The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-01-30
CORRESPONDENCE.
w AsHINGToN,
Jan. 20, 1881
EDITOR DEMOCRAT

EDITOR DEMOCRAT
l do not believe that all the Re-
publcans in the House cared on gen
eral principles to vote against the
Investigation resolutions passed the
other day. There are many of them
who would like to see an exposure of
what has been corrupt in the admin
istration of affairs in the last dozen
years. They all voted against it, to
be sure, but some may have had an
honest idea that Investigations, as
proposed in the resolutions would do
more harm than good. They were
wronr, of course, but there is excuse
for them. Let US hope that Demo-
cratic Committees will shun the Sc
cret and unfair kind Of investigation
held in the Departments here since
MIR. Hayes was inaugurated, give US
open and fair ones, and thus agreea-
bly, disappoint those honest Repub-
licans who voted against investiga-
ton in the fear that their own party
tactics would be pursued. I write
this in the belief that there are, IN
fact, in the Republican party many
honest and practical men who hope
for reform in the civil service of
the Government, and are willing to
help it along, no matter how deeply
their former leaders may be. What
they desire, l think, is that perfect
fairness should.be shown. As good
citizens they are entitled to that, and
as good citizens We ought to concede
az much. Let US have no more Sc
cret investigations.
However, the resolutions are
passed, and we are without doubt to
have during this session great mum
Der Of Investigations into what has
been done in several if not all the
Departments. Time and money SC
expended will be well expended if, as
to be hoped, the investigations are
so conducted as to expose all who
are guilty. Again, let US have nc
more secret investigations.
! Though the bill of Secretary sher
man for the issue Of small bonds has
valuable features it also has PERM
cious ones. 1t proposes, for instance
that the bonds shall be receivable by
the United States only in the pur
chase Of other bonds. This add
} another class of money to our al
ready disgracetully complex curren
cy. Gold, which is received for al
dues, greenbacks, received for all blu
customs, silver received in limite'
amounts for some purposes and no
| for others are enough diverse kind
of money. Secretary Sherman viii
} have to modify his bill considerabl
before it will be adopted.
The feature of Wednesdays SEES
u sion was the financial speech of Ser
ator VOORHEES,. 1t attracted Ser
: ate full and was admitted by every
body to he a mastery presentatio
y of the subject. His denunciation {
j. the financial legislation of the pa:
j. dozen years, and his exposure of til
} inconsistencies Of Secretary She
= man were exceedingly forcible.
~ Chairman Wood of the Ways an
} Means Committee, has plan fl
simplifying the tariff. He is mi
~ familiar with the subject during b
whole life-perhaps more so thu
Sc any other man now in public life.
u For this reason, aside from his pos
u ton as Chairman of the Commit
90 charged with such affairs, his tar
10 bill is entitled to consideration.
~ The works of the Hayden Surv
u. are making us familiar with heret
~ fore unknown regions, rich in min
'' rails and of great agricultural a.
&c, grazing value. 1t extends from A
- zona to Montana, embracing the II
~ ritories of Utah, Colorado, Wyomi
Idaho and Dakota.
!" This Survey has issued series
:, annual reports, presenting the
80 suits in popular form, for gene
distribution. A series of quar-
- volumes are also issued, embrace
purely scientific matters, for dist
: button to colleges, libraries and s
" entific specialists. A series of bul
tins are also issued in which matte
~ requiring special and immediate
:. tention may be found. There
- also the miscellaneous publicatio
such as Meteorology, distances, a
- attitudes, catalogues, etc.
~ MEMO
of
We rrr co1Ior;nc 20 Tho cHpn