Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-03
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The River and Harbor Bt1l-Hoyv the
Veto is overwhelmingly In the
star Route Cases-Other Matters.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-The general i'm
preston seems to be here that the President
and Congress both acted wisely in regard to
the river and harbor bill. President Arthur's
friends say he could safely transfer the re-
sponsibility to Congress.
In the Star route cases to-day J L.. French,
Delegate Maginnis of Montana and A G.
Buell., the editor who charges corruption
against correspondents just for fun, testified.
The last said he had received 81 200 from
Walsh for business done for him. He denied
receiving stock from Brady. The entire after
noon was occupied in the examination of Blu
ell resulting in demonstrating that Cen
oral Brady is the virtual proprietor of both
the Critic and the Capital
The report of the Foreign Affairs commit
tee, while 1t exonerates Secretary Blaine
from any corrupt or improper conduct. is
much less outspoken a vindication than his
friends had expected. The report was pre-
pared with care, and represents the average
sentiment of the committee rather than any
single persons views. AS such. it was
subscribed to by all the committee,
though Mr.. Belmont added qualification.
At the same time he expresses himself salts
fed with the conclusion reached in the re
port. The Landreau claim has probably
been 30 fully explored by this investigation
that it will not trouble Congress or our State
department in the future, and this fact would
of itself justify the wisdom of the Belmont
resolution. Chairman Williams left for home
to day, and the transactions of the committee
are over for the session. The questions af-
fecting the Jews and the various other reso-
lutions will therefore not be considered be-
fore next winter, if at all.
The VetO-Said to be the Result of Conf
Ifng's Advice-An Interesting Explana-
tfon of the Affair.
Especial Correspondence of the United Press Associa-
ton.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-The true inward
ness of the veto may never be entirely made
public, but enough has been ascertained to
place beyond doubt the statement that the
veto was induced by Conkling after long
period of hesitation on the part of the Presi-
dent. I am assured that the ex-senator, when
the bill began to assume unusual proportions
determined to secure a veto. The President
was strongly in favor of the improvement of
the Mississippi, but Conkling opp osed it,
President Arthur believes strongly in the
West and believes proper improvement of
commercial adjustment as would regulate
naturally the transportation question in the
West and save it from the abuses of the rail-
way monopoly which at present afaicts the
East, where the railways have no natural
competitor, and the people are compelled to
rely for protection upon the action of unreli
able legislators. Conkling thinks little of
river improvements and much of the railroads.
He believes it to be an axiom that transpor-
tation mainly moves east and west and must
depend altogether on artificial highways. He
regards it as absurd to expect that any condi-
tions will arise to displace this law of
| nature. Conkling insists that the MISSISSIPPI
pi river Improvement schemes are devices of
the southern States to secure plumber from
| the national treasury at the expense of north
ern enterprise and taxpayers. Conkling's
| recent visit to Washington was for the sole
purpose of securing the veto. The President
was found rather firmly determined to sign
| and told the Senator that it was necessity
| trusted the administration too stalwart :;
| that it was also necessary to save the Repub-
| lican majority in Congress, which veto
| would destroy by withholding patr onage
| from those districts. Conklins said that
| such policy narrower than the Ohio
| idea. He advised a broader view and a veto
| upon constitutional grounds, securing credit
| with the people, as Congress would certainly
| pass the bill over the veto. The President
| then concluded to veto the bill. 1t is ru
mored that the main object of the veto, after
ascertaining that the bill would pass anyway
and save the congressman in their districts,
| was to secure a national reputation for econ
omy for the purpose of off letting the grow
| ing reputation of Governor Cornell whom
| it is supposed Arthur and Conkling fear in
the convention of 1884 and wish to defeat