The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-03-20

New ORLEANS, March s, 1880.
editor Lake Charles ECHO:

! Editor Lake Charles ECHO:
Since my last letter, very little, of
any importance has transpired. The
eugrossing subject at present is the
Heidenhain- Behan investigation. MIR.
Heidenhain, when accused in the Leg
islatiye hall, of an attempt at bribery,
had predicted that after much labor
the mountain would gi"e birth to a
ridiculous mouse, but in this, it would
seem, he was greatly mistaken. The
revelations up to now, are stupendous
and threaten to involve more people
than Mr.. Heidenhain. Being driven
into his last TRENCH" he, on Saturday,
asked permission ESQ the papers tell us)
of proving that the administrators who
testified against him were not credita-
bic, and one of the ways by which he
proposes to show the fact is by estab-
fishing that the 4" City Fathers" at the
sale of the franchises of the city rail
road received "a Bonus" in other
words bride, of twenty Thousand dol
lars, to adjudicate the said franchises,
in the manner in which it was done.
This being done, of course, would not
establish the innocence of Heidenhain,
but, i have no doubt, it would go a
long way in mitigation of the charge.
j do not wish to be understood to say
that l believe in the guilt of any of the
administrators, far from it, they are
men of too high standing in the com
munity to be guilty of any such dis
honest actions, in fact, it would require
proof to make me believe in their guilt.
They are public officials, and the first
presumption of law is, thar they have
honestly performed their mandate; I'M
til the contrary is proved they arc en-
titled to the presumption Of innocence,
the which, i, for one, cEeerfully give
them, but, nevertheless, in breathless
expectation, we await revelations, the
attitudes of the parties are anything
but peaceful" and no one can say
what the future holds for either side.
The house has still under considera-
ton the revenue bill, which, on ac-
count of the amendments offered by
s. 2. Henry, of Cameron, and others,
of that body, has been transformed
into almost new one. Its bad fea-
lures have been eliminated, TINS Ieav-
ing revenue bill as free from objec-
tioDs as any that can be framed. A
good revenue bill consists in imposing
the burdens of the government Cd the
rich as well as the poor; as rule, the
largest part of the taxes has always, up
to now, been paid by those less able to
do it, and the men of capital, reaping
a large revenue, bore but very small
portion of the governments expenses.
MIR, Farmers bill aimed principally at
making the payment of taxes equal,
and, in that respect, is certainly one of
the best that has ever been introduced
in the house, wherefore ] say, after
having been amended, it is now per-
haps the best law on the subject that
We have ever had.
To-day, j think, has been set aside
for definite action in the matter of
of the republican senators.
They will either be expelled or purge
themselves of the contempt. The pa
pers will give full particulars, and
will not therefore await the final do
termination of tho matter before mail
ng this. If anything, not reported in
The papers, takes place, and it should
% of any Importance, j will let you
snow what it is in my next.
Truly Yours, &c. C.