The Portland daily press., 1874-12-15

parative unimportance. Investigations are
well enough in their way, provided they are
pursued with a purpose to rectify abuses rather
than to make political capital for the investi-
gators. But it is not suitable employment
for the leading committee OF the House, to
prosecute such inquisitions. 1t would be bet
ter to organize corps of detectives to take
charge of affairs of that kind. The ways and
means committee compromises Its dignity and
undertakes its rank, by undertaking to mouse
about the lobby in search of jobbers who are
under suspicion of having corrupted or sought
to corrupt members of Congress. And yet,one
of the first things it does, is to summon before
it the officers of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Co. and enter upon an elaborate inquiry wheth-
era subsidy granted by preceding Congress
had not been secured by bribery. The finances
are neglected, the revenue system lies IN
touched, and the grave topics which come with
in the legitimate sphere of the committee
whose especial concern it is to see how the
means can be supplied to meet the national ex-
penditures and to pay the interest of the nation
al debt without infIcting too heavy burden
OIL the people are brushed aside as if they were
quite insignificant compared with discovering
some of the tortuous practices of the traffckers
in legislation who infest the capitol.
These things are not seemly, not calculated
to inspire the masses with respect for public
men. The best thing Mr.. Dawes committee
can do is to turn the scavenger business over at
once to some special committee that has the
leisure to attend to it, and the stomach to en-
dure its noisome details. Let it organize itself
into a sort of Justices Court, and try every
culprit that can be found. No harm can, and
much good may, come of such an inquest But
in the name of common decency, let the coun'
try be spared the modification of seeing the
foremost committee of the popular branch OF
Congress devoting any more precious time to
''groping in the miry ways" in search of ali
ment for the prurient appetite for scandal
which has already become diseased by I'M
healthy stimulants.
Experience has demonstrated sconclusively
that the granting of subsidies is unwlse on the
score of utility. apd questionable in point OF
morality. The specious arguments by which 1t
has been defended, will not bear severe analy-
SIS In the age of private enterprise, it is safe
to leave every scheme of adventure to the ma
tural laws of open competition. Special leg
lSidtlOu VI al hluGs 10 NiSiooo AL PAAA~S>t-~
inconsistent with the spirit of republican in
situations. General laws, applicable to all who
choose to avail themselves of these advantages
and are willing to incur these limitations and
liabilities, are entirely sufficient in Republic,
for which nature has done SO much, and gov
eminent can do so little.
The suppression of the lobby is a 'consum-
nation devoutly to be wished" In the state
of New York great step has been taken in
that direction, by the adoption of the amend
ments to the Constitution. II they can by any
means accomplish the same thing at Washing
ton, the consequences will be in the highest
degree salutary. Looking at the present pro-
ceedings in that light they are
commendable. But a reasonable regard
ought to be shown for the fitness OF
things, and it is not an edifying spectacle to
see men, who are charged with celebrating
plan for the extricationlof the country from
serious financial ENHANCEMENT, letting the
whole subject go by default and sitting as
gossiping commission to listen to stories
which may just as well be told to hearers less
pre-occupied and not so distinctly responsible
for any reproach that may fall on the national
credit, or any hindrance that may come in the
way of the national prosperity.
YARMOUTH.