The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-02-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. ca
Feb. 5, 1878.

Feb. 5, 1878.
The most cheering indication on
the face of public affairs here is the
decided tendency of the Democrats
in Congress to stand together in a
struggle for economy and retrench-
ment. Until quite lately it has seem
ed almost certain there would be
lack of harmony on these subjects
and that the Republican leaders with
an experience in leadership of nearly
a score of years, and used to the ex-
cesses and corruptions of war times
and the unsettled period immediate
ly following the war, would succeed
in keeping the Government in the old
road to bankruptcy. But there is
good hope of better things. Expen-
SEES will be reduced in all branches Of
the Government. The army will be
reduced in numbers, and excessive
expenditures for the force decided
upon will be cut off. The navy, which
has cost since the war fifth as much
as the whole amount of our public
debt, will become far less expensive.
Our relations with foreign countries
will be made to cost less. The reve-
nues will be collected for less money.
In short, unless there should be an
unexpected lapse from virtue on the
part of Democrats, the cost of carry
ing on the Government will be very
materially reduced. 1t is time, for
the General Government is not only
exhausting the people by burdensome
taxes, but is setting a fearful exam
pie of extravaganza to States, cities
and individuals.
A neat job was killed by the Su
premc Court lately. Under the law
the salaries of certain grades of post
masters are fixed upon the basis Of
business at their offices in q given
preceding period. The wording of
! the law was such that various post
masters thought they could get in
creased pay under it for time prior to
the date when the readjustments were
officially made. Test cases We're tried
in the Court of Claims, and, on APP
peal, in the Supreme Court, and this
latter court decides against the appli
cants.
This Court also decided the other
day that the sale by the Confederate
Government of certain stocks confs-
Gated by it in Charleston, S. c. did
not take away the title of the owners
or give title to the purchasers.
The Pacific Railroad men are now
here Z, force. All the roads from
Duluth t5 the Gulf of Mexico, are
represented. Tho chief interest, of
course, is in the rival Soulhern roa1c;s.
The anti-subsidy resolution passe,,
by the House few days since is not
considered dangerous blow to any
road that seeks Government aid. The
resolution does not prohibit assist
ance to works of "National necessi-
ty," and every man interested in
Pacific Railroad feels that his par
ticular road is excepted from the pro-
hibition. But what with quarrels
among themselves and the rapidly
growing and consolidating beliefthat
economy is the greatest and most
pressing of national necessities"
l believe all these railroad subsidy
men will come to grief. A levee sys-
TEN for the Mississippi river and
some of it's tributaries is, however,
not to BE classed with the railroad
schemes, and Government aid to it
would meet comparatively little OBJ
lection. Capt. Eads has been paid,
with little grumbling from any quar-
ter, an enormous sum for his jetties
at the mouth of the great river, and
will yet receive much more. 1t is
idle to make distinction between
payment-of money for this purpose
and payment for the construction
and preservation of levees.
1t is very generally conceded now
that the silver bill of Mr.. Bland will
in some shape pass the House and
Senate, even over veto. l confess |
cannot yet figure out a two-thirds
majority in the Senate, but the friends
of the bill find no difficulty in doing
so.
If rumor is correct the "boss" of
the Louisiana Returning Board,
Wells, is on his way here to consult
the President of his creation as to
probable means of defeating justice
in Louisiana. The other members of
the Board remain at New Orleans to
stand trial. The coming interview
between Wells and Hayes should be
made the subject of great painting.
The event will live in history, wheth-
er or not the artist of this generation
puts it on canvass. The local rob-
Der, under indictment at home for
crime, comes to the man benefited
and made powerful by that crime, to
ask for protection. The great man
has no power to grant it, his own po-
sition would be imperiled if he should
attempt it. There is but one thing
for Wells to do. He must go home
and to the penitentiary. His fate is
an example for all time to subordin-
ate rascals and teaches them not to
make the receive secure in his plum
der until they, too, are secured against