The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. G., June rs, 1878

Ex-Governor Brown of Tennessee offers
to return his share of the money paid out
for the expenses of Mr.. Hayes New Orleans
Commission, but Secretary Sherman, under
direction from Mr.. Hayes, refused to receive
the money. The Governor insists on return
ing it. He is right. However pure his mo-
tives in going to New Orleans, or whatever
the result of the trip, the means by which
Sherman provided the money were scanda-
lous in the extreme. Mr.. Hayes expects
Congress will appropriate the money at the
next session but that is very doubtful.
Mrs. jerks was before the Potter Com
mittee on Saturday, and was interrogated
by Representatives McMahon and Butler.
She is sharp cool, and egotistical, and is, as
her husband was on the day before, eviden-
tly trying to conceal the Truth, She says
she herself dictated the celebrated Sherman
letter, guaranteeing protection to Sherman
and Webber and that Sherman had nothing
to do with it. Mr. and Mis-. jerks have
been thoroughly dulled since they reached
Washington, by the attorneys of Secretary
Sherman, but by the cross-examinaton to-
day it is expected to get the truth from her.
A suggestion for the campaign of 1880
and one that attracts considerable attention
now, is that of running Senators Thurman
and Gordon for President and Vice Presi-
dent The splendid record of the5former at
the last session, and the great popularity as
well as sterling worth of the latter certain
ly make the suggestion worthy of serious
consideration, though it is too early yet to
judge of the probabilities of the case
A couple of excellent Democrats, Messrs.
A. S. Hewitt and Henry Watterson, are
quarreling over the part each had in carrying
out the agreement as to the Electoral Com.
mission. There is nothing to be gained by
this, and the subject is not one that has
pleasing interest for Democrats. Mr.. Wat
terson is an excellent editor and should re-
turn to Kentucky and devote himself to his
paper. Mr.. Hewitt's proper place is his
counting house, and it was supposed he
realized the fact. Let the subject drop, gen.
| tlemen, and we will see that we are not
caught in 1880.
Real estate in this District Immediately
felt the good effect of Congressional legisla-
ton givng'us permanent form of Gov
ernment. As have before stated, the Gen.
eral Government assumes one-half of the ex-
penses of the District. This was proper
thing to do. Some Senators advocated the
payment of 60 instead of 80 per cent. That
would have been proper, for more than half
the cost of governing the District is tracea-
bly, directly to the General Government and
its belongings. In the years 1871 to 1875
Government officers put the District in debt
to the extent of over S20000000 for the ben
eft of the United States, and it was the in
terest on this sum and the expense of keep
ing the streets and avenues Government
streets and avenues-n repair, and the un-
certainty of Congressional action, which de-
stroyed the value of real property, crippled
all kinds of trade, and made this once pros
porous city as bankrupt as Jay Cooke & Co.
With the legislation of Congress, as said
before, comes great improvement. Peo-
pie wishing to invest money or reside in
the handsomest and healthiest city in the
world can now do so without the fear of be-
ing taxed into the Poor House.
| SEMINOLE.