The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

4 Ahe PROFESSIONAL experts1n forecssting
lhe probable action Of Congress decide
that Senator Edmunds bill to amend
and improve our present method of
Presidential elections and which passed
the Senate on Friday has little or no
chance of successfully running the
gauntlet of pretended Democratic sus-
picion in the Lower House Its almost
absolute certainty of defeat before that
body detracts from the general interest
which would otherwise be felt in IFS
details. Our narrow-escape from the
perils ofa disputed Presidential success
sion which were only avoided finally by
resor;ing to an extra-constitutional
compromise after months of disquieting
and mischieyous agitation, amply DEM
onstrated the necessity for such legisls-
ton as would insure US against the
chances of their recurrence from sim
liar cause. All other considerations aside
the relative strength of parties in this
Congress makes the present session
peculiarly auspicious for securing the
changes demanded with little chance
for either or any party to secure undue
advantages by the proposed amend
ments. But this is precisely the reason,
probably, that viii induce the House
majority to withhold its approval from
the Edmund's bill, hoping after the con-
troll of both branches falls to them to be
able to so shape the needed legislation
as to secure decided benefits to Bour-
bonism- The reason assigned for oppo-
sition is certainly not very compliment
tary to the wealth of intellectual endow-
ment of their leading lawyers who have
microscopically scrutinized every pro-
vision of the bill. 1t is to the effect that
while they found nothing wrong or par
tisan in it, Edmunds is so profoundly
astute in its maneuvers that they fear
to favor his plan lest they walk into
trap. This pretence will likely excuse
them with not very exciting constitu-
ency for failure to meet one of the most
imperative needs Of the session, and
hence answers as well as another
1t seems the impression of those con-
versant with the features of the bill re-
Gently passed by the House to prevent
the determinations and exactions of
railroads; that the range was too high
and that consequently those favoring its
passage oyershot the mark. Many of its
provisions are undoubtedly crude and
immature. 1t would be strange if they
are not found so. when it is remembered
that the demand was almost universal
in the West for restrictive legislation
against railroads whose expressions had
driven the producers of that section to
revolt; and the member first in the field
with measure likely to crafty this
feeling of exasperation on the part Of the
mass of voters stood good chance to
become the hero of the hour. But what
ever the practical effect the vote has It's
encouraging features. 1t viii tend TO
discredit the allegations of the owner
ship of Congress by rich railroad corp
orations, and shows that when public
sentiment is sufficiently decided Con-
gress can be forced intoanr assertion Of
its constitutional powers in the premises.
The report ofthe Committee for Army
reorganization is, next to Blaine's speech
which holds the leading place, the most
general topic of discussion here. Tone
of comment differs widely ofcourse, and
the CONSERVATION among the Washing
ton staff, which is fearfully slaughtered
by the report, is general Some of its
propositions are extraordinary, as, for
instance, that which proposes, practically,
to abolish the Secretary of War. What
ever the opinion as to specific methods
advised in dealing with existing abuses,
very few viii disapprove the tapping of
of some of the snobs, young and old, who
largely make up the Washington staff
Some of them know as much of actual
military service as a COW does of a
musket. They are the favorites of society
because of their position, and affect an
exclusiveness that is as offensive as their
boasts of blood" ridiculous. They cost
the tax payers of this country thousands
ofdollars annually, and are of use chiefly
as ornaments to the service and to lead
the German and to %dop the other lead
ing parts in the dissipated, heartless,
snobbish circles of shoddy aristocracy
that gather here during Congressional
sessions, and put to utter shame our pro-
fessions of Repdblicanism-
The well known fact that the men
who shaped the Republican campaign
last fall studiously avoided all issues
growing out of the war and reconstruc
ton, were silent as to @concilationS and
forebore to denounce the men who had
repudiated all their pledges. as they de-
served to be, gives the lie to the Demo
cratic allegations that Mr. Blaine ard his
political associates in Congress are striv
ing to reiight the fires Of sectional hate
The crimes against humanity and the
frauds that finally induced Mr. Hayes to
move; all occurred during last falls cam
paign. II was an issue forced upon the
in Congress by Democratic
and they could not shirk
the responsibilities without a show Of
and recreancy that woodland
ought to have been, fatal to their distin
gnished position as the exponents Of
and equality before the
law. Democracy will only have itself TO
thank for the barbaric light in which the
invs stigation authorized viii make it
appear. MAXWELL
Discovered
DIR. Price, by a new process extracts
the subtle flavor from every delicious
fruit and aromatic. In his Elavcring