Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-05
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

made by portion Of the steamship close con-
tract interest against the Administration, has
been confidently anticipated here by well-in
formed men; it being we'll known for months
past that much Of the violence against the
President and his Cabinet, manifested by their
Democratic opponents in New York. arises
from the fact that those of their agents (of
the steamship interest) who have % sounded
the new Government on this subject, have in
variaby come of with feas in their ears.
The managing council of the New York party
above mentioned, are also well known to be
the managing men for all steamship schemes
on the Treasury which either grab very much
from 1t for small consideration, or propose
to DO that same through Shanghai and African
steamer lines yet in embryo. Some of them
were also more or less interested not long
since in various naval steamer (proper) special
contracts, against which it is now we'll under
stood that the President and Secretary of the
Navy firmly set their faces.
Among the stories which they have started,
Is one saying that the message will recon-
mend that all existing mail steamer contracts
be annulied by Congress forthwith; and there
upon they howl in all directions over the de-
termination of the President to destroy the
efficiency of the navy of the United States;
as though with the exception of, possibly, the
Washington and Hermann there is single
steamship built by an American mail steam.
ship company actually fit for war purposes.
However, they are probably barking up the
wrong tree, in the matter Of what the Execu-
tive is likely to recommend. From what we
hear, we shall by no means be surprised to
find in the message the defects in this system
pointed out in strong language and also a
recommendation that Congress shall carry out
the clause giving them authority to purchase
the ships at valuation, where that can be
done beneicially for the Treasury and for the
mail service combined. If the current inves-
tigation which. the Postmaster General is
making, shall show that an important saving
can be made, the transportation of the mails
to and from California be greatly expedited.
and heavy increase of postage secured by
executing the clause of the contracts of Cali
fornia steam mail companies authorizing the
government to purchase certain of their ships
and thus end the existing arrangements, ten
to one the President will tell Congress so !;
leaving with that body the responsibility of
doing their duty in the matter.
Nothing has, however, occurred here of
which we have knowledge, to justify the allie
CATION that there is the slightest disposition
on the part of the Administration to recon-
meni the abrogation of the present contract
with the Collins line before its termination
| according to tsetter however certain it NAV
be that when that time arrives, the Govern
mont of the United States will be as much Oh.
posed to its renewal, as its members one and
all are now surely opposed to all the moon
schemes for steam lines at the cost of the L .
5 Treasury, which half dozen different squads
OF needy Spectators are preparing to urge on
Congress. Whatever they may think of the
improperly of the principle on which the Col.
Inns and French and Belgian lines contracts
arc based, as they stand they are probably
regarded as necessary adjuncts of American
transatlantic commerce. not to be dispensed
with, when nothing is at hand to supply their
places In the case of the California lines on
the other hand, private enterprise of the same
sort beats them on every trip from three to
ten days, and offers to perform the same SER
vice in less time at one third its present cost
to the Treasury; and that too without asking
stipulation which is not granted to every
domestic mail contractor in the United States
In fact, portion of the mail steamer spec
ulatlnS interest has gone very deeply into
politics: setting up to be the head and front of
the Democratic opposition to the Administra-
ton, because the latter carnot be coaxed to
regard the existing surplus as fair plumber for
those disposed to speculate after this fashion
They are showing fight through the Herald.
the Albany ArGHy, the Nutionat Democrat.
and various other papers, while Mr.. Cooley is
struggling for them on the stump. Just now,
they are squealing terribly, because they
shrewdIy suspect that it will take loud halloo-
ing to get popular sympathy enough to serve
them.
The EFFECT OF THE MARYLAND ELECTION
IN WAsHINGToN.-The Wing politicians sta
toned here, are by no means surprised with
the result of the Maryland election Indeed.
they counted upon carrying nothing there-no
serious effort to organize their party for the
contest having been made In view of the
fact that they hare secured the Legislature.
IN the face Of a considerable ma iority for the
Democratic candidate for Governor, they are
perfectly satisfied Inasmuch as they thus Sc
cure the United States Senator, who is to sue
coed Senator Pearce. In retaining him in the
Senate, in the face of heavy majority of the
popular vote, they the Wings in Washinston)
realize, practically. the victory is at least half
theirs. On the other hand, the Washington
Democrats arc huzzaing at the top of their
bent over the success of Messrs Nav and
Eansant. They believe that Mr. May is des-
tined greatly to increase the oratorioal strength
of their cause in the House; which is proba-
BILE. The Administration immediate circle
regard the grand result Us n singing rebuke
to the disappointed Office seekers party or
clique: whose policy for months past has been
to endeavor to create the impression that they
the Administrations are sold stock and huke.
To the Free Soil interest. They see in this
Maryland election vindication of the pro-