New-York tribune., 1873-01-23

The details which we publish this morning
of tbe conspiracy to assassinate the PERUVIAN
President. and of the murder of the BOLIVIAN
President. are almost dsbeartening In the
former case, a most wanton disregard by the
citizens was shown for the life of the Presi-
dent; in the latter, the President debased
himself in manner which seemed to warrant
his own son-in-law in taking his life. Little
can be expected from state of society where
depravity extends through such opposite con-
ditions of life.
What has become of the movement to hold
the Union Pacific Railroad Company response
bic for the squandering of the Government
money through the Credit Mobilier which it
permitteda Here is great corporation even
now applying to the Government for
fresh favors. lis it to be held that the Gov
ernment has no right to exact from it re-
sponsibility for the peoples money wasted un-
der its management Cannot we scon have
showing of hands on this subject with yea
and nay votes?
We have received information from un-
| questionable sources that the Liberal Repub-
licans of New-Hampshire have resolved to
retain and strengthen their organization, so as
| to take active and concerted measures in the
coming Spring campaign to make their infiu-
! ence felt in favor of the enlightened and lib
eral policy announced in the Cincinnati Plat
form. They embrace many gentlemen OF high
standing and influence in the Republican
party. They have withdrawn themselves from
caucus dictatiOn for causes satisfactory TO
their own reasons and consciences, and what
ever action they may take in favor OF the
principles they profess, it cannot but cOnduce
to a more liberal and wholesome spirit of
politics in their own and adjoining States.
II is reported to be the intention Of the
authorities to add another story to the new
Post-Ofiice Of course the tendency of all
great cities built in restricted space is
towards lofty edfces, and the Post-Ofiice
must be so built as TO give all neces-
sary room to the bureaus under its
roof. But there is something essentially
puerile in the suggestion we hear made
that the POst-0flice, now that the walls are
up looks dwarfed, and must be raised story
to satisfy the eye. If the national architects
who plan and build for us granite palaces
costing millions do not know how they are
going to look until they are finished, it would
seem that a few designations in that depart
ment might be accepted with advantage.
II actually looks as if that lOng-lived abuse,
the franking privilege were doomed at last
The House passed a bill for its abolition at
the last session of Congress; now the Senate,
which has been ruefulIy looking at the matter
for many months, has enacted that bill
with some important amendments. Ii
it were not for these additions to
the bill by the Senate, the death of the frank
ing privilege would be to-day an accomplished
fact. AS it is, the House is likely to concur; /;
at any rate, it does not seem likely that the
two branches of Congress will disagree on
any point which would be fatal to the final
passage of the bill. This seems great vic
tory for reform and economy But we have
been disappointed too often we do not mean
to rejoice now till the result is beyond recall.
| The new President of Erie is having such
good time collecting nine million claims.
| four million claims, and the like, against old
| debtors to that much-abused corporation, that
he is about to begin new suit. This
one is to take the form of a bill
|
the Trustees of that Corporation under the
mortgage, for default of interest for IS months,
! on bonds which the Erie Company guaranteed.
The Erie people will claim that the five mil
lion bonds, on which they guaranteed interest.
are a preferred lien upon the Boston, Hartford
and Erie Road and its equipment, taking
precedence of all the other bonds The suit
promises to make lively complication. Mean
time President Watson deserves the cordial
thanks of the community for the zeal with
which he is looking after these long neglected
or imperiled interests of bis Company. If the
Erie shall continue to enjoy such wise and Wig
orous management, we do not despair of yet
seeing it a good dividend-paying road.
Mr. G.. s. Bushnell sends us a defense of
the management, ,Of the Credit MObiler, which
we print with pleasure though it has no par
teular bearing upon the most important of
the questions now under investigation at
! Washington. That the completion of the
Pacific Railroad has been of immense advan-
tage to the Government and people of the
United States nobody doubts. The complaint
against its stockholders is that they built it, at
an enormous and illegitimate profit to them
selves, by an improper of the peoples
money that they have not paid the interest
on the United States bonds loaned to them by
Congress, and apparently do not contemplate
payment of the principal; that on the con-
| trary, while heavily in debt to the Govern
ment, they are drawing large sums from the
National Treasury for transportation of troops,
mails, and Government stores, which ought to
be applied to the interest on the bonds; and
that they have employed corrupt agencies to
obtain legislation in their favor. We do not