, 1878-11-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Nov, J. ISIS

mthtlohtu HINI NttN IHc appearance
of the Central Pacific railroad ring in
Washington aS one of the sure sigus OF
pretty bad work tor the winter. But the
full significance of the remark was no,
then understood even here, Since then
two things have been developed which
have an ominOuS aspect tor the Govern
meHt and for the merchants in their con-
test with this awful monopoly. First,
the Central Pacific Company rctuse to
comply with the law requiring them to
expose their books to the inspection OF the
Government officers, and good deal of
money will have to be eXpenacdin bring
ing them to terms. Second, having de-
laycd the construction Of the Texas Pacif-
ic railway through their promises to build
their Southern Pacific road of California
through to The Rio Grande. they are de-
tectcd now in making new combination
in which their Southern road is to connect
with another road ut Sante Fe, controlled
by the Union Pacific ring. 1t is not,
therefore. to be a Southern road at all,
but another link in the chain of the pres
ent monopoly. But the business men and
Congress may have something to say
about these things. A convention OF bust
ness men will meet in Chicago, to con-
slider the present burdens to transcontinen-
tai commerce, and it Is said that measures
will be taken there which will insure the
early completion of the Texas Pacific or
some other competing line. The conven-
tiOn will ask Congress to cooperate with
commercial interests in behalf OF this en-
terprise. Some official action must be
taken OF the alarming strides of the pre- ent
monopoly, and it is urged by the friends
of the new line that the surest way to
bring the rings to terms is to establish
competition at once.
The indications now are that those who
have predicted dull session of Congress
this winter have been deceived. The eX
posure OF the cipher dispatches and the
revival of bull-doziug in South Carolina
and elsewhere will furnish the RepublI
cans with plenty of powder with which
to singe the Democratic animals, and tn,
minority will have a considerable to say
about the course OF legislation IN conSe
npanna 'rha nannnrnt- connnt XrnD rp
fuse to investigate both subjects, and All
investigation is sure 10 expose methCd:
which will damage them for the cam
paign OF 1880. They will squirm a good
deal and put all the obstacles in the way
of the truth that they can, but it will, be
useless; they must be brought 10 the rack
and many OF their best men will be badly
snoOtched." There is sport ahead for
the Republicans. aud tile fraud slTiekr';
viii be the first to cry, held enough
The signs that Congress Is coming are
multiplying. They are putting down the
carpets tor the Legislators at the Capitol ;
the hotels and boarding houses are brush
ing up; the lobbyists are putting oil their
best attire; the merchants are putting in
new and more attractive stocks, and so.
ciety people are promising great treats in
the ways which WashingtOnians know
how to provide. Ordinarily the approach
of the short season does not hold out much
promise to our people, but the expectation
is expressed generally that by some means
the President will be forced to call together
the new Congress in March, and that he
session will therefore be good as - long
one"
The members OF the Cabinet are all here
now, and ready for business. Their re-
ports will be ready very soon, and the
Democrats will find very little in them to
criticise. In fact, large reductions will be
made in several of the estimates Tor np-
proprlatons.