The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-22
A JObbing Administration.


Most Of the measures proposed during
the administration of Genera, Grant
have been jobs, concocted for the pur-
pose of making money. A few men In
New York, whose names figure on the
subscription list TO raise money for the
President, and few Senators and Mem
bers Of the House, who constitute the
Kitchen Cabinet of General Grant, run
the administration in this respect. They
examine all measures propOse1; test
their availability in the money line,
and decide what shall be their fate. If
rejected, the matter ends. They are not
presented. If accepted and endorsed,
they are introduced into Congress under
the wing of administratio protection;
made party test measures The subsi-
dised press set at work; caucus of
Senators called; Morton and Chandler
ordered to attack nli who will not agree
to vote as required, and thu. the matters
are fairly launched upon the people and
the Legislature of tho nation.
The latest movement Of tse jobbcrs
is proposition for the government to
purchase all the telegraph liles Of the
country, and run them in connection
with tho Postoflice Department. Pro.
perty worth at a full fair valuation, fve
millions OF dollars Is to be bought for
thirty millions, and tho difference
pocke.ed by the Ring" of jpbbers.
This is the true meaning OF the scheme,
which was defeated at the lG-t session
of Congress, but revived at tho COM
mencement Of the present, under the
auspices of President Grant ac1 Post.
master General Crosswell. Whcn the
plan was first suggested, the stock of
certain lines sold at from thirt y three to
thirtytive cents. The " Ring having
the transfer business in charge, soon
stopped the payment of all dividends,
and applied the earnings to the purchase
of stock, in order to put up the price of
it in the market This course has been
pursued until tho present time, when
through the bulling process Of Grants
message, it struck seventy cents. The
purpose is to run it up to par, and, by
means Of a powerful lobby, to sell it to
the government. The idea Is to pass a
bill authorizing tho Postmaster General
to purchase the property at its "market
value" No matter how that value may
be forced up, the price to be paid will
run into the market ruts, and the gov
ernment be fleeced to the extent of mil
lions. Nor can it be urged that the
President is not cognizlnt of all these
damaging facts. Horace Greeley says
he went to General Grant more than a
year ago, and warned him that an
effort was making TO buy up the tele-
graphs at treble the cost of constructing
them, and thus enriching small num-
ber at the expense of the great body of
their fellow.citizens." Mr.. Greeley says
that he advised him then that the peo-
pie would not stand it, In a recent
number of the Tribune, he warns him
again, as follows: President, be en-
| treated to get out of this job and keep
out! 1t is certain to damage you if you
do not; for there will be a revolving oder
generated by its consummaton. Thirty
millions are to be taken out of the
Treasury by it to pay for property that
never cost ten millions, and not one dol
lar Of that thirty millions will ever
come back again" These are the facts
in connection with the postal telegraghy
job. The telegraph lines are not wort tn
one.third what it is proposed to pay for
them by the "Ring." That fact will
not be disputed. In the next place
they will not pay. The Postoiilce Ser.
vice does not pay. Then, why should
telegraph lines, when managed in the
same manner and by the same men ?
In addition to this, running the tele.
graph will quarter twenty thousand
more hungry oflice-holder5 upon the
government, to be supported by the
tax payers. The patronage of the adj
ministration is heavy enough, at the
present time. Office-holders make the
nominations of the Radical party, and
dictate the policy of the President.
Why, then, increase that mercenary
army, by putting the telegraph lines OF
the country into the hands of the gov
ernmeut? The whole movement is q
corrupt job, and should be opposed by
all honest men at Washington and else
where.-Ihiladelphia Age.