The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-04-13
CUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

exceedingly busy They work industri-
oilslv, not in the discharge OF their dJl-
ties IS legislators, bat in the wild hunt
after Republican thieves. They found
one and the result is that there are now
over forty Investigations ordered, most
of them being II progress. The last one
is an inquiry into tie expenditures OF
the Treasury Department on account CT
public buildings; the committee has
power 20 sit during the recess and is il
tended to provide pleasure excursions
for several Democrats who want to travel
over the country this summer and prefer
TO do so at the expense of the people.
OF course they viii be compelled to visit
San Francisco and other points during
the recess. It Is a nice little scheme.
and Mr.. Randall deserves the thanks CT
his friends whom he inns sends junket-
ing over the country ut tie expense OF
The tax payers. What they Will think OF
it is another question. As fer tranact-
ing public business, that IS the last
thing the ex- COZ feGerates think OF. In
feet thew want to aisd are determined if
possible to i'm oede it ID every way, as
witness their refusal to make the neces-
sary appropriation - --eA. and heat the
public buildings They hoped TO induce
President Grant TO order Nh. Brlstow
to pay for the lighting and heating Of
the buildings without waiting for an ap-
preparation, when they would ice enabled
20 shout over the land about a violation
of the law and to order another lnTestl-
cation. But neither President Grant
nor Mr.. EristCw were to be caug III by
SO shallow device, and the post ofices
of New York and other lending cities
wouId have been closed at dark but for
the action of public-spirited citizens who
guaranteed the bills for lighting and
heating. This is but one Of their Tricks
10 annoy the administration and to clog
the wheels Of the government, hoping
10 make political capital by them. That
is all the House is doing. It's appropri-
alton bills ere made with the same OBJ
iect, for Mr. Randall knows very well
that the civil service cannot be conduct
ed on the Sums he proposes, and his OBJ
iect IS To get tie Senate to amend the
bills and fnalIyHo concur in the amend
ments and then say to the country dur
Jag the campaign that ''the democrats
tried TO reduce the expenditures at least
$40, Coo, 000, and the Republican Senat-
ors would not permit it, The Senate
viii assume the responsibility for the
Republicans there have enough conf
dence IL the common sense and honesty
Of the people of the country to believe
that t5ey want the business of the coun-
try properly conducted and the public
servants lecently paid.
The arrest and Imprisonment of XII
bourne, by the x-confederates, has not
attracted as much attention from the
press OF the country as it demands. Not
en- account of Ailbourn particularly,
though his rights and liberties as citi-
zen have been outrageously violated,
but because of the principle involved.
Kilbourne refused to answer questions
rs to his private business and to exhibit
his private papers. He offered if an af-
fidavit was made that the government
was in any way interested to answer any
question that might be asked ard to ex-
Iihit all his books, but this was not
done, and lie was thrust into prison,
where he has ROW been over twenty days.
The law says distinctly, that where q
witness refuses to answer, the presiding
officer Of the body before whom he is
being examined shall certify the facts TO
the District Attorney. This was done
by Speaker Kerr and Kilbourre has
been indicted before the court here and
his body demanded, but the House re
fu-es 10 surrender him. thus setting it
self Up as superior to and above the law.
Chief Justice Waite, in delivering he
opinion Of The Supreme Court in the
ease under the enforcement act brought
mp from Kentucky, said "WEhin lis le-
ultimate sphere Congress Is sEr4cne and
beyond the control Ct courts, hat # ii
steps outside of constitutional hmita-
tons and attempts that which is beyond
It's reach, tie courts are authorized to
and, when called upon in due course OF
legal proceedings must-annul its en-
croachments upon the reserved power OF
the States and the people" Here is a
clear case where the rights Of che Of The
people has been encroached upon, and
where the conrt should certainly inter
feTe. If Congress can Illegally deprive
one man Of his liberty, Ii can deprive a
thousand or any other number, and
there is no safety frc1a as rsurpations.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing be
ing done in Congress except dreary t,is-
cnssions upon the appropriation bills
and the transfer Of lie Indian Bureau
to tie War Department. The candi-
dates fer the nominations at Cincinnati
aud St. Louis are marshaIling their
forces and trying TO secure the various
delegations. Among the Republicans
Blaine seems to have mere strength in
tie yariols sections than any of his COM
petitcrs, though Conkiing hiss a strong
following Hendricks appears 10 lead
on the Democratic side.
MsXwEI.I :
---------zzS----=-z==s>z--z--
w have not yet noticed IL Democrat
ie Journals altasion 10 the fact thai one
Nh. Fowler testified ia court recently
that he paid Ferna,;Ee Wood ai,ont eI5.