The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1879-10-18
Our Washington Letter.
4 Glut Of Gold-Water Wanted Cheaper
Whiskey Wanted Monumental
Fraud, etc.
WAsHINoToN. D. G., Oct. 8, 1879.

Fraud, etc.
WAsH1NoroN. D. e., Oct. 8. 1879.
EDITOR CHIEF:
No one has yet seen the Treasury
beleagured by crowds Of hungry ap-
plicants for gold as was predicted by
the anti.resumptionists if specie pay
ments became fixed fact. The ques-
ton that coDfroDts the Secretary is
how to dispose Of the vast aggregation
of the precious metals that now gorge
the vaults Of the Treasury. Every
effort to scatter this accumulation
among the people is met by u greater
flow Treasuryward. Any party hav-
ing payments due from the Govern
ment can have legal tenders in gold,
silver or greeubacks ut lis option.
There is no necessity for this hoard
ing of gold and the Secretary intends
to exhaust all his power under the
law to put it into circulation. Every
dollar paid out as we'll as every dollar
brought to our shores to buy bread.
stuffs, is healthful imitation of the
currency, as the Secretary is now pre-
vented by law from reducing the vol.
ume Of legal tenders by their destruc-
ton. Gold is now simply money, no
better than silver and greenbacks, the
other members Of the trinity 0f values,
that is the best currency the world
ever cav. The bats and owls hold
high carnival where not long ago gold
was sold as merchandise and the shy
locks gloated and fed on the fruits Of
this traffic, a canker that ate the
heart nearly out of our national life.
Water, water for the Capital is the
topic that ab~orbs public attention
aud is demanding the best thonght
Of the engineer department Of the
Government. The growth Of the city,
the increase in water takers, the draft
made by fountains in parks and res
ervations, exl'austs the present sup
ply and renders it absolutely neccs-
sary that Congress should make an
appropriation for the construction Of
an immense conduit tapping the Po-
tomac with its exi,austless resources
gathered from the; ten thousand cool
ing springs away;r' = the mountains Of
Maryland and ' ginia. This is orr
nations Capital, the soon to be Paris
Of this land and the most beautiful
city in the world. Let, then, water
be free as the air we breathe, while
COOLING fountains, waite: jets aud min
iature lakes shall be an emblem Of
freedom to strangers, soj"urners aud
residents.
The patriots who were instrumental
in reducing the tax npon tobacco are
already marsla!ing their forces and
hope to demonstrate conclnsively to
IL Congress made up of economical
Bourbons the absolute necessity If
cheaper whiskey. The people who
are sober aud temperate, and who do
not help to swell the revenues by
making torch-light professions Of
themselves, it is urged, have little
interest in the matter, but the other
class known as consumers feel that
the imposition Of 80 heavy tax is
very onerous aud tends to interfere
with the drinkers personal liberty,
hence the cry Of the Bourbon is natn-
rally for cheaper spirits regardless Of
the fact that the revenues were dim
inished SO, 900, 600 by the reduction,
of the tobacco tax.
! The equalization of bounties Of sol :
diers will demand the attention ot
Congress this winter. Already a
strong interest is being awakened III
behalf of this just measure. The ar
rears of pensions came none too soon,
either as measure of Justice to the
soldiers or tie great good Of the coun-
try. The scattering of goa, ,OOO, ,OW
in payment of arrears Of pensions has
done much to revive sluggish indus
| tries everywhere. The equalization
of bountics will naturally help many
u poor soldier who passed through
( the war without incurriug disability
[ that enrolls his name among the bat
tie Scared veterans on the pension
rolls.
The President will vote at the Ohio
election on the l4th of this month
So will Secretary Sherman.
] Gen. Grant continues to receive tile
most cordial welcome from people Ol
all parties, races and creeds wherever
he appears in California.
| Our first really National Fair begins
on the 26th of this month on excelleu
grounds near the city. Every thin:
is being done to make it attractive
| OF course next years will he better
but simply because we shall know
more. There is plenty Of money an.
plenty Of determination this year.