, 1874-02-25
THE NEXT CONGRESS-,

THE NEXT CONGRESS-.
The general elections noxt fall arc Of more
Ehan ordinary importance, tnaamuoh as thoy will
result in tho otoice of a now Congresa. It is for
tho people to consider not alone tho isaues In
volycd but tho character Of tho men whom they
will send to Washing ton to represent them, and,
il they arc truo to themselves and aro honest in
thoir determination to eradicate tho corruptions
III tho old parties, thoy will place no man on
their ticxcts who haH not tho purpose to investf-
gato oxiatng frauds, and, as far as possible.
to prevent any more in future. In theBo ro-
speots, tho present Congress las failed to meet
tho expectations Of tho country. There never
was time hoforo whom tho pooplo wore go
unanimous il demanding investigation Of
frauds, aud 80 determined that public COT
ruption shall bo exposed and punished. |
Notwithstanding this tempor Of tho poo-
plo, Congress has utterly fatled to do its
duty Thoro arc humorous glaring frauds |
Which have mover boon investigated ut all. |
There arc others In which Congress- has Rono
through the form Of appointing committees,
HlQ luH EukAII1tt1Ga uAfN AtIG AOtAAA6s CthlA
others hayo conducted their Investigations With
closed doors, md for political considerations
have whitewaahed tho guilty parties. There is
no hope that tho membora Of the present Con-
grcas will over investigate frauds. They haven't
the courage to do it, and they don't want to do
it. Committees are appointed to find something
which thoy don't want to find. Tho people
therefore must look to 1t that noxt foil they
clean out theae moral incapables and send to
Congress men who have the disposition 10 go to
the bottom Of things. Investigation must DO
committed to tho hands Of those whom
investigation will not hurt. This work can only
be dono by new men. Among tho things re-
quiring investigation, and which will not bo in
yestigatod until now mon arc sont to WaHhing-
ton, may be mentioned the following:
/. The Sanborn contracts, which the present
Congress- is already beginning to conceal from
tho public Wow. They will have to determine
how the law was passed. which al1owa Custom
House officers and such detectives us thoy may
appoint to seizo the books and papers of NOR
chauts, in order to hunt up evidence againBt
them how In the short space Of four years and
half tho Government Inns been able to oxtort
from tho merchants Of New York and Boston
alono over g., 500,0oo aud paid as much to do
tcctives and informors for collecting 1t; why tho
Collector Of New York, for instance, whose
| ea1ary is 10000, has real salary Of $4,000 i;
| and why tho clerks Of Phelps, Dodge l. Co.. and
Jordan, Marsh l. Co., md other large importing
| houses, have beon paid fortunes to manufacture
cases against their employers; and, lastly, why
| Mr. benjamin Butler Inns been found behind
theso blackmailing contracts, ready and able tt
foil investigation.
| g. The Affairs Of the District Of Columbia and
the operations Of "Doss Shepherd must bt
ventilated. It must be shown why further up
preparations aro askod for aud why 30 mucl
money has been squandorcd. The present Con
gross is oBtensibly engaged in Investigating this
matter, aud has asked "Boss" Shepherd to
make statement. He will como forward will
enough documents and papezs to confuse
Philadelphia lawyer, and that will probably b
the last we shall hear Of the District corrup
tlonH.
Q. The Indian Ring, from tho Interior Dopart
mont at Washington to the most remote Agen
Oh the frontier, must DO investigated, aud
must 10 shown why this Ring has inaugurato
M 1ndian war bow it Is that tie appropriations
which were to meet tho expenses Of tho Indian
until uoxt July, nre already aquandered, an
more money and supplies are asked for; aud VII
is In collusion with Indian Agents to divide th
new plumber.
4. Tho nov Congress will have to inquire int
tho faots Of tho Fort Smelling swindlo, and e,
plain, II 1t can .bo explained, how tho man Steel
WIS enabled to get 1900 acres Of valuable Ian
and his purchase -money back for nothing, att
having had twelve yeara occupancy OF tt
, premises.
, s. Tho operations Of the two synticateH in r.
funding tho per cent debt must bo iuyost
gated, and 1t must bo shown why and how co
tain privileged firms havo boen able togain mil
ions as the financial agenta Of tho doyerumel
in plain disregard Of law.
= Q. An attempt was made to Investigate IL
frauds connected with the subsidies grant
:. to tue pacllo Mail Steamship Company, but
= was Immediately l,uRhed up. This must DO 7
!, sumod aud tho affairs Of tho Company siftod
! tho bottom.
7. The operations OF tho Union Pacific Oset
;, Mobi.ier Aayo been very thoroughly yentilatc
y but thero Is abundant reason to bolievo that t
;. operations OF tho Csutral Pacific Cralit III
=, bilier wero still moro corrupt. Gov. Booth,
"a California, who goes to tue Senate next yc'
,r will demand an Investigation, and 1t is OF t
III utmost importance that the members Of t
q uoxt Congress- aid him In tho effort.
~ 8. Tho people want to know why tho seoreta
10 Of tho Treasury Issued 100000 Of tho i
N calledreaoryo "to make money eaay," durlug
Presidential campaign Of 1879, or, In otl
words, to tide Jay Cooke i Co., Henry ole,
10 mud other apoculators and fronds Of tho
10 mna.ratiou over their dinlcultiea, and whot
@, anybody was paid for that hIgh-hnnlod job.
hn,.n j,%Jf $n3o