The daily gazette., 1875-03-10
LOGAN'S"LOBBF JOB.
ON the New York Sun of this moraisg.


from the New York Sun of this moroi,r.
For several years past large lobby
composed mainly of claim agents. spe-
culators, bounty brokers, and adyen.
turers, backed by following of Sena
tors and Representatives, has appeared
regularly at Washington to urge the
passage of a bill ostensibly 10 equalize
bOun:ies and to benefit the soldiers of
the late war. In spite6f all its specious
devices and attractive title, this
scheme failed to command the favor of
corrupt Congresses that had recklessly
voted away hundreds of millions of the
peoples money. ~.
Though discouraged by previous fall,
urcs the lobby reinforced It's strength
for desperate effort at the last ses-
sIoa. Every attainable influence was
employed with the full knowledge that
the change in the next House.of Repre-.
| sentatives excluded any hope for so gi-
gantic job in the future
The bill was adroitly managed in
the House, and carried in the face Of
official figures showing that $50, ,000,-
900, and possibly even $500, ,0O0, 900,
would be required to execute such q
law In fact, no reliable estimate of
| the amount involved could be formed
for the want of information. Mr..
Gunckel, of Ohio, who manipulated
the majority, made his own figures to
suit the occasion, and contended that
$50, ,00O, 600 would cover the outlay.
When IL got to the Senate Mr.. Logan
stood sponsor for the project with all
his zeal, and added SO, 900, 900 in
round numbers to the total. He dis
carded all estimates from the accoun-
ting officers, did his own arithmetic,
and was fierce ON all opposition. While
he was arguing this enormous grant in
addition to what the. States, counties,
and cities bad previously given, q tax
bill for $40, ,000, 900 was pending before
the Senate. Still Logan's amendment
prevailed, and the bill went back to the
House: where it was rejected. Then
conference committees were appointed
and that Of the House receded from the
iobjection and reported that result. On
ly feeble opposition was made to the
report, and il was carried by large
majority with the additional millions.
So much for the House of Representa-
ttivee.N
While this was gong on the sands of
Congress were fast running out on the
4th of March. When the conference
Irep0rt was made to the Senate, Mr..
, tSprague moved to lay it on the table,
and that motion was adopted, as the
proceedings show. The bill was never
taken from that table, and it was le-
gally dead. Yet by some hocHs- -pocus
which demands the sternest investiga-
tion, this dead bill was signed by the
Speaker of the House and the Vice
Presinent.. There was no message sent
! from the Senate to the House announ
cling agreement, and without that for
NAL notice Mr.. Blaine could not right
fully attach his official signature to the
bill. But he did sign and thus help
!. to consumate great fraud.
VI In the Senate the case was still
4 worse. Mr.. Wilson was present. Hi
casting vote had in the first instance
carried the bill. he was bound tt
4 know the proceedings in the Senate
Q upon the conference report. He die
!. know it was laid on the table, and ye
y under the pressure Of Mr. Logan anC
s others ne consented to sign this imper
y feet bill and thus to countenance s
: monstrous fraud on legislation. Th'
J. excuse pleaded by Logan and his con
. fcderates, that as the House had agreet
q to the Senate amendment, therefor
y they werejustified in assuming the for
le NAL concurrence of the latter body
would destroy all the safeguards o
st legislation, and expose it to con
slant frauds by corrUpt or designing
men. By laying the conference re
o. port on the table the oenate virtual,
abandoned its former position toward
the bill, and reeeded from its favorabl
Ivote. Everything to the contrary i
r sheer presumption, and has 40 vald
in parliamentary practice. ,
MI. Wilson and Mr.. Blaine canno
a escape from their responsibility il
this grave matter; because they botl
set aside the rules they had sworn tC
to administer uprightly M, Logal
/. stands before the Senate and the c0un
n try as having attempted to perpetrat
r a legislative fraud, by which If sue
cessful, the Treasury would have beel
immensely depleted IN the interest o
venal and scandalous lobby. !
The President is entitled to no ere
dit whatever for not approving thi
- job, after the facts were brought t.
This knowledge. Had he done 80 h
l,wculd have been q party to the out
s rage and subject to impeachment 70
share in this. conspiracy to defrau
the Treasury. To daub him wit
s praise for not consumating tram
parent trick to steal untold millions,
to insult public intelligence
b