The national Republican., 1869-02-20
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Among thoughtful people not little re-
gret d expfessed that Congress, In determin- |
ing 70 prins theh own records Of thsif de-
bstes, failsd y make various reforms the
system Of spreading their dciugs atfi<ngth
before the country. This u because II Is
well known that the custom u printing, at
the public expense, everything that mem
Der or Senator says or does In the halls, or
rather wishes the world to believe he says or
does there, Is prolific source Of public ex-
psnse and grievous obstruction TO the
transaction Of real public business. .
WHAT IT oxSfRArEs. ."..
This oflcial publication is one Of the
great promoters Of the waste Of the time Of
Congress, over trinlng or frivolous matters.
That, in turn, necessitates too hasty and uu-
Intelligent legislation on matters Of impor-
tance, which all experienced in Congress
sional affairs know costs millions annually
that would be saved II all members and SEN
ators knew better what would be the effect
Of their several votes or action upon all
questions involving expenditures or other
matters Of public Importance. Many bill
passed TO reduce expenses has enormously
increased them. Many designed 70 accom-
plish excellent ends have proved but Pan
dora's boxes charged with public evils.
But for this official publication, elaborated
In every possible way, and multiplied far
beyond reasonable extent, there would bc
far less Of occurrences which honorable gen.
tlemen so sincerely regret whom too late to
remedy them.
TIE NEW PLAN AN IMPROVEMENT.
The new plan Of printing the debates at
the Government printing Office Is an i'm
provoment upon the old plan. A better plan,
however, would have been 10 let tho job out
to the lowest bidder with the understanding
that no extra allowances whatever are 10 be
made for the work.
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
am no believer that Government can do
or even docs work Of any description at as
| little cost as that for which Il can bc ox-
ecuted equally as we'll by competent con-
tractors. The contract system has proved a
bad one for the Government In more or less
cases, only because contractors have no.
been held rigidly 10 their engagements, and
have managed to obtain improper extra
allowances. The fault has not been In the
system but In the manner Of its execution by
Congress and the executive branch Of the
| Government.
THE LoUDouS AND nAMrsnIRE RAILROAD.
Local public attention Is today fxod upon
the proceedings Of the Loudoun and Hamp
shire railroad meeting that transplred yes
terday at the rooms Of the Board Of Trade.
There appears likely to be clash Of inter-
ests over the question Of where this railroad
shall cross the Potomac; Georgetown In.
sisting that II shall be at or about the aque'
duct, and that the junction shall not bt
made within two miles Of Alexandria, as II
would be II the crossing be made over the
present bridge Of the Washington and Alex
andria Railroad Company. As that vii
doubtless save more than half, II not thre'
fourths, the cost Of the branch, while &C
commodating the trade and travel quite a
well as a crossing aud expensive branch roa'
higher up, hardly think Washington vii
consent to increase the expense for the hop
Of transferring the heavy shipments Of dow
freight by the road from Alexandria t
Georgetown, that being the point in issue,
apprehend. VIII this meeting lead to any
thing whatever, practicalf
ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE DISTRICT.
There never was a railroad enterprise Q
more Importance to the future Of commu
/. nifty than this Is to that Of the entire DistriC
Of Columbia. The squabble that Is loomin
T up over the question where the road sha
cross the river is foolish and short-sightet
: Alexandria is the natural and most conv,
, nient depot of the heavy down freight Of tn
: road, and cannot bo deprived Of IL. Wit
r that In Alerandria's hands, washingto
, and Georgetown will still profit enormousl
by making connection with the road an
{ subscribing literally to Its completion to th
coal mines. l hope to sec that action Of tn
: corporations, with the consent Of Congress
!. done promptly. Otherwise our "leadin
i people" win, with reference to this an
o other, railroad matters, stand before Il
g world In an attitude almost as ridiculous Q
h that assumed By the ardent patriots, whi
"A and black, In Washington ward meeting
b whose exploits have amused (when not dl
0 gusting) the readers Of the papers whol
= local columns have so long and so persis
g emily been encumbcred and disgraced
C their publication to no possible good end
CONGRESS AND Tue SOUTH.
The policy with reference to reconstru
IT tion In Virginia have advocated with
much earnest pertlnacity In these letters
10 sigually vindicatod by the report OF the Sc
70 ate's Judiciary Committee on the subje,
made yesterday.
h. THE ISSUE MADE IN VIRGINIA.
In few words, that recommends the 81
a mission of three questions to voters Of I
,o State on the fourth Thursday Of May ne,
These questions are In effect as follows, vi
n VIII they adopt the pending (Undcrwoo
, constitution without amendment WIN tn
:. adopt 1t with the clauses stricken out viii
,, place disabilities upon many thousands W
"a participated In the rebellion not found elth
n In the reconstruction laws or the fourteen
= amendment to the Constitution Or W
thoy reject that constitution with or .wtho
:, this amendment.
of Both Houses OF Congress will pass the b
a as thus amended by q three-fourths majorit
and the people Of Virginia will accept 4
"A Underwood constitution with the propos
w amendment by a majority quite as great,
sincerely believe. The colored vote for t
amendment Is likely to be unanimous, az
insures the adoption of the clause guara
teeing equal civil and political rights wit
"a out distinction Of race or color by a major
A. Of the whites OF the state-a point Of va
importance to them as class. Thus adopt'
Is there can never occur q serious effort for
g repeal. II adopted by the eolored vote a
IN but from seven to ten per centum Of
white vote, there would be great danger IL
IS their co-equality Of rights would be &C
is stantly assailed.
A. THE OPPOSITION TO THE NEW CossTITUTIo
The Bourbons will fight the new constii
20 tlon, amended or not, to the death, aimi