Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-29
Correspondence.
ORR uv.fsHr.vGTOyv LRTTER.
WAsHINoToN, March %.
THE INVESTIGATING MANIA.

orr uv.fSHI.vGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 20.
THE INVESTIGATING MANIA.
As a specimen of the folly of setting ten
investigat ng committees TO work-not to
| investigate particular charges made by re-
! sponsibe men, but to hunt up evidence TO
substantiate or refute newspaper articles
written in the interest of political parties-I
quote the case of the Seneca stone investi-
eating committee.
The supervising architect, Mr.. A. D..
Mullett, finding that Seneca stone, of which
the Smithsonian Institute, the Metropolitan,
DIR. Ncwman's church and other large
structures have been built, was equally as
suitableas granite. and considerably cheap
err, used the same for the inside or parti-
ton walls of the new State Department in
the cellar basement. For this purpose he
bought from the Seneca stone company,
they being the lowest bidders, $4,000 worth
of stone. Cons idering that the stone has
been delivered at the price stated, and that
the profits cannot exceed 5000 or 10 per
cent, it would seem Improbable to find
corruption in this. But no. A large num-
Der of witnesses are summoned, stenog-
rapher and co ,yists are employed, and the
Government printing Office is compelled 10
print large book of testimony at SO per
page. The cost of the investigation will
reach, If not exceed. the price of all the
Seneca stone used in the State Department,
And this is fair specimen Of them all.
There is no government secrets, because
,.,t
crything is published from day TO day as ii
TRANSFERRED, and generally more. Every at
| tempt to find Government secrets by in
| vestigating committees is useless as the at
| tempt TO lind birds in last years bird $
| nest.
| THE FRAUDS PRACTICED UPoS EMIaRANTS.
| The State Legislature of New York has
recently investigated the Tammany Hall
emigrant commission and found that near
ly all the surplus head money which the
| com mission held in trust had been depos-
tied in one of the Ring Savings Banks, and
has been lost 1t is high time that Cen
gress take this matter out of the hands
of these swindlers and pass Conger's bill,
which extends national protection.
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
1t is now ascertained that Sumner never
had any intention of going TO Cincinnati,
and that no other names of prominent Re-
| publicans excep those already known can
be procured. The truth is that the conven-
| ton will be so ridiculous a farce that the
| Democracy will be unable 10 surrender to
them if they are ever so willing. An Irish
man during the war brought three rebel
prisoners into the federal camp. The Off
Ger of the guard asked him, Pat, how did
you manage 10 capture all these?" "An
faith / surrounded them" / doubt wheth-
err the Cincinnati convention will be able
to surround the Democracy though they
station themselves as zen mile posts
throughout the country.
THE CONNECTICUT ELECTION.
The State election of Connecticut is eX
| citing public attention. have reliable adj
vices from friend who is engaged in thu
canvass, who gives it as his opinion tina
JEWELS majority will be at least 1000
There is comparatively little dissatisfaction
among Republicans with the administra
ton, and there are virtually no Schurz Re
publican boilers in the State. If there are
any, they keep very quiet.
ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.
The tariff question was again before tn,
Senate Yesterday and a final vote was tax
IN Scotrs amendment 70 remoye tbe dut,
from tea and coffee and place them on thu
rroo lie, oh;oo,;oro ,roro ,,odo an III,
yc,,o ,bot orr country could not afford +,
rod,,oo boz. so,,,oo, or ;,o.,,o I'm, /, oon
sidoro,ion Of tho fact that mora than IN,
hrrdrod n,i,,ions of GOLD are now in IN,
United states Treasury. This objection hat
litle weight. and the amendment was BASS
| - 40