Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-04-14
Prom cur regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. y, G, April 10, 1850,

COhhiiittcr, pleis''o" ~
associate, IS one Of those unfortunate
episodes the like of which will never
cease 10 occur 10 tho affairs Of men,
This contested seat Ii question OF
unusual Importance, not only on ae'
count OF the charges OF bribery aud
improper influences on the part Of Mr.
Washburne, but also because sealing
the contestant would give the demo-
Gratis q majority Of tho state delega'
ton, and tho vote Of tho State IN case
tho Presidential election had TO DO
determined by the House but as
these questions, uhdlr Democratic
Congress, are decided upon their maf'
,ts, and not upon party considerations
AZ when tho Republicans run the
House, there were differences OF opin'
lon among the democratic members
of the commlttec, Undoubtedly MI
Manning, who Is an honest, sealoas
partisan, thought Mr. Springer had
been influenced by improper motives
in refusing to vote TO seat Donne'ly'
The circumstances OF the anonymous
letter sent To Mr.. Springels house.
and the previous misunderstanding OF
his position, might, not pnna'nrally'
produce such m impression upon the
mind of man Of Mr.. Manning's tenn
permanent. But after the complete
and circumstantial statement made by
Mr.. Springer on the floor OF tho
House, ] do not think single person,
in Congress or out, shared the opin-
ion or believed that any improper mo-
tiyes whatever had Influenced his
course. ! have known Nv. Springer
for many years, extending back long
previous to his election TO Congress,
and | could never believe any such
charge against him., lie is earnest
and indetaligable in the service of his
party, or any cause he has espoused, but
q lawyer and man capable Of con'ider.
ing any case wherein he sits as va Judge,
with judicial fairness. The most l
could think in explanation OF Mr..
Manning's charge, is that Mr.. Spring
or, knowing his associates strong con.
vic,ions, may not have been very
frank in stating his own views. The
virtue Of frankness in all things is one
that politicians are not much given to
cultivating.
There was a very significant vote in
the House on Monday on the motion
to suspend the rules and pass Mr..
Townshend's bill placing on the free
list printing type, printing paper, and
all materials used in the manufacture
of paper. The vote in favor OF sus-
pending tho rules was lis yeas to 80
nays. Though the majority fell short
of the required two.thirds, it was
large enough TO show that the bill
is certain OF passage could it be pre-
sented in the regular order. 1t indi-
Gates, moreover, that the bill placing
wood.pulp ON the tree list, as we'll as
that taking the duty off salt, would, if
presented as independent propositions,
be passed under suspension OF the
rules. There were only Is republi-
cans in tho majority in favor of Mr..
Townshcud's bill, and but Is demo-
Gratis in the minority against ii. One
Of the most influential republican jour
nails in commenting on The subject
says: THE course OF the republican
leaders In Congress IN Identifying
their party with the maintenance Of
all tariff duties, however nnproductlve
and odious, is defensive neither on
grounds of craftsmanship nor consld-
erations of expediency. The question
of readjusting the tariff may enter
more largely into the political issues
of the Fall campaign than will be
pleasant or profitable for republican
representatives who approve of this
kind of leadership"
In skirmishing about the other day
for something of interest to write
about, stepped into the Pacific Lands
Committee room and learned few
facts. In the arid public lands OF the
remote West, including Arizona, Da-
kota, Idaho, Colorado. Nevada, Mon
tana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming,
and parts of Nebraska, Oregon, Tex
as, with Washington and the Indian
Territories, there are, in round num-
bers, not less than 100000, 900 acres.
Not l per cent. Of all this land has as
yet been sold by the Government, and
it will not be sold for many years. I'M
less some means be found to supply it
with water. 1t has been proposed,