The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-03-08

efforts are ,eSSenClaI 10 Ue llaoo w Pr
teet strangers from being robbed. The
police records show that fifty arrests
were made on the 4th Of March four
years ago. It is creditable to the pro-
prietors Of Washington hotels that
they haye determined to make no
extra charge fof accommodation this
day. There is, however, but little
show for those who have not already
engaged accommodations at the hotels
to get any, cots placed in halls ana
vacant rooms having been in good
demand.
The Wilson Committee Of the House
of Representatives report that the
Union Pacific Company paid its con-
tractors for building their road $685.
DOC, 900, and that the work cost the
latter only $5o,ooo,ooo, leaving $43,-
10000 clear profit in securities, worth
in gold $23,OOO,OOO. This, it is con-
tended, indicates misapplieation OF
trust funds, which warrants a suit III
equity against all concerned, stock
holders and others, for recovery OF the
rights of the nation in it's second mort
gage bonds. A bill has been reported
directing such suit, but whether, in
the form of business, it will pass both
Houses, is quite problematical.
Whatever may be the culpability
of the notorious Cakes Ames his writ
ten reply to the Poland report stamps
him as q man of remarkable ability
and grasp of mind. His great achieve
ment in the building Of 700 miles Of
railroad through most difficult coun-
try, and far from the base Of supplies,
exhibits master mind. Absorbed in
his grand ideas and actions like many
others in a similar position, he forgot
the imperative obligations Of morality,
and too easily slid into the heresy
that the end justifies the means. His
Credit Mobilier organization and the
| corruption of Congressman founded
upon it detract from the merits of his
great work and bring down upon him
adisgrace which even his great abilities
can not overpower.
Among the private bills introduced
during the session is'one providing for
the payment of 373,879.s8 to the
heirs Of Richard w. Meade, Gather of
General Geo. G. Meade,) in satisfac-
ton of claim which has been out
standing since the year 1869. At that
time the Spanish government was in
debted to Mr.. Meade to the amount
above named, and q royal decree had
been issued acknowledging the debt.
When the Cortes were about to make
provision for its payment the United
States agreed to assume the debt on
condition that Spain would ratify the
treaty then pending, by which Florida
was to be ceded to the United States,
and Oh the further condition that Ger
tain private grants which the Spanish
government had made in that territory
should be annulled. Both these con-
ditions were complied with; but, al
though our government thus made a
valuable territorial acquisition, it has
never paid the debt from which it
released the government of Spain in
order to secure the ratification of the
treaty. It is too late to do justice in
the matter, for the orr ginal claimant
has long been dead, and one Of his
sons was driven to insanity by the
anxieties incident to his contest with
the government. The original claim
ants consisted Of the family of r. w.
Meade, several of whom are now liy-
ing, having large families, who are
living in comparative poverty, one of
them having for several years past
filled a clerkship is one Of the depart
ments of this city. The obstacles to
the payment of the claim have been
purely technical, its justice having
been repeatedly. recognized both in
the Courts and in Congress. To say
nothing of the gratitude due to the
memory Of the hero of Gettysburg, a
regard for the national reputation for
simple financial honesty, should in
duce Congress to wipe out the stigma
which the non-payment of this Just
debt fixes upon our government.
A glance at our latest financial re-