Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-04-23
Correspondence of the HERALD.l
Congressional egislation--F ranking'
Currency and Railroad Bills.

EDITOR HERALD: The author of the
article on"The Legal Tender Issue, Pin
your paper of 9th inst. gave your read
ers q production of much literary
merit, which undoubtedly reflects the
sentiments of all of them who have
| given the most careful thought to the
currency question. 1t ought to be a
matter of no small pride to Mr.. Bar
Der to know, that there is no one
among his constituents who doubts
his integrity of purpose orhis fidelity
to his convictions-always considers
ately entertained, in all matters of
public concern and it is greatly
hoped that his successor will both
merit and receive the same measure
of confidence. Were all our legisla-
tors equally honest, faithful and con-
siderate, the country would have less
occasion to complain of unwise legis-
lation.
But, Dir. B., though voting on all
| questions Of q partisan character with
q fidelity to his party sufficient to
satisfy any reasonable person Of his
faith, has given two other votes in
opposition to majority of his col
T.! leagues, which it is my purpose es-
pecally to notice in this communica-
ton. First Against the Bill for a
free distribution through the mails
of Congressional books and docu-
monts, and seeds from the Agricultur-
al Department. This Bill was doubt
less intended to pave the way for q
full restoration of the Franking
Privilege. It's "seed' and Ag1 Re
port features seem to have been skill
fully brought to the front, ostensibly
in the interest of the farmers, to be
speedily followed in event of success
by the unlimited frank. This little
game may have deceived some Of the
farm ers but il certainly has neither
amused or deceived all; and speaking
for one Of them, | can but approve of
Mr.. Barber's vote in opposition to
the Bill. The Ag'l Reports which
cost the government about a quarter
of a million Of dollars, are issued
some two or three years past due,
and they are but of little value whom
received rubbish mainly The seeds
are jobbed to the Ag'l Dep't by favor
ties, at large profits, and they supply
no public call not now better filed
by the vendors.of seeds at every cross
roads in the whole country. 1t is II
cheap popularity which is bought or
maintained by Congrc ssmen by the
frank Of Il few papers Of foul seeds or
of state books compiled in name OF
Agriculture by a launduIette official,
ignorant in the way of his calling
The institution costs the government
some half million Of dollars annual
ly without apparent advantago-the
agricultural interests Of the country
wou I not feel its loss, and ] would
be GLAD to see Congress abolish it al
together.
Second Mr.. Barber voted against
the McCrary Cheap Transportation
Bill, though large majority of his
constituents are farmers and all of
them without exception are ir favor
Of cheap transportation. AT the first
glance then and Judging only by the
label MIR. b. would seem to have mis-
represented or to have roughly vio-
lated the will of his constituents
Some papers of the State | see, are
attempting rather by jnnendo than
direct argument to create this i'm
preston. Now, let us take q second
glance and endeavor to look beyond
the surface into the substance of the
bill to discover if Mr.. Barber is real
Y deserving of apprehension for mis-
behavior in this case, or our thanks
for detecting false claims and fatal
errors on the part OF the friends of
the bill and in the body of the bill
itself, and abuse all our highest re-
spect for manfully opposing meas
ure dangerous in precedent, hypocrit-
ical in design and really injurious to
the interests which it seeks especial
ly to serve, and doing this while the
farmers are universally in the ascend
emit, and the "Grangers" are rampant
over all,
1t needs no argument to convince
one, that all that is done in the name
of Agriculture is not for the interest
of Agriculture, nor that all of those
who assume par excellence to speak
for and to represent this great inter-
est are entitled to confidence. The
present popularity and power of this
interest, now for the first time assert
ing its Importance in politics, has
seemed to start all the politicians,
macy Of whom have hourished and
grown fat and insolent upon the
spoils derived from it, in an uuseem-
ly race tor its favor and control.
Scouples are laid aside, clamor and
haste are the order Of the day. I'm
der this state of case it requires a
large share OF mora courage and no
small degree of political virtue in q
legislator to suggest caution in the
preparation of the T, needles demand
ed by the people, and in opposing leg
islation to these ends unsound in law
and Of evil tendency,
The authority d. der wh,ioa the
McCrary Bill was drawn is found in
Sec. 3 Art. s of the Constitution of
the u. S. which ooniers upon Con-
gress the power ITO regulate com
meroe among the several States, DC.
Now II muat be remembered that |