Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-05-14
DUB WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. f,

EDITOR INTELL1GENCER There IS
as great variety Of opinion upon the star
route contract as upon any subjsct ever
known in the history of the country.
The second assistant postmaster gsner-
al, Brady, obeysd the lsttsr Of the law
certainly, and CLAIMS to have done e1-
sstly what any sensible nan having
regard for the service would have done
under the circumstances. Tho invssti-
CATION now gong on - to be Transferred
to the attorney generals Office. thssgh
not, believe, with . view to any GRIM
inal action against officials or coltras-
tors. -,.
shrswd people argue from the present
troubles among republican leaders per-
msnsnt divlsisns Of the party. There is
much plansibility in this. Mr.. Blaine
has anqusstionably very full control OF
the ADMINISTRATION. This is something
hs never had before. Mr.. Conkling.
though the chairman Of important COM
nittses, has equally absolute control OF
the senate. Lsok thresgh all the signif-
io.nt oommittses. !, and enly the friends
OF Conkling. appear at their heads.
When the ssnAts met on Aarch4 this
great New York senator, seeing Blsins
st the head Of the administration, saw,
also, that in srdsr to take care Of him.
self hs must osntrol the senate. This
he did through the trade with Mahsns,
which gave the rspublisans-really to
Mr.. Conkling control Of the commit.
tsss. Prssldsnt Garfield is really an inn:
portant factor in the republican fight o.
tho next four years. Republicans gen
orally will look TO Blaine on one iidt
ald Conkliag On the ether, and the con
troll il to the death. b.. 10 '1'- t-a -
lbThs saddest thing in all our late poll
tics is tho charge made that Gen. Gar
field wrete q letter while hs was pres
idsntiar candldste. suggesting that th'
star route contractor be requested T
contribute to he republican canpaig'
fund. He lad lately, ara represent
tive in csnx xrsss, voted virtual apprSya
OF the extended contracts. and to s1o,
the pestmaster general half nailliol
dollars for the same purpose. II b
thought these men svsrpaid, he shcul
not have vsted a. he did. IF they wsr
pot overpaid, why should they Be calle
sspsn spscislly to oontributss Why, j
anY. event, should . presidential cand
date take part in the dirty process b
which the republican party raises il
campaign money! No enc would thin
OF Gen. Hancock In such connection
One Of the subjs which has its hSal
quarters here, but which has local hab
tations in almost every state, is the Fl.
culture under government auspices.l
grew up 40 suddenly IS tho nation
debt It has cheapened food instead
d making it dsarsr, a. the debt has don
hswsver. Prst. Baird. the very comp
tent gentleman at the head of this tru
bensficIsnt institution, says that, in tt
years. the average taxpayer will recsl'
more money in the reduced cost Of b
food because OF the artificial propagatls
of fish than hs pays because of interest (
government bonds. The cost to u
United States is very slight, and inorsa
ed knswtedge OF methods makes it le
every year in proportion to the bensf
conferred. There 10 no mere adnh!rab
managed branch of the government th'
this. HILTON.