The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-23
The Political Prospect for the
Fall Of "a.
Programme Of the Repub-
, ican PARTY.
Economic Changes i'm the
Postal Department.
THE INDIAN CONTRACTS

Rcpublican Party - Confidence Re-
Stored-Thc Party PrOgra mme In Com
gxess for the Congressional elections
or Next Autumn.
The late Philadelphia election has had re-
effect here in revivng the confidence Of
the republicans In the solidarity" OF the reDubii
can party Fears were entertained that under the
new Pennsylvania constitution the coalition OF
democrats, liberal republicans and all the odds and
ends OF the antt.administr ltion elements, upon
Mcclure for Mayor, there might be defeat IN
nicted upon the republicans OF serious character.
The loss OF Philadelphia III the spring would signify
the loss OF Pennsy vania in the fall, and meantime
1t might result IN the loss of New Hampshire and
Now, with handsome victory In
Philadelphia, the republicans here are conn.
dent OF New Hampshire and Connecticut,
and OF maintaining their lines unbr0ken
through all the elections OF next autumn.
The New Hampshire republicans here had
q meeting on Thursday night, at which
these opinions were expressed, and active meas
ures agreed upon to- secure success in the i'm
pending election In the old Granite State. More
than this, the republicans in Congress, inspired by
their party triumph in Philadelphia, begin to see
their way more clearly before them than it APP
peared to them even two weeks ago. In a con-
vcrsation with some OF them this morning they
gave as their opinions that large majority OF the
people In q large majority OF the States are still
with US, and will remain with US In the elections
OF next fall for the FOrty-f0urth Congress II we
only keep near shore with our legislative measures
this session. The repeal, the absolute repeal, as
far as possible, OF the increased salary and back
pay bill was political necessity. We had to do 1t
TO spike our enemy's gun. which was efYecting
considerable mischief. Now, as we shall have
to stand upon the record OF this session
before the people In the fall, and as they
have become watchlul over our expenditures, we
must cut them down to the lowest practical figure.
We must avoid innaton. and we must avoid con-
traction In order to avoid any financial disturb
ance in the country We shall, moreover, have to
cut down our regular and incidental sppropria-
tons as far as we can, In order to avoid IN
creased taxation; and all great jobs in the way
Of internal improvements, steamship and teie-
graph subsidies will have to be put or to more
convenient season. And yet on tea, coffee, tobacco
and wnisKey we may have to put on some small
taxes that Will give Us fifty millions additional
revenue. We may have to do something for the
western oranges, in the way Of cheapening their
transportation TO the East but CON-
mlttee OF inquiry on the subject, as
the last resort, win serve for present
purposes. The Louisiana trouble Is a
dead weight, Dus with or without new election
We can manage 1t. The main thing Is TO satisfy
aud keep with us the bondholders, banks, anan-
cal ana general business interests Of the country
and this we intend, keeping head to the windward
while huggtng the shore. We shall do something
10 bring the Mormons and Mormon polygamy
under subjecti0n to the laws; but we shall not
attempt any dangerous sensations in anything.
Cuba can wait little Longer, Mexico ia all right;
but We may have to look into that sealskin
monopoly OF Alaska. With the programme sug-
gested, these republicans say, we can 20 before
the people, and fight a square battle along the
whole line, and carry the next Congress in the
fall. This Philadelphia election, they say, finally
breaks up the attempted reunion OF the democrats
and liberal republicans. The democrats VIII
adhere to their old party organization; the
liberals, as guerillas, will not be able TO do much
mischief The grangers are mostly good
republicans aud We can manage to keep them
IN the ranks. But how about the Presidential
successionf There will be time enough to attend
to that year hence. At present, whether General
Grant is or is not . candidate for another term.
and whether the party is or not inclined to take
up new man, 1t is sufficient that the party and
the administration are one-that they are working
together, and that General Grant does not desire
the ascendancy OF q new party In the next Con-
gress. Ii would give him too much trouble and
he likes to get on quietly and without any fuss or
endorsements. Such-irom the views expressed
here among the republlcans-are believed TO be
the prevailing opinions among them as to the
party programme IN Congress and their calcula-
lions touching the next fall elections. They say in
this crisis IL is well 10 'let well enough alOne,n
and that hence they, among other thugs, will not
tamper with the tariff to any extent calculated to
disturb the integrity OF the party in the Old Key
stone State.
Railways and Railway Schemes in the
District OF Columbia-The Railway
Kings Taking Possession OF the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
1t has, through almost every newspaper In the
land been proclaimed that Governor Shepherd
and MS Board OF Public Works have taken absolute
possession and control of the city OF Washington.
This is mistake, however. for the honors must tie
divided between the Governor and his ''Rlngr on
the one hand, and ''rom Scott' and che Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company on the other with
prospect That before the close OF this session
OF Congress the aspiring and powerful railway
kings will be placed in possession and control OF
the inets and outlets by land and water, OF our
national metropolis. Already In coming here
from Baltimore, the passenger train Is brought by
the locomotive close to the sidewalk OF tue Capitol
GROUNDS on the west front, thence down one Of the
broad avenues which radate from the
Capitol, thence by a sharp turn down the street
which is the eastern border Of the pretty grounds
of the Smithsonian Institution to the depot the
pubic grounds, within 100 yards SO OF Pennsyl-
vana avenue, In the very heart Of the city. Again.
the broad avenue aforesaid maryland avenue),
through its whole length OF q mile or more to the
Long Bridge over the Potomac. Is occupi ed by the
tracks, including switches and side tracks, and by
the idle trans OF cars OF the several companies
concerned. The avenue, IN short. Is used as a sort
OF way station Tor this purpose, and, as a thor
oughfare, has become useless, except to the rail
road companies holding 1t. In wet weather
through its whole length 1t is frghtiul mud hole,
literally knee deep in mud and, with its railway
obstruatons, dangers and eyesores, 1t may bepro-
nonnced nuisance to the city, though apubllc
convenience rs the connecting railway Ink through
Washington between the North AMI the, SOUTH
without enlarging upon other city roads or
schemes, the project introduced in the House oil