The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-11-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHIN GToN, D. G. Nov. 2nd. 1873. !
In my letter of last week sounded the
alarm against the Central Pacific railroad
ring, which always makes its appearance
in the lobby when Congress is about to
assemble. Since then it has given still
greater cause for alarm. Having for years
successfully fought the Government and
forced il to pay obligations which the road
ought TO have borne; having just set at
defiance the law of last winter requiring
all Pacific railways to expose their books
to the inspection ofthe Government Com
missioners having forced the merchants to
contract for overland freights by their
roads under penalties of heavier exactions
for refusal to do so, and having defeated
all efforts to construct competing line to
the Pacific by the premise to push through
the Southern Pacific Railroad of Califor.
MIA to Texas, now they turn about and an
nounce that they have comb bined with the
Atchison, Topeka y& Sante Fe Company
in such a way as to deprive the Southern
people OF its benefits, and to increase the
power of tho monopoly. This is a bold
push for power, and it will prove a sad
disappointment to those who had put faith
in Huntiugton's promise of relief to trade
through another and independent through
line. The merchants have taken the alarm,
and have issued an address calling con-
vention in Chicago Nov. 18th, to consider
this new turn ,of affairs. In this address
they say that they "are convinced that
such cheap rates of transportation across
the continent as will encourage and devel-
ope our trade with China, India, Japan
and Australia will never be secured until
the monopoly of the present Pacific roads
shall be broken down by the construction
of the Northern Pacific and Texas Pacific
lines" and therefore it is proposed to ask
Congress to aid in their construction on
conditions which will protect the Govern
ment from loss. The Convention will be
composed of business men from all parts
of the country, and the Governments oi
the United States, Mexico, Japan and
China are expected to be represented
there.
The present aspect of the fisheries award
question is very interesting. 1t is well
know that, while the Adm inistration and
amajority of Congress held that the award
of S5,500,000 to Great Britain for the sup
posed benefits our fishermen derive from
the Canadian fisheries was exorbitan
they yet complied with terms of the treaty
in voting to pay it. But the paymen
was to be made under protest, and with
proviso that our fishermen should hav,
the rights undisturbed for which we pa,
so dearly. The outrage of llast winter b,
which our fishermen were driven off thei
lawful fishing grounds was therefor
brought to the attention of the British
Government some time ago. Nosnotic
stands upon his dignity, an SO the awar
remains unpaid. The times during whic
it can be paid is rapidly passing away
and il is likely that they ma
be some lively correspondence be
tween the two Governments this winte
spiced by some animated remaks in Cor
gress in rarther exposition of the Halifa
Commissions arbitrary and unjustifiabl
action.
The temporary suspension of the Ge
man-American Savings Bank here, col
nected with the National Bank of the san
name, caused a good deal of .commotio
but the first reports were exaggerated, an
it seems probable now that the deposito
may be paid in full. The disaster to Il
Savings Bank was caused by losses mac
by the other, and as they was .both und
substantially one direction and in OF
room together, of course the suspension
one brings embarrassment to the other, b
the bank officers and the government of
GERS say that, given little time to mai
arrangements, the bank will settle all O
legations. Many Government employe
have deposited their savings there, suppc
ing the German Bank to be one Of Il
most substantial in the country.
RICHARD.