Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-04-08
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MoNIToR.]
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2. 1878.

WASHINGTON, Apr. =. 1878.
Investigations now on foot promise
to show how over vast extent of the
country, the matter of contracting, for
transporting the mails, has been a mon
opoly in the hands of few rings, which
have been able by their familiarity with
the business, by chicanery and by down.
right dishonest practices, doubtless.
when a resort to them seemed necessary,
to virtually silence all competition and
secure 10 themselves all the big tat Jobs.
Subordinate officials have often hereto
fore been detected in collision with the
sharpers supplying the needed date for
hundreds Of straw bids and without
whose aid their acceptance would been
very improbable. These have of course
been punished by dismissal and, when
the evidence justified, made to feel the
weight of more positive penalties. But
it seems quite impossible under the sys-
tenn in vogue, to guard the Department
from the constant impositions which it
suggests; and many moderately hard
under officials find it difficult no doubt
to resist the constant appeals made to
their cupidity by successful bidders who
can afford to pay handsomely from the
large profits assumed by sub-letting, va
rying from small up to SO per cent or
even more, for the assistance they are
able to render in their official capacity.
A radical change in the system seems
indicated by our experience so as to
avoid these and other sources of loss
to the Government and corruption of
the employees. McGarrhan and the
New India Mining Company have re-
newed the old fight in dead earnest be-
fore the Senate Committee on Public
Lands. Of course the latter has nine
points of the law in its favor, in its
possession of the little plat of coveted
territory. The fight is waged with all
the cunning and .tfnesse that can be
brought to bear by the employment Of
the most eminent legal ability obtainable
on McGarrahan's side on contingent
fee, likely. With the public the con-
test long ago came to be regarded as a
bore which has no possible interest aside
from the cost imposed by re-hearing
at every succeeding session of Congress
1t seems to be the impression every.
where outside the limited circle on one
or the other side hoping to be benefited
by the decision that more than enough
of the time that should be devoted tt
matters of public moment, has beer
wasted in trying to determine the valid
ity of title which in case of neithel
contestant seems based on foundation
much better than mere assertion.
Notwithstanding all the efforts o
Gould, Huntington and others of tn
brazen Pacific Railroad lobby, to stav
off consideration of the pro rata bill t.
such late date. as to insure its failur
this session. it is believed that it will
be reported this week by the committee
The several bills all aiming to force tn
Pacific railroad companies to create
. sinking fund or otherwise provide mean
to extinguish their Indebtedness t
Government and to make them amen
# dable to law in other directions, are stil
}. pending; and Senator Matthews anon
II Senators who have indicated their sym
y pathies in behalf of these giant monoF
; olies, is the subject of many uncompl
e mentary illusions based on his lat
Is late speech which seems to have been il
L terpreted as plea in favor Of allowin
e to ride rough-shod over the Government