charges to 90 upon tie
witness stand and confess everything. Ly-
man contesses. in short, that he had his
daughter examined for an appointment
when she was not eligible, and promoted
his brother-in-law Campbell twice, after
that interesting individual had purloined
lists of questions for the use of a lady
friend who desired to be examined for pro-
motion. Lyman says that he did ''repri-
mand' Campbell, and when asked whether
he wonld not have instantly discharged
any one else for the same oftense refused
to answer. With very few exceptions,
newspapers that have always been distin-
gnished as advocates of civil service re-
form are calling loudly for Lyman's resig-
nation. Thus far the investigation by the
House committee has not revealed any
thing detrimental to Messrs. Roosevelt and
Thompson, and it is to be supposed that it
will not. The friends of the system do not
forget that upon the integrity of It's officers
depends the success Of any system, and the
dishonesty of Lyman, Campbell and tAeir
associates 10 more effects upon civil SER
vice. than does an absconding cashier con-
denim banking.
The eommendable propositions a1van-
ced in the Senate for the building of addi-
tons to the White House and several 9th
er public buildings, together with a new
government printing office building, has re-
opened the old scheme of purchasing the
land south of Pennsylvania avenue from
the Capitol to Fifteenth street. This was
a pct plan of the Congressman of fifty
years ago, who saw in their minds eye a
vista of public palaces extending i'll one
majestic lire up the avenue for two miles.
For these many years the owners of prop
erty i'll that locality have looked and long
ed for the day Congress would make the
appropriation. Patience has given out ia
some cases and expensive warehouses have
gone up. The other day Senator Ingalls,
even reported in favor of allowing an acdi-
tional railway depot upon this section.
The value OF the land has always been
kept high in anticipation of this gigantic
deal. Business has moved away from
Pennsylvania avenue to + street and now
all the big furniture and dry goods houses
that used to compose the north side of
Pennsylvania avenue have sought other
quarters. Still the price remains big.
The expense however would be but a
small consideration had not nature put
her ban upon the plan. Twice within the
past year, and previously at intervals of
three or our years, the major portion of
this land has been covered With water,
backing up from the river, and many of
the streets have been three or four feet I'M
der water. The land is mostly made land,
a marsh having been there once, and old in
labitants tell Of duck hunting in it's wilds.
The cellars are still useless, being liable to
be flooded during any heavy rains.
Photographs OF different foods in this
district are displayed in places along Penn