The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-07
From Washington,
LOUISIANA.

LOuiSlANA.
Senator Carpenter concluded his speech in
exposure and denunciation OF the Louisiana
swindle on Friday, and Morton's ire was so
tremendously stirred up by it that he jumped
to his feet Immediately, and for ten minutes
fairly made Rome howl. Carpenter was ac-
cused of being in league with the murdcrers
of the 100 negroes at ColfaX Court House, and
denounced as worse than copperhead and
demagogue. Morton retained the floor for
Monday, when it was expected Carpenter
would be entirely chawcd up. On Monday,
however, Morton had cooled down very cs.
sentially, and contented himself with dull
argument on the legal aspects of the question,
Stewart replied, denouncing the Kellogg gov
eminent as an organized fraud and then the
whole subject was informally laid over, and
will probably not be touched again this scss.
ion. The republicans have evidently come
TO a quiet understanding that the more the
Louisiana stink is stirred the worse it is for
all of them, and they mean to drop it, Prcsi-
dent Grant has decided not to send the mes
sage to congress which he had so carefully
prepared; Senator Carpenter did not on Mon
day introduce his bill for new election, as
he had promised In his speech; and Morton
has been pacifed and consents 10 leave poor
Pinchback out in the cold. The heaviest suf-
ierer is Pinchback, who, hcsitatng month
ago whether he should take a seat in the sen
ate or house, is now rudcly thrust out of both
and compelled togo back to the uncongcnial
task of gaining an honest livelihood.
BOSS SHEPHERD.
There had been vast amount of under
surface nsneuverng at Washington for a
month past to prevent an open investigation
Of the robberies and scandals, with which
the air was full, connected with the district
management of Boss Shepherd, whom Grant
had lately made governor. The expenditures
of the District ring during the last year reach
ed some SIS 100000, while there is nothing
TO a third of that amount to show for it. Mr..
Wilson, of Iowa, who is noted for his effici-
ency as an Investigator made up his mind
that the District ring needed an investigation,
and prepared resolution to raise the neces-
sarv committee; but most strangely and I'M
accountaby, he was batfled for over two
weeks in every attempt to introduce it in
the house. Somebody always got the floor
ahead of him, or if he happened to get the
floor, the speaker was sure first to sec some
body else. Meantime Shepherd and the ring
were besleging Wilson indirectly day and
night TO let the thing drop. But Wilson was
inexorabe, and on Monday he was allowed to
present his resolution, which no one had the
courage to oppose. The resolution, the sem
ate having agreed to it, raises a joint com
mittee, and the investigation is to commence
forthwith.
The general impression is that a large num-
Der of members of congress arc involved one
way or another in these District steals, but
thus far the name of Starkweathcr, Of Conn,
and Eldridgc, of Wis, are alone mentioned.
When he was a candidate for reelection last
spring, he appealed TO the former ring for
help, saying, could my friends aid me with
out giving publicity to it, it would place me
under renewed obligations to you" Stark
weather was reelected, and at the next session
was made chairman Of the committee on the
District of Columbia and few months later
conducted an Investigation" into the abuses
OF the District Government, reporting every
thing to be all right On this committee was
Mr. Eldridge, of Wisconsin, who, in the let
tiers published, is spoken of as "a splendid
fellow" and who, in one Of his own letters
asks the ring to pay certain notes of his
NEwsPAR POSTAGE.
The bill reported by Representative Tyncl
in the house on Monday, amendatory of tn,
postal laws provides that on newspapers ant
other periodicals not exceeding four ounce.
in weight, sent from the Office of publication
to regular and iona ti2e subscribers, postag,
shall be charged at the following rates pei
Quarter pound, namely: On publications is
sued ono week, 3 cents issued twice week
6 cents; three times week, Q cents six times
week IS cents; and daily 81 cents-and al
additional rate shall be charged for each add
tional four ounces weight; provided that ont
copy of weekly newspapers may be sent Il
each subscriber thereof in the county where
they are printed and published, free OF post
age and that publishers ofnewspapers ant
periodicals may mutually exchange theil
publications. not exceeding one copy in escl
exchange, free of postage
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS" GRAB.
The court of inquiry on Geo o. o. Howard
il at last ordered. The senate on Monday
adopted the house resolution requesting tn,
IL, o., ;pr