Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-31

The sueres,rui workia. OF the Chesapeake E
Ohio canal IS a inatt>r OF SO much importance 10
the people Of This Dtstrf,t that the execution Of
the prof oi lengthen,ng the locks OF the canal
10 enable it increase its carrying capacity has
been looked for With hopeful antlcpati0nS The
report, therefore, in n Baltimore paper yesterday,
that The presidents OF the various coal companies
OF the Cumberland coal regions had sent pet.
ton 10 Senator German. pres dent OF the canal
company asking that more locks be torn out
than be completed this winter caused some
HneasineSS here. II stated that from the man
ner In which this work has been projected. and the
number ~ worsmen employed, the representatives,
of the coal companies have been forced To the con-
ci'ssoa tet IL i, the purpose of the canal company
10 tear out the locks throughout the entire length
OF the canal after which the work OF leDgth2ning
will he begun Under the circumstances, IL was
feared t.at the locks will BOT ne completed until
the summer * Tar advanced, and the run or coal by
the boats b. arrested during that portion OF the
whom II Is most profit tbia. both to the boit!nen
and coal companies, to get coal TO a market
II was also stated that the appearance OF things
has cauSsi SoTGe to suspect that , coalition has
been formed between the .'canal ring and the
Blitiinare & ohio Railroad Company for the ad-
vantage OF The latter in moving coal from Che
Cumberland fields.
Senator GorInan, u will be seen. declares to a
star reporter that the Whole report is grOunileS-
He says the work undertaken IS to be completed
this winter before the opening of navigation. and
he scouts the suggest on of a coalition between the
canal company and the 3. 4 o. Railroad Company,
In the interests of the latter, as absurd. He also
points To his past record in Carrying out extensive
repairs upon time as evidence that he Will accom-
piish what he hiss now undertaken In good season.
With these assurances from president German, We
may. therefore, COUNT upon the completion Of the
work upon the locks in time for the opentn. OF the
spring business.
1t Is duty that Congress owes to the people Of
this country 10 pass at the present session, law
70 regulate the countIng of electoral votes. Two
presidential elections have been held without any
defined method OF counting the votes, because
plTtisanship WAS more potential in Congress than
patriotism Both pirtie5 are responsible Tor this
neglect In the past, but both now have an oppor-
tunity 10 repair their delinquency by the enact
ment OF 4 fair, FIST and com ,rehenSive las, pre-
scribins how each step IN the count Of electoral
votes shall be tlkeu- The warning OF lS76-77 was
repeated, in a much less dangerous degree, in
$50 when an attempt WAS M de to get up a con-
t-st over the electoral vote OF New York, by par
ties claiming that Congress had power to say
whether IT should be counted or not. A presden-
tsa election very naturally excies the people. and
parfisans spirit runs high. The public mind Is
Tor the time being, IN an in1a AIMED state,
and the opposing sides cling tenadousiy to sup
posed rights. With the mode OF counting the cleo
t0fsd vote an open question each party puts that
construction upon constitutional clauses relating
70 II which Is most favorable to It's own cause and
In TACT, views the whole question In biaS,d light
THIS subject In its present indefinite and undeter
mined state. furnishes material for fierce contro-
verses and. in the event of close election posi-
DlJ dangerous conflict over the result; and so long
rs Congress negectS TO provide the proper lets,a-
zion II contributes To this danger There Is all evil
oeht disposition on the part of Congress to take
hold Of this subject; but ttS delays and prpcrasti
nations may prove as fatal to this much-needed
legislation now as partisaushD has proved In the
past Senator Edmunds' bill, which passed the
senate OF the forty-hfth Congress, Is generally
admitted 10 meet all the requirements of the case
II accords TO the states all the rights that demo-
Gratis claim ia regard TO the appointment OF elect
ors and decision OF contests over the vote and
eoulc probably be passed through both Houses OF
Congress IN short order
senator George has bill pending which pro-
poses To encourage agriculture and manufactures
by repeating The duties and imposts now levied ON
machinery for the manufacture OF cotton and
WOODEN goods; on goods composed of hemp or jute;
akso on tools OF mechanics which are used solely
N manual labor; also on all agricultural imple-
meHts and on all cotton ties. This bill is one of
the many that have been introduced during the
present session looking to a reduction or removal
a tariH duties and overthrow OF the system of
protection 1t now exists. The protectionists
Ind themselves attacked on every hand by bills
under all sorts OF titles but all aimed at the same
end The bill OF Senator George Is TO encourage
Industry by giving to the farmer mechanic and
manufacturer cheap implements, tools and ma
chnery. Farming Is now carried on In this coun-
Try chiefly b. the aid Of machinery, and the tariff
for protection keeps the price OF this machinery
30 high mat 1t is beyond the reach OF the poor
man