The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-13
Our Washington Letter,
Special to the REPUBLICAN.


Diagnosed the complication Of ailments
now affecting our languishing business
Interests, that Wood and his commit
tee Of tariff adjusters are doing more
to Perpetuate the existing commercial
prostration than are all other causes
now acting in that direction. The
steady decline of gold since the pass
age of the silver bill over the Presi-
Dental veto seems to have discredited
the predictions of disaster INDUCED in
BY the advocates of the exclusive gold
standard. Synon0mously with this de-
cline there has been noted n growing
iirmness in about every. class of Gov
crnment securities; and the feeling is
general that if the mischievous tenden-
cies of the infiationists on the one hand
and of the antitarif maniacs on the
other, could be restrained, We might
confidently count on a gradual recu-
peration from this time forward. But
Wood, shutting his eyes to the evil
consequences already so palpable that
the wayfaring man, even, is at no loss
to interpret their ominous purport-
appears determined 10 abuse the power
that has accidentally fallen to him, as
to cripple every interest within his
reach. AS compared with February
1877, che decrease for last month in
custom dues amounted to S7SS, S,622;
internal revenue taxes $1,174,847.
Total decrease in the revenues for the
first eight months Of the present fiscal
year as compared with same period
last year, foots up to S5,O74,3G5. Only
10 out of the 81 pages OF Woods bill
have been completed during the six
months session. There is hope, how
ever, that on the first day it is present.
ed to theHouse, a motion to strike out
the enacting clause may be adopted,
thus defeating the bill and properly
rebuking the mismanagement respon.
sible for such losses.
The report of the Senate Judiciary
Committee seems conclusive as to the
right of Congress to force the Pacific
Railroad Companies to live up to their
contracts, and to enact such legislation
as appears needful to enforce the rights
pf the public in the premises. The re-
port substantially says that while dis
elaiming on the part Of Congress any
light to destroy at pleasure the vested
lights of property, the right to "alter
amend or repeal" the charter of the
Racifc Railroads was reserved and j;
nndoubted that even had it not been
tpecially reserved, the prohibition
onnd in the Federal Constitution
ainst the right of any State to i'm
eir the terms Of contract wonld give
ngress the right to interfere anC
rally that in the absence Of any posi-
re Stipulation, the fundamental prin
pie that no Congress has the right t.
nit the Constitutional po Sers Of any
hsequent Congress, would confer the
sht on Congress to adopt such legis
'ion as in its discretion is deepeC
nfeessary to force those roads to com
with the spirit and letter Of thei
ntracts with the Government
The schemes of the railroad lO5bie
lroduced to the notice of the Hous'
4ring the past two weeks, are numer
Gus, and many of them colossal il
eharacter and it is quito impossibl,
to conceal the indications of jobbery
eith which they all abound. Thei
'gni6cance is about the same in all 0
hem, to-wit: the committal Of tn
oyernment to the gift of millions il
pey or land or both, for the goo,
behOof Of spectators who hav
de the swindling of the Government
pFofession.
The Polk investigation still drags it
niermina BILE length through the wear,
5ays aud weeks Of Congressional sit
angs. The general purPOrt Of all tn
stimony has been so conclusive as t
e)guilty completely or knowledge {
pst Of tho noted reformers of th
n aud many Of the Senate, tha
f them have already offered "e,
and more are to follow.
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