, 1878-08-29
Our WASHINGTON LITTER.
wA,uI>Gro>. y c.. tug %. l>7>.

NTtlIl, Ntl-N l'''' .
filed by the Richmond aUI DsuyiIlo
Il. Il. for the transportation OF F"d'
cral troops over it at the rate ST -
cents per mile; be however recon-
mcndcd it he paid , cents per mile,
the pricegovernment paid to ALL other
roads. subsequently GcnI. lngals
was temporarily acting Quartcrmas'
ter Genl. while Meigs was in Eu-
rope, and the claim was then renew
ei SO far as to demand the difference
between the rate asked and that al.
lowed-in other words for 4 cents
additional, for every soldier carried
over it. Ingalls, passed it to Bel
KNAPP who approved it shortly before
he went out in disgrace. Secretary
of War Cameron promtly rejected 1t
and was threatened by the attorneys
of the company with mandamus to
compel him to reverse his action.
Their success at bulldoziug him
was very Indifferent, and they
went to the Second Comp
troller. He referred them to the So
licitor of the Treasury who recomen.
ded payment. Scc'y Sherman over
ruled this and refused to pay. Then
the attorneys wens to the economists
and reformers of the House, and
found them ready for just that kind
of job. The Appropriation Com
mittee, with all the papers before it,
recommended a special appropria-
ton to pay this claim Of A. cents per
mile more than was allowed by Gov
ernment for similar service to any
road in the country. Of course the
sympathizers of Democratic reform.
ers were excited by the Confederate
antecedents of members OF the com
pany-perhaps by other considera-
tions also-and they ratified the re-
commentator Of Mr.. Atkins com
mittee. Representatives Of the par
ty now filing the land from Maine
to California, and from the northern
lakes to the Rio Grande, with its do
lorous howl for reform and economy,
deliberately swing the doors of the
Treasury wide open and invite the
thieves to 90 in and help themselves.
1T is roughly estimated that $50, 900.
WOO will not suffice to satisfy the
claims that may be urged under this
precedent. Otter Southern roads
are already at work preparing to file
their claims.
Late import statistics go to con-
firm the belief obtaining among
many intelligent observers that the
day of our dependence on foreign
manufacturers, whose products in
years past kept up such a constant
drain on American gold, has forever
passed by. The "Graphic" gives
few figures to prove this, as follows:
The value of all cloths and cassi-
meres imported during the three
months ending June 30th was S2,-
076,530; of blankets, $40O; of carpets
1924, 245; Of hosiery, shirts and draw
e. $40, 0,402; wine s693,265; of cutlery
S35S,66S; Of files $32, ,2S9; Of saws and
other tools s1,055; Of iron and steel
rails $l02,973.; The showing of the
latter is especially beggarly as con
trasted with the quantities we impor-
ed few years ago. The statement
is also made that much of the wine,
champagne, ETC., consumed in this
country at the present day, under
the impression that it is the product
of French and German vineyards,
comes to us from California which
produces above 8,000,000 gallons for
home consumption, besides large and
increasing quantities exported to
England and continental Europe.
Enough is being done in a politi-
cal way to insure US against stagna-
ton. The Republican National
committee mas been organized and
engaged in the preliminary work of
the campaign for over month. Its
antagonist has manifested disincli,
nation for work, and is still "pre-
pairing" in a half-hearted apathetic
way.
Congressman Foster reiterates here
the sentiments Of his Ohio speech
relative to the "Southern Policy"
touching, incidentally, upon other
matters. The inference to be drawn
from what he said relative to the
former, is that considering the cost
to the Republican policy the "poli.
cy" shows fruits only Of negative
kind, wholly unsatisfactory; and
that while the Presidents honesty is
still conceded, his course relative to
the South and official appointments,
has left him comparatively friendless
in Ohio.
There is no excitement here over
the strike reported to be impending
throughout the Pennsylvania coal re
gion. Kearney's literary thefts are
evidenced in his Boston speech. adj