The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

casting the probable action of Con
oress decide that Senator Edmunds'
bill to amend and improve our pres
emf method of Presidential elections
and which passed the Senate on last
Friday, has little or no chance of
successfully running the gauntlet of
pretended Democratic suspicion in
the lower House. Its almost absolute
certainty of defeat before that body
detracts from the interest which
would otherwise be felt in its details.
Our narrow escape from the perils Of
a disputed Presidential succession
which were only avoided finally by
resorting to an extra constitutional
compromise after months of disqui-
citing and mischievous agitation,
amply demonstrated the necessity
for such legislation as would insure
us against the chances Of their recur-
renee from a similar cause. All
other considerations aside, the rela-
tive strength of the two parties in
this Congress makes the present ses-
sion peculiarly suspicious for securing
the changes demanded with little
chance for either or any party to Sc
cure undue advantages by the pro-
posed amendments. But this is
precisely the reason, probably, that
will induce the House majority to
withhold its approval from the Ed
munds' bill, hoping after the control
of both branches falls to them to be
able to so shape the needed legislation
as to secure decided benefits to Bour-
bOnism. The reason assigned for OPP
position is certainly not very COM
plimentary to the wealth of
intellectual endowment of their
leading lawyers who have micro
scopically scrutinized every provision
of the bill. 1t is to the effect that
while they found nothing wrong or
partisan in it, EdmundS is so pro-
foundly astute in its man9vers that
they fear to favor his plan lest they
walk into trap. This pretence will
likely excuse them with a not very
eXacting constituency, for failure to
meet one of the most imperative
needs of the session, and hence an
sWers as we'll as another
1t seems the impression of those
conversant with the features Of the
bill recently passed by the House to
prevent the Determinations and eX-
actions of railroads, that the range
was too high and that consequently
those favoring its passage overshOt
the mark. Many of it's provisions
are undoubtedly crude and immature.
1t would be strange if they were not
found so when it is remembered that
the demand was almost universal in
the West for restrictive legislation
against railroads whose expressions
had driven the producers of tn It
section to revolt and the member
first in the field with a measure likely
to crafty this feeling of evaporation
on the part of the mass of voters
stood a good chance to become the
hero of the hour. But whatever the
practical effect, the vote has its en-
couraging features. 1t will tend to
discredit the allegations of the own
ership of Congress by rich railroad
corporations, and shows that when
public sentiment is sufficiently deci-
ded Congress can be forced into an
assertion of its constitutional powers
in the premises.
The report of the Committee for
Army reorganization is, next to
Blaine's speech which holds the
leading place, the most general topic
of discussion here. Tone of comment
differs widely of course, and the con-
sternation among the Washington
staff, which is fearfully slaughtered
by the report, is general. Some of its
propositions are extraordinary, as,
for instance, that which proposes,
practically, to abolish the Secretary
of War. Whatever the opinion as to
specific methods advised in dealing
with existing abuses, very few will
disapprove the looping off of some of
the snobs, young and old, who large.
ly make up the Washington staff.
Some of them know as much of
actual military service as a cow does
of a musket. They are the fayOrites
of society because of their position,
and affect an eXclusiveness that is as
offensive as their boasts Of "bloOd"
are ridiculous. They cost the tax
payers of this country thousands of
dollars annually, and are of use chief
ly as ornaments to the service and to
lead the German and, to edo" the
other leading parts in the dissipated,
heartless, snobbish circles of shoddy
aristocracy that gather here during
Congressional seasons, and put to
utter shame our professions of Re-
| publicanism,