, 1877-10-20
Our Washington Letter.
WAsHINGToN, CT. 4, 1877.

| EpIroe STATESMAN The first number O
the National Union was issued here thi.
morning. 1t is a daily paper arll has thnf
ty and stable look. Its somewhat preten
tious title may deceive some into belief
that it is not party paper, butthe contents
of the first issue will speedily dHPel any such
delusion 1t is simply republican paper.
supporting the administration u all its meas
ures, but clearly not looking beyond the
party. It's publishers are vissr than other
friends of the administration, who expect to
see made from the ruins of existing parties a
"Hayes party" The paper does not assume
airs Of organship, and has in its first issue no
government advertisements. 4 few days
since, A. NJ. Ciapp, late government printer,
assumed control of the Nationa Repnbiicdn,
and will run it as an advocate of genuine
republicanism, meaning in opposition to the
administration. Thus both sections of the
party are represented, and quite ably at the
National Capital. Long may both papers
live to extend confusion in the narty.
Prosecuting officers of the government have
taken courage from having convicted ex-as.
sistant secretary of the treasury Sawyer Of
having knowingly paid a fraudulent claim,
and are now pushing the trial Of one Witow-
ski. and Pennsylvania ex-consressman, for
presenting and securing payment Of another
suchl claim. The good effect If Furnishing
partts guilty of these things is apparent.
In, equency with which fraudulent claims
are own to be presented and paid, raises
in the minds of officials, ard the public, IN
just suspicious as to other and more deserv-
ing ones.
1t is also said the grand jury of the dis
trict will present one or more amy officers
for fraud in securing payment, for consid-
Grafton, of large amount of money to parties
for a.sham article for the preservation of
army clothing. Dom Piatt,-of the Sunday
Capital, is the aeeuser, and quartermaster
Rufus Ingalls, is the party accused, Piatt was
in the ring" and says he did not get his
share of the stealings. These things, with
forgery case in the interior department, and
a rumored defalcation in our post office, of
which no particulars are known, and the
starting of new republican paper, are hor-
rors enough for one letter. Let us turn to
pleasanter subjects.
The streets of Washington are already fill
ing up with the innumerable caravan that
proceeds the coming of the great body of
Extraordinary interest is felt
in the Next session, and the comers are more
numerous than usual More members are
engaging homes than at any time since the
war. There Will be many "open houses "
this winter. The lobbyist will be here. The
old politician will be here from every sec
ton. The Washington property-holder will
nearer meet the interest on his mortgages
than for many years, and here and there, let
us hope, man will be able to pay his taxes
OF private enterprises to cone before con-
gress the Texas Pacific railroad will have
the lions share of attention. Government
aid to that road will be advocated and op-
posed by leading men of both parties. His
health permitting. A. H, Stephens will as
sumo the lead in the House. 3f those favor
ing the enterprise. The widespread Opposl-
ton to any aid whatever will, it is said, be
in a measure neutralized By the submission
of plan with less Objectionable features
than in any previous scheme, This seems to
be due to the government. if it is to aid the
which it surely is, sugar-coat the
Pill IS We may One thing is certain, none
OF tne 0il ldSuioueu outou dtti ScHlisu l. d
cifc pIuader bills would have the ghost of a
chance of slipping through the House OF
with democratic majority.
The Mexican lobby will be here-some of
it is here already. ! have before tried to
speak of this corrupt combination as it de-
rerves, but words fail 1t brings Mexicans
and Indians into Texas toplunder and murder
our citizens; it sends outlaws andadventur-
ers into Mexico to provoke strife. all for the
purpose of provoking War between the two
nations And the prizes expected are the
mining wealth of Northern Mexico and the
enforced payment by Mexico of uncounted
millions of '-bogus claims of spectators.
Congress will give to this mad and wicked
scheme the consideration it deserves.
Secretary Sherman's mis-statsment OF the
public debt for September, shows areduction
Of about four millions REX.