Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
CORRESPONDENCE Of the Bulletin.

WASHINGTON. II. u, Mar. 10, 70.
The weather has been most changea-
BILE here of late. The recent great
northwestern storm brought us heavy
rains and shut out our warm, bright
sunshine, with which March has been
.favoring us, with clouds and chilling
winds: With the grass springing up
luxuriently in our parks among the
trees, whose swelling buds and blossoms
betoken the neal approach of settled
weather, our people must, perforce, in
their perambulations, continue their
heavy clothing and appreciate that
Winter fingers in the lap Of spring"
Apricot and peach trees, in many places,
are in full bloom, and offer a tempting
morsel for Jack Frost to bite should he
pay us a visit, as we fear he may when
we hear OF freezing SHOWS further
North. 1t has been several years since
February and March have been so de-
void OF cold and frost as 1873, and we
to be entering upon an early and a
warm summer, and we hope upon an I'M
injured fruit crop. Loss of fruit falls
heavy upon the agriculturists of this vi
cinity, for as a rule they are an impov-
erished class, whose crops are often mar
rowed down to a few peach and apple
trees with a few square rods of peas.
beans, cabbage, ETC., and whatever
shortens their limited stock for market
ing, produces corresponding %curtail-
ment Of comfort.
We have not in the past extended
much favor to the Union Pacific Rail
road, and certainly feel no sympathy
for it nov that able Senators are en-
deavoring to compel it to disgorge some
of it's i'll gotten gains, made by depriv-
ing the government Of it's just dues. To
the astonishment of his friends, Senator
Matthews, of Ohio, appeared in the SEN
ate, as an advocate of the measures
urged by this soulless corporation, as
the basis of the sinking fund compro-
mise between it and the government,
and of cours he urged his views with
all the vigor of his undoubtedly great
intellect. His act will never inure to
to his credit. Much the lawyer his
speech would be a monument in honor
of his legal lore and ability, but as Sen
ator it will only serve to bury him,
should the future bring his name up for
p%referment, at the hands of the people.
The act of Congress giving subsidies to
this Railroad was right the theft of
the securities by the railroad corpora
ton, was wrong, and we have no pa
thence with any man who puts himself
between the brotherhood of thieves,
found in this corporation, and full res
titution to the government. Such we
interpret Mathews action.
The Southern Pacific r. r. is still
begging to be allowed to extend it's
track from it's present terminus at Fort
Yuma, in the Southern part of Califor-
MIA, to the Mississippi River, but is de-
feated, SO far, at all points, by the I'm
ion Pacific influences. 1t does not ask
for lands-we would give it as much as
any other railroad-and agrees to build
it's track without any kind of grant, if
the government will permit. Its repre-
sentatives here, urge their views very
warmly, but seem fated, for some cause
or other, to suffer defeat, and because
Congress won't give ONE other corpora
ton immense subsidies, we fear we will
not O get another Pacific railroad.
1t is notifying that we cannot get one,
now that one can be had by simply
granting it permission to build, and we
give up the conundrum involved,
why cannot permission be had?
A most d~isgraceful spectacle was wit
messed in the House recently. Nj.
Douglas, a member from Virginia, was
beastly intoxicated and insisted on in
terrupting a member who was address,
ing the House. The Speaker, after vain
ly calling MI. Douglas to order, direct
ed the Sergeant at arms to remove him,
which was done. This member has
been constantly under the influence of
liquor since Congress convened, and
should be summarily expelled, as he is
at all times wholly unfit to sit as a leg
%islator. In the past he has had high
rank as a lawyer, but he is an utter
wreck, now, and, when again in civil
life, as he sOon will be, his future will
be bounded by the gutter. We regret
that others Of our solons are tending in
the same direction, and there is con-
slant need in the Capitol for a Murphy.
Our Courts have acquitted Gen. How
ard. Years ago the government entered
suit against him to recover certain mon
eys alleged to have been retained by him
when in charge of the Freedman's Blu
reau. But on its appearing that his
subordinate officers got the money, and
not he, the Court directed the jury to
bring a verdict of acquittal, which was
done, so the Generals long fight is end
ed, though at a fearful cost, as all his
property has been sacrificed to meet the
expenses involved. W. will not discuss
this matter at length, though we have
strong feelings upon it. We served I'M
der him when a volunteer, and know
him incapable of theft or conscious
wrong-doing. That he had men around
him who would pluck the government,
and to whose hands money would stick,
no one doubts, and yet he was as limo
cent of their ~malfeasance as President
Grant was of the shortcomings of the
Internal Revenue thieves, or as a corps
commander could be of the offerings of
a quartermaster. He is perfectly child
like, and so honored withal that he nev-
err in the past has been able to compre-
bend hat professions of piety and
humility may emanate from a Uriah
Heap. Reduced now to his pay, and
with his home and property wiped out
of existence, he is doubtless wiser in
worldly ways than he was.
The investigation of the Freedman's
Hospital draws to a close and this good,
if none other, will be accomplished by
it, the patients will receive better food
and treatment than heretofore. The
improvements in these respects since
the investigations began have been very
great, and now there is every promise of
continuance. What changes the Com
mittee will recommend is not announc-
ed, but no one doubts much censure will
be visited upon the heads of the manag-
ing physicians, who seem to have been
very generally d%erelict in their atten-
tons to the patients. 1t does seem that
every institution in which there are sick
and helpless, needs an occasional stir
ring up by those intent upon reforming
abuses, and this hospital is no excep-
ton.
Prof. John Brainard, an aged clerk in
the Patent Office, recently died sudden
ly Of disease of the heart. He has tax
en- a prominent part here in scientific
matters and was an enthusiast in every
thing pertaining to fruits and horticul-
ture, on which subject he lectured
IL