Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-06-04
Washington Letter,
Washington, ID, O., jane !, 1879
From our regular correspondent,

lllUsllhlth fNthSl iVSlp'l WV wv" w
,'free elections" the radicals are 30
anxious about, Every unbiased read
or will see, in tho evidence already
taken, ample proof that the supervIF'
ors law Ia nothing less than the most
eorrupt''and outrageous machinery tor
carrying elections, and every voter ca
pable Of putting two aud two together
will promptly discern In these devel'
Opmene the motives which prompl
tho republican party TO fight no dee'
perately for the retention Of this ma
ehlnery, now entirely under It's con
troll, Another illustration Of the beau
ties of radical prclcntlons "a the me-
mortal Of Rhode Island soldiers pre-
scented by Senator Mcdonald q day or
two since, Senator Anthony, VINO
has wasted n great deal OF breath III
trying to create an impression that The
democrats arc uniriondly TO the Union
soldier now turns up not only as tho
author and dnisher, 50 to speak, Of
election frauds In his State, but
charged with procuring the removal
of soldiers from Federal positions TO
secure their places for his own rela'
tons. The election frauds charged
are in the nature of interference by
those appointecs. 1t would seem that
in state where only q select few are
allowed to votc-on account oil the
property qualification rcqu'red-''
would not 10 necessary TO resort 10
such tactics to keep it in line
There has been more or less agila
ton for some time over a proposition
now before congress TO change the
control OF the government printing
Office. For sixteen years or 20 this
immense establishment has been IN
much the same hands, and, as n con-
sequence, rings and combinations have
grown up, which arc like such things
everywhere, not conducive to the rep
utation Of the management. The re-
publicans have always retained the
control, having taken the appointment
from the Executive during Johnson's
term and lodged 1t with the senate.
It was afterward restored to the Pres
ident, and there remains. The demo-
Gratis, with plenty Of republican prec-
edents before them, have thought OF
taking the control INTO their hands by
again turning it over to the senate,
but the proposition most seriously
considered is that embraced in MIR.
Knots bill, viz; TO turn the ofhce
over to some responsible party who
will give bond to perform the work ut
saving of about 100000 upon the
present cost. The establishment is
the largest of the kind in the United
States, and the Investigations of the
last year have developed great abuses
and leaks. The government was swim
died about 100000 last year in the
purchase of type alone, while in Other
material there is much greater loss
so great that it can hardly be esti
mated from the present system OF &C.
counts in the Office. 1t is agreed on
all hands that some change is neces
sary, not only in the.system, but IL
the person of its head. Mr. John d
|Defrees has exhibited himself not on
ly as an incompetent official, but ar
insolent old humbug, who. relying or
the protection of Mr.. Hayes, insults
committees and defes congress.
One of the we'll. known women OF
Washington IS Mrs. Kate Spragae, the
beautiful and accomplished daughter
of Chief Justice Chase, who married
Senator sprague, Of Rhode Island
when the Spragues were wealthy anc
powerful. She is now living here al
"Edgewood," her late fathers suburb
an residence, and seems destined te
always occupy public attention in one
way or another Last year she sue
ceeded in getting bill through con
gress exempting this property from
taxation, and also won lawsuit O.
some sort here in the district courts
Senator Conkliug appearing as her at
torney. Now she has jus. won an
: other suit, the circumstances OF which
have caused considerable comment
A photographer sued her for a bill o
S55 for photographs and views takeI
to illustrate a biographical sketch o
her father. The photographs wer'
made by her order and submitted TO
her approval, but she placed the finan
clal responsibility upon the author o
, the biography. The Photographic
sent the bill to her husband, ex .Sena
tor Sprague, who replied that he haO