Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-11

the mead OF the ticket.
Investigations may not always Investigate
but they are sure to be very expensive The
last feat OF the House Ia this direction was In
ordering committee to inquire into and report
upon the charge that one Finley wrotea certain
anonymous letter to Representative Springer
pretending to offer him money for his influence
In behalf Of WaShburne In the Washburne-
Donnelly contested election case. Finley had
achieved some notoriety In the past as so
called agent OF T1lden, but he was. and Is yet
perhaps, entirely unknown to the large body of
American citizens who have to pay the expense
OF Investigations outside of the House of Rep
reSentatfyes nobody cared whether Finley wrote
The letter or not, and inside that body perhaps
not half dozen members gave the SUBJ
Ject five minutes consideration. Finley how
ever, must not be included among the indlffer-
ent ones He, together with Donnelly, In
sisted that their regulations had been smirched
by Springer's charge, and that it must be
investigated. The House, Just because the
members cared nothing about the matter and
took no interest in 1t, yielded to the demand of
this pair OF WORTHLESS, and ordered the investi-
CATION. The inquiry has been concluded. and.
so lar as the anonymous letter is concerned.
nothing more Is known now than on the day it
was made public. But one thing Is settled and
insisting so strenuouSly upon an Investigation
Both OF them have madei paying investment
Finley has presented bill of $3.50 "for services
rendered to the committee and Donnelly de
mahds that sum nearly as large be paid to
MIN. Finley has charged the government s25
DAY TOT his services, as he Is pleased to call
them,-a sum doubtless eight or ten times as
large as he could earn in any legitimate pursuit.
and Donnelly's claim Is equally extravaganza
and absurd.
The democrats Will ind before the close of the
pending presidential canvass that the inyestiga
tons they have ordered and paid for will cut a
prominent figure In the arraignment OF their
party, and If they pay such absurd and out
rageous bills as these OF Finley and Donnelly
that one act will afford TO the republicans Gil
max to the investigation issue which they will
hardly fail 10 use with effect.
The need OF competing telegraph lines and
The wide margin existing for a large reduction
In the cost OF telegraphing in the United States
are very clearly shown by the figures contained
Ia the report or the Western Union Company for
the quarter ending with the 3Oth OF the present
month. This quarter closes the fiscal year,
which shows an Increase OF over ST. SOC, 900 gross
and Sl,O6o,ooO net, earnings over the previous
year. The net profits OF the year will. it is
IL.
on the capital stock after deductfnp fixed
charges for interest and the sinking fund. Ont
OF this, per cent. in cash dividends vii! have
been paid TO the stockholders, and s1.5t3 600
invested In new property and held as sur
Plus Iuhd To understand the true in
"ardness or these figures the public pust
GEAR In mind the fact that the capital stock of
The company In question has been .'watered y or
doubled up without any actual corresponding
outlay OF money, about seven times the mar
'aiue Oh the original shares. net profit OF 1laI
per cent on The amount OF the present stock Is
therefore equivalent TO yearly dividend OF
apOut % per cent on the original investment.
IN view OF these facts, Is 1t any wonder that
there IS On the one hand constant cry for com
petlng lines, and on the other an increasing
demand that government shall take possession
OF all the telegraph wires IN the country and
operate them for the benefit of the whole peo
pie? The above figures show that In its hands
tney could De made to solve the problem OF cheap
teiegraphy In the United States and still yield a
handsome revenue TO the public treasury.
Tne courts everywhere are crushing with the
mghty power OF their decisions all attempts at
Reputation. The supreme court of Louisiana
has recently rendered decision affirming the
legality OF nearly $40 800, 600 OF bonds which the
CITY or New Orleans proposed to cancel by re.
puulauon. The bonds were issued by authority
OF the state legislature, and the city was bound
70 levy nye-mills tax to pay the interest on
Ihein. Inc new state constitution provides
That no municipal tax shall exceed ten mills a
levy just sufficient to meet the expenses of the
New Orleans city government, excluding this
interest account. The municipal government
tnereupon concluded that this gave them a good
excuse TO reudplate the bonds In question. but
tne supreme court very properly brought the
city up with short turn.
>>------
senator Hampton's influence seems to be stiu
al powerful In the politics OF South Carolina.
een- Gary. 1t viii be remembered, started out
sene months ago In a canvass for the nomina.
uon 10 the goyernorship OF that state. His
oDy platform was opposition to Hampton,s
Pollcy, ana he kept the fight up. senator
hampton remained In Washington attending
70 his duties, and at the state Convention az
Columbia, the other day Gary was so vts,h1w
weak that his name was not presented az a
candidate. The Hampton Influence carrie,