The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-16
Watch the Lobby.

Watch the Lobby.
A formidable lobby is now gathered at
Washington. especially representing two
prominent interests. and indirectly com
lincd with others less important but suill-
Cicuily large, if successful, to dcplcte the
Treasury of many millions Mr.. THURMAN
md others In the Senate under his lead.
have laborcd earnestly for bill which
would compel the Pacific railroads to create
sinking fund for protecting the rights of
The Government in the bonds issued for their
constructions and the accumulated interest
thereon.
This proposition Is antagonizcd by JAY
GouLp and his combination. who speak
through the mouth Of Senator WEST of
Louisiana. to whom WELLS addressed his
memorable letter Offering the Returning
Board for sale WEST Is Chairman of the
Committee on Railroads and has reported
hill in the interest of his employers. Mil
lions are involved in this contest, and the
lobby for the roads recalls the closing days
of the session of 1873. when the great cor
porations swarmcd in the House Of Repre-
sentatives 10 save the Credit Moblier states
men from expulsion.
The other great lobby Is operating in
IdNOl vi iI' SD-'dlltu i'buAIfin
scheme particularly represented by Col.
THOMAS A. ScoTr, and the new combination
which he has organized with the Central
Pacific. This scheme IS also intended To
float the Northern Pacific job, by an ex-
change Of votes. At a proper time and in
proper way, the project of Il southern
connection with the Pacific would be
fairly entitled to consideration. But the
bill which those spectators propose to
engineer through the House by a sus-
pension of the rules next Monday, Ii the
opportunity should ollcr cannot be regard
al as a southern Pacific road in any rightlul
sense. Practically. it is nothing but an cS-
tension Of the connections Of the Pcnn-yl-
vanla Central. and j. intendD I to bee a feeder
az that powerful corporation. with a ter
minus on the Atlantic Instead OF being
benefit e. the South, such "a road, II huilt,
would inc,itahly divert from IL n great
trade, and strengthen a huge monopoly ad-
verse t. all it, local prosperity.
The protcncc, therefore. that this meas
nre would bee beneficial 90 the South T.
wholly unfounlcd. 1t proposes to traverse
81 part Of Texas lying ON the thirty-third
parallel aud to build branches to several
Southern citio, By WAY Of conciliating their
favor, running ON lines parallel to roads
already existing. When this sham OF a pre-
tended southern Pacific is taken away,
there Is nothing lc't Of the proposition but "a
job to get the Government credit. and To- re-
peat the experience of the Union Pacific.
Whom GOULD, SCOTT, HUNTINGTON. and
their couiedcrAtlS are seen acting together.
though prOic.-cdly hostile there Is good
ground for suspicion. just now, the motives
~ their cooperation are perfectly plain.
The smaller Hobbies for the ChOctaw and
other claims, which have been before Con-
prce- for years in various forms, and are us
familiar b. the pablo as the Capitol at
Washington. have attached themselves to
the two great ones, as part Of a general raid
On the Treasury, in the closing hours Of the
session.
Onc-thlrl Of tho Senate, ami about ono
half Of tho present House, will disappear
from Congress after the It'll Of March. Most
of them Will probably never return to public
life. The venal, loose, aud speculative pa
triots will doubtless, like WELLS Of the Re-
turning Board, look upon this as their last
chance, and be glad TO profit by any oppor-
tunty To- better their fortunes. Since the
Democrats have had the House Of Repro
sentative, tho lobby has not prosporcd Re-
trcnchmcut is mo, tAc meat Upon which it
feeds.
In the remaining days Of this fading Con-
grcss every influence Of money, persuasion,
and power will be brought ia boar in behalf
OF the schemes upon which the strength ol
these corporations Is now cXponIcd. If the
policy which has thus far guided the Demo-
cratic majority of the House be consistently