South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-04-07
Lettor from Washington.
[fyeu - R,galar oorr.seond.ns.l
WAsHIEcroH, d. c.. April 4

country DE Ills Dufe. L rom what
has occurred within the last two weeks
IT may be learned that no hope need
be entertained of reduction Of our
excessive internal revenue taxes at
the hands OF the party NOW in power.
In nearly every State in the Union
large bodies ofworkiugmen are clam.
oring for higher wages and complain
ing that they end 1t impossible 10 live.
II they will look below the surface
they will discover that the chief cause
OF their distress lies in the iniguitous
tariff which compels them to pay dour
bic for more than one-half the neces.
saries OF life. A prohibitory tariff is
maintained against our imports for
the benefit OF capitalists and manu-.
facturers, while at n ONE war taxes
are continued in time of peace that
capital may reap unprecedented pro-
hts and that the taxes wrung from the
people may be divided among the
lobbyists and sUbsidy-seellers who are
darkening the walls Of the Capitol
This policy Of maintaining a needless
IN the Treasury, and that is what the
jobbers who have always been part
OF the Republican party are aiming at.
Able statesmen are sitting up nights
to devise ways aud means of getting
rid Of that surplus Patriotic individ,
uals are sitting up nights TO show them
how and where 10 do it. The combi-
nation have succeeded so far admira-
bly,, and from the indications there
won't be any surplus to speak of
at the close of this Congress. The
Senate has added a couple of millions
ON the Post Office Appropriation bill,
reported favorably on q grand ocean
steamship subsidy scheme, offered
fifty million dollars to Capt. Eads. re-
stored the ranking privilege, project
ed an extensive steel clad navy, and
raised certain classes of pensions. -
There is no deception about this. II
there was any doubt as TO the reckless
character Of this Congress, it should
be silenced in the 40 to 10 vote on
the restoration of the franking privi-
lege. 1t carries Us back to the haley.
on days Of the Credit Mobilier period
when the public revenues were divi-
ded up between sherry and cham.
payne.
There seems to be strange fatal.
ty connected with our National Lib
rary. For several years measurcs
have been pending to provide a place
for it, but somehow nothing is ever
done. Talk about a building began
about rs years AGO. III q copy Of the
Washington Gazette datnd December
S, 1917, l find IN article on the Iii
brary IL which, after referring TO the
appointment Of committee by Con.
gr ess, the editor says:
eve disposed to indulge hops tha, this
committee will be more active than the former :
and that, as literary men, they will no; neglect
the interests OF this establishment To coop the
Library of the United States in garnet is do
grading both to literature aud the Nation and
We trust that Congress will sac the necessity OF
erecting building for ia accommodation near
the Capitol. To foster and encourage this os.
tSblishment would We doub: not oc gratifying
to toe salion, nBd we are sure libarality could
aot be 6et.oc bestowed or any other oJjsc!,"
Ifsomo medium now on earth could
communicate with the spirit OF Mr..
Elliot, then editor OF the Gazette, lie
might be gently informed that the
hope he INDUCED has proven forlorn
one that the Intervening years have
contributed very little to the wisdom
or National pride Of Tie Congressman;
that the National Library still occu.
pies garnet as it did siXty-fve years
ago, and is likely to remain in its pre-
sent state Of narrow dustiness owing
TO the successful interference OF a Ger.
tain lobbyist who is interested in the
| Capitol extension scheme-a scheme
to ruin tie building by an attempt to
raise the dome and add another sto-
ry to It's central portion. The almost
useless condition Of this vast collec.
ton cfnearly half million volumes
is daily forced upon The observation
OF Congr essmen, yet their Iiberality'
and National pride DO uoti ncite thom
to decisive measures.
Some of our Washington work
ingmcn who undertook to sercuaac
Gen. Grant during lis late visit here
are entitled to the sympathy of all
good people who feel that tho are Of
aristocracy il past. These WORKING
men, OF whom about 300 are employ.
cd at the Navy Yard, took it into their
heads that because Gen. Grant fav0r.
cd the eight hour law, enacted while
he was President me must sympathize
with them, & therefore they woaId SER
cnadc him and get u speech Of cncour-
agcmcnt Soalong they came, march
ing 70 martial music and under torch.
cs,whsrcoi the glarrcvealei the proud
features Of Tie American clifton
Their marshals, who were hony-bau-
o.. 4 gI.rf-g H.. fI.... d