Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-02-19
IT SHOULD mr. THOROUGH.

the wealthlest man In warrington
CITY, and who, without doubt. has
done more than any other resident to
Improve. beau,ify aud benefit II, re-
Gently with others OF the citizens OF
the District Of Columbia, signed n PEI
tition to Congress asking for an inves-
tigatioE Of the government OF -Sbep'
herd and his associates. II any one
hal ever doubted heretofore the pro-
pri.,y. or even the necessity Of n thor
oush investigation OF the admlni'trs'
ton according to Shepherd. the case as
presented by Mr. Corcoran would re.
suit In the removal Of all cavil In that
direction. His charge Ia that the OIL
clal. Of that government aud their
friends have robbed the people aud the
General Government By contracts
which were full OF frauds. In this be-
lief n petition was presented. and re-
Gently, after much haggling. cumming
aud having. n resolution was passed
ordering an Inquiry to DO made and n
Joint committee from both Houses to
be appointed for that purpose. How
Il will end Il Of course unknown. But
we were about I o say that the request
was an honest one, fairly presented,
and rs such. In view OF the tact that 1t
came from the most influential and
wealthy tax payers ct the District.
should have merlted n better reception
than Ii received from the press ct
Washington City. Yet ever since 1t
was known that such an attempt
would be made to investigate the Dl.-
trlct affairs the petitioners have been
most savssely mallgned, Mr.. Corcoran
bein: selected as the most prominent
target. lie attempted to reply through
the columns OF the city press, hut was
denied the privilege aud forced To pre-
sent his defense through a newspaper
published In the neighborlng city OF
Baltimore.
lie charges against the Washington
officials Intentional infrnctlons Of the
law In almost every branch Of the
public improvements. which lie says
have been conducted at a most nnreas-
enable coat aud with unjust di.crimi.
nation. lie alleges that Ia one partlc.
ulsr instance, when about to pay some
taxes. which under the law were au-
thorized TO be discounted ut six per
cent. tor cash, he wss approached by
u OF the Z" insiders" who agreed for
n consideration to get him n receipt
Tor said taxes with sixteen per cent.
discount, or ten per cent. more than
the amoun allowed by law. It Is
now alleged by n Washington paper
that the "insider" who thus APP
preached Mr.. Corcoran, vas none
other than the ex.preacher aud x
Senator Harlan. OF Iowa. at present
editor Of the Washington Chronicle
aud champion OF the ''ring." Mr..
C~orcoran's letter shows n most scandal
lou, Encouragement OF affairs In the
District both NJ regards finances aud
public improvements. The public
have An interes, Ia this investigation,
aud 1t Il To be hoped that 1t will be
most thorough. for Congress Is about
to be asked to pay between one and
two millions Of dollars as the Govern
ment's proportloaatc amount Of the
cost OF the improvements already
made. and 1t may also be yet attempt.
ell to have n bill passed whereby the
Government shall assume the District
debt, now said to be some 81, 000, 900.
Much Of the SUN already expended Is
alleged to have found Its way into the
pockets Of corrupt officials. aud u the
public Il to be still further plundercd
Tor the enrichment Of All alleged gang
Of robbers. Congress cannot begin al
impartial examination OF the matter a
moment too soon, nor can the Inquiry
be made too rigid for the security Of
the people or the honor OF the nation.