Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-09

WAsHINGToE, DC, March 3, 1871
Editor R,,tldnd Herald.
NECESSITIES OF THE TIMES.

i
Editor Rutland Herald
| NECESSITIES OF THE TIMES.
Years of observation and experience at
the capitol has opened the eyes OF your
correspondent to many things peculiar TO
this vortex of political life. | know that
I am indulging in what is vain, and yet l
can but wish that every elector was quail
fed for the discharge Of that important
duty by few years experimental knowl-
edge of men and things here, and also that
the beat men Of the day, all of them, would
cease to regard politics as unbecoming or
an unworthy matter to engage in, and by
their united effort make politics what it
should be. This would be but the fulfill
ing of the law of Republicanism nor can
we hope for the filling of our measure of
our national happiness until We shall have
arrived at this point
The Forty-First Congress in its expir-
ing moments has encountered as active
and effective corps of lobbyists as we often
see in Washington. 1t has resisted nobly
many of their multifarious schemes, but
has also in some instances given way to
the apparent necessities Of the cases in
question, and to the more potent and Sc
ductive arguments of the third house men.
Effect is as traceable to cause here as else
where, and when we see cnan who has
heretofore been an avowed economist and
financial reformer, suddenly attacked with
the conviction that the veal of the dear
people all at once demands an extravagant
outlay in some particular direction, we
conclude that he has been IN some aoagri
pressed with the necessities of the case.
Again, we see man who has proclaimed
loudly upon the house-top his position
upon some important question, which may
be still pending; he finally becomes con.
victed of his error, but he does not take
the other side of the ditch at stride oh,
no, that would be too patent. Like a
moose in the deep snow, he has to tread
place to turn round upon, and like child
building cob houses, he lays one cob at a
time until his little structure is complete,
and that so quietly as to be hardly notice
able until, 10, he is upon the other side
you hasdly know how-and few would
surmise that he was not always there.
But, "Death leaves a shining mark" SO
does the lobbyist, and what shine is more
enchanting than that of dollars 1t
would be difficult matter, indeed, to
give an exposition of all of the schemes
which have attempted to ride through
upon the various vehicles of
APPROPRIATIONS.
1t appears from evidence that we have
been inconsistency economical; that sup
port has been withheld from commerce
until our maritime interests have become
SO emaciated as to require immense sub
sides to maintain our commercial impor-
tanoe; our navy is also found to be so de-
pleted as that it will require millions of
expenditure to place it in a condition at
all commensurate with our needs and i'm.
portance as a nation. The question of
steamship subsidies is one which
largely divides the ability and honesty of
Congress, some apparently thinking it of
Importance to subsidize lines to the tune
of millions of dollars where the whole
may be reckoned at thou-
sands. Certain it is that our commerce
and navy should be kept in healthy con-
dition, even if it be necessary to draw
from the public fund for that purpose if
our policy has been Of the "penny wis
dom" order, it cannot be mended too soon.
PUBLIC WORKS
Various pro positions have been made
for the erection and extension of public
buildings, but as general rule have met
with disapprobation. There is still re-
luotanoe on the part of various Western
to vote anything calculated to
give stability and permanence to the
capitol. The State department is fairly
out of doors, SO to speak, having no build
ing but one rented for the purpose. This
is not only far out of the way of all the
other departments, but is also not fire
proof, and consequently the valuable
arohieves of the department are liable to
be destroyed by fire any moment.
The effort made for the erection of a
new building, separate department for
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
- al 10 H.,
Of certain ones seemed to be to construct
a building for the purpose at an outlay
dwell, mere item-of a few hundred
or perhaps, all told, million or
two of dollars, to be used by the Bureau
for the engraving and printing of all gov
issues. Under Mr.. Boutwelps
policy, the Office of the Bureau is mainly
for the finishing up of work done else
where, for instance, all money is made
upon distinctive paper, manufactured
at Glen Mills, Pa, under the most rigid
government inspection, and every sheet
thus manufactured is turned over to gov
This paper goes to, say the
American Bank Note Company, New
York, where a portion of one side is
printed, it is then taken by the National
Bank Note Company and q portion of the
other side printed, it is then then trans
mitted to the Bureau where it is sealed,
numbered. and otherwise prepared for
issue.
This is doubtless the only plan that has
been found absolutely free from the liza
bility dwell yes, not to say harsh
great cost of manufacture.
Notes cannot be lost because each COM
pany is held to a rigid account, and no
man, or any one sett of men, has the en-.
tire manufacture of any piece of money.
This is also safeguard against counter
feiting.
Formerly this work was all done at the
Bureau, and the report of an investigat-
oox, r,stkoo f.or, norc-.a.