The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-08-15

WASHINGTON, d. G., Aag. 10, '78.
Three years ago Quartermaster
General Meigs refused to pass a
claim filed by the Richmond and
Danville r. Il. for the TRANSPORTATION
of Federal troops over it at sc. per
mile; he however recommended it be
paid &c. per mile, the Government
rate paid to all other roads. Suisse
%quently Gen. Ingalls, was temporarily
acting Quartermaster General while
Meigs was in Europe, and the claim
was then renewed so far us to demand
the difference between the rate asked
and that allowed-in other words for
4tc. additional for every soldier car
ried over it. ingalls, passed it to
Belknap who approved it shortly be
fore he went out in disgrace. Sec'y
of War Cameron promptly rejected
it and was threatened by the Attor-
neys of the Company with a manda-
mus to compel him to reverse his ac-
ton. Their success at b~ulldozing
him was very indifferent and they
went to the I'd Comptroller. He 1e-
ferred them to the Solicitor of the
Treasury who recommended pay
ment. Secretary Sherman over-ruled
this and refused to pay. Then the
Attorney went to the econo mists and
reformers of the House and found
them ready for just that kind of job.
The Appropriation Committee with
all the papers before it recommended
a special appropriation to pay this
| claim of 4ac. per mile more than was
allowed by Government for similar
service to any road in the country.
Of course the sympathies of Demo
cratic reformers was excited by the
Confederate antecedents of members
of the Company-perhaps by other
considerations also-and they ratified
the recommendation Of Mr.. Atkins
Committee. Representatives of the
party now filing the land from
Maine to California and from the
Northern lakes to the Rio Grande
with its dolorous howls for economy
and reform, deliberately swung the
doors of the Treasury wide open and
invited the thieves to go in and help
themselves. 1t is roughly estimated
that $50, 100000 will not suffice to
satisfy the claims that may be urged
under this precedent. Other South
srn roads are already at work prepar-
ing to file their claims.
Enough is being done in a political
way to insure us against %stagn4tion.
The Republican National Committee
has been organized and engaged in
the preliminary work of the campaign
for over q month. It's antagonist
has manifested q disinclination fol
work and is still preparing" In a
half-hearted apathetic way.
Congressman Foster reiterates
mere Uue SeuululGuJS VI uS CAN
speech relative to the Southern pol
icy" touching, incidentally, upon 9th,
or matters. The inference to be
drawn from what he said relative t.
the former, is that considering the
cost to the Republican policy the
"policy" shows fruits only Of a mega.
tive kind, wholly unsatisfactory; and
that while the Presidents honesty il
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 Goa
region. Kearney's literary the5tNS0|
evidenced in his Boston sp4
ded to his previous blatl
u~tAt;on, makes the subj
here, even among many ON
gent members of the sew