Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-04-10
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. April Z

LuFColIsodtlouS uOW Ou AooS PsoSN
to show how over vast extent OF. the
country, the matter of contracting tor
transporting the mails, has been
monopoly in the hands of few rings,
which have been able by their famlll-
arity with the business, chicanary and
by downright dishonesty practices,
doubtless, when a resort to them SEEM
ed necessary, to virtually silence all
competition and secure to themselves
all the big fat jobs. Subordinate Off
cials have often heretofore been detect
ed in collusion with the sharpers sup
plying the needed data for hundreds
of straw bids and without whose aid
their acceptance would have 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
system ia vogue, to guard the Depart
ment from the constant impositions
which it suggests; and many moder-
eratelv hard. under officials find it diff
cult no doubt to resist the constant
appeals made to their cupdity by sue
cessful bidders who can afford to pay
handsomely from the profits assured
by sub-letting, varying from small
up to 80 per cent. or even more, for
the assistance the are able to render In
their official capacity. A radical
change in the system seems indicated
by our experience so as to avoid those
and other sources Of loss to the Gov
eminent and corruption Of its employees.
Nc Canadian and the New India
Mining Company have renewed the
old fight in dead earnest be the Senate
Committee on Public Lands. Of
course the latter has nine points Of the
low in its favor, in its possession Of the
little plat of coveted territory. The
fight is waged with all the cunning
and .fnesse that can be brought to bear
by the employment of the most emf
nent legal ability obtainable, on Nc
Canadians side on contingent fee,
likely. With the public the contest
long ago came to be regarded as bore
which has no possible interest aside
from the cost imposed by re-hearing
at every succeeding session of Congress-
It seems to be the impression every
where outside the limited circle on one
or the other side hoping to be benefit
ed by the decision that more than
enough of the time that should be de-
voted to matters of public moment, has
been wasted in trying to determine
the validity of title which in case of
neither contestants seems based on a
foundation much better than mere
assertion.
Notwithstanding all the efforts of
Gould, Huntington, and others of the
brazer Pacific Railroad lobby, to stave
off consideration Of the pro rata bill
to such late date as to insure lis failure
this session, it is believed that it Will
be reported this week by the Commit
tee. The several bills all aiming to
force the Pacific railroad companies to
create sinking fund or otherwise pro-
vide means to extinguish their indebt-
edness to Government and to make
them amendable to law in other direc-
tions, are still pending; and Senator
Matthews among other Senators who
have indicated their sympathies in be-
half of those giant monopolles, is the
subject of many uncomplimentary al,
lusions based on his late speech which
seems to have been interpreted as a
plea in favor of allowing them to ride
rough shod over the Government and
public, and to repudiate in lots their
Just debts. The Senate Committee is
reported to have agreed to report favor.
ably on the proposition to extend the
time allowed the Northern Pacific in
which to complete its road.
The sub-Committees of the House
Committee on the Revision Of the Laws
Regulating the Electoral Count has
submitted its report. After reciting
many of evils and faults of the present