Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-03-07
Clever Cameron.

A correspondent of the Pittsburg Dis
patch writing from Washington one day last
week said:-The closing days of the Fifty
| third Congress are marked by an extrava-
gance never before excelled.
The term of Billion Dollar Congress
which was applied to the last Repubhean
| Congress as an opprobrium, Is equally as
| applicable TO this Democratic Congress.
| The Senate is adding item after item to
appropriation bills which were already
| loaded down with extrayagant provisions
by the house. To-day a whole afternoon
was consumed in discussing and passing
an amendment to the sundry civil appro-
priation bill, which carries an approprla-
! ton of $l50, 900 direct and contingent ex-
| peuse of at least $50, 900 more for the
purchase of property which the Government
will have no use for. The appropriation ls
| in the interest alone of one United States
Senator, and he is j. Donald Cameron.
from Pennsylvania. :,
The appropriation is for the purchase OF
what is known as the Blaine property on
LAFAYETTE Square. This property was
leased short time ago for term OF ~
years to Chicago syndicate Tor the pur-
pose of building a magnificent theater on
the site.
The property adjoins lot of idle ground
that has been in the possession of the
Government for years, but which has never
been utilized. Separated by 3O-toot alley
from the Blaine property is the Cameron
mansion and grounds.
The Chicago syndicate, after securing
the lease lost no time IL proceeding WIN
the work of demolishing the old Blame
house. and soon had ii leveled TO the
ground.
After the building had been torn down
it suddenly dawned upon Senator tray, OF
Delaware. that the Government needed
the ground, and he introduced resolution
to purchase it. 1t soon became evident,
however, that Senator Cameron was the
one interested in the purchase. With the
old Blaine mansion removed, the Valne o.
The Cameron property was vastly increased
II permitted magnificent southern view
from 25 windows in the Pennsylvania SEN
ator's house. magniicate outlook Is
obtained of the White House, the White
House lot, the Monument grounds ana the
placid Potomac. The idea OF a large
theater being built upon the site was very
repugnant to Mr.. Cameron, and soon the
idea of making the Government purchase
the useless ground was sprung.
The busiest man in the Senate to-day
was Senator Cemeron. He was fitting
from one Senator to the other lobbying for
this unnecessary appropriation, and such
influence did he have with Democrats as
well as the Republicans that the item was
passed.
Mr.. Cameron is not able to arise on the
floor of the Sena.e and argue for q propo-
sition, but when it comes to matter ID
which he is personally interested he has
grip upon certain Democratic Senators
which compells their support. Possessed
of great wealth, he has had the means OF
LOFT nf hi- Senatorial co.,
leagues in the way of mortgages.
The idea of the Government grabbing
this property has been repulsive to Mrs
Blaine. She made the lease with the
theater syndicate on very advantageous
terms. There we're TO pay $1,000 year
for 80 years, and 5000 ior the following
go years.
The interference Of Cameron and his
friends is considered scandalous and
reckless waste of public money. rms
property was purchased five years ago by
Mr. Blaine, for something ike 200, uUO,
If the terms of the amendment adopted
to-day are carried out, it will cost the
Government at least $500, 900. Mr.. Cam
eron's activity in enchancing the valre OF
his own property, by having the Govern
ment prevent the erection of new thea
tire next to it, is on par with his preven-
tion of the erection of a new Government
printing office. .ooo ooo
In 1890 Congress appropriated 100000
for the purchase of a site for new Govern
ment printing office. a commission was
appointed to select site, and simply be
cause the commission did not select site
which be and ex-senator Malone were in
reres ed in, Mr.. Cameron mas succeeded IN
preventing the purchase of any other site.
The present Government printing office is
a ramshackle building that is liable to col
lapse as did the old Furd's Theater two
vaarq apO