Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-26
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.

members might cast aside the weighiy care
of state while participating in the holiday
festivities. The distribution of the unex-
pended balance OF the Geneva Award is
one OF the important inheritAnce> from the
last session which goes over the Christmas
hiatus to be finally decided after the reas-
semblng. The bill for guaranteeing the
interest on the bonds OF the Texas Pacific
X. Il. Is another, AS is also the bill for the
establishment Of postal savings banks. aud
Senator EdmGnd's bill to cure some OF the
evils OF our present method Of elcciing
President and Vice President may be emu.
mef atod with III" foregoing, s. 1t was agi-
tated several sessions under the lead OF tia.
late Mr.. Morton. and really took shape
PRIOR to the present one. Amer deducting
from the Geneva Award the money already
paid Ia satisfaction for losses directly in-
ficied by The pirate cruisers Alabama.
Florida and Shenandoah, and the amour,
required to pay for the ravAges of pirates
other than those mentioned which English
neutrality turned sdrift to prey on our com
lion dollars to be divided among those who
were made TO suffer quite as di.asterously,
though more indirectly. by these outlaws
from British dockyards and manned aud Of
fcered. largely. by British citizens. To
this balance the war premium men or
owners OF ships OF cargoes upon which
they paid n rate Of insurance in come in
stances a. high as 30 per cent. and the to-
sursnce companies, have laid vigorous
claim. The House Committee entrusted
with the duty of deciding between these
parties, has made majority and minority
report, the former SEEDING all claimants to
the Court OF Claims. the latter ruling ont
the insurance companies from any partIci-
patton ia the division OF the Geneva fund.
Without protesting any knowledge ss TO
the legal or technical right OF the compan-
lea ia the premises IL strikes the unbiased
observer OF the hot fight made over the
two reports In the House, that In equity
the companies which grew rich 10 few
months by granting war risks, have not an
| equal right with the men who were mpov-
erished and reduced Ia poverty through
paying them. No one seems TO deny that
| the excess Of the premiums received, over
all losses he companies were called upon
10 make good, made millionaires Of the
stockholders in a time so short AS to have
made il marvellous in the ewes OF even the
shoddy contractors. The charges that the
Companies have maintained an active lob
by here Curing the two or three past ses-
sons as well AS the present one to push
| their Interests, seems well founded, and il
is pity that the antecedemts Of all Con-
| gressinen are not In direction TO more ab.
Solurely discredit the insinustions heard
are not above the Inducements offered BY
the Companies TO legislate in ,heir favor.
| The superior ability of the companies 10
pay well for all the aid they need to secure
their point, no doubt influences the general
| opinion that they will ultimately succeed.
One of the strongest arguments heard in
favor of granting the limited aid requested
by the Texas Pacific road and for which
il seems to offer ample security az ainst
loss. is the fact that the completion of the
Southern Pacific road which is now being
pushed to defeat the loan asked BY the
first named. would only serve to perpet-
uate the existing monopoly on transcOn:i-
mental trade exercised by the Central and
Union Pacific. As the new road would be
under the same management with the one
| 10 ksr
lines whereby to enforce its exactiOns,
instead Of one as is now the case.
Five Of the appropriation bills had pass
ed the House and gone to the Senate prior
to the adjournment; but IS two OF them
reduced the Departmental estimates which
were believed to have been cut down to
the lowest possible figures compatible
with the good Of the service. conference
committees will likely be necessary.
The recent message Of the President 70
the Senate fsvoring additional postal aud
commercial facilities in our Intercourse
with South America. elicits almost umani-
nous commentator. The points in il
drawn from the researches of Mr.. Evarts
seem conclusive as to our ability tn divert
large portion of the trade and commerce
Of that section and Mexico from England
and Continental Europe to this country.
if We act promptly in using the means he
points out.
The shop window, the gaily dressed
thrOnys OF women and children who crowd
our streets and many other indications all
hint at our proximity to the holidays. But
the pinched faces and tie attenus ted forms
seen 10 our BY streets and alleys remind
us that Christmas comes to thousands
among ms IS only mOcksry.
KATAHDIN.