Smyrna times., 1882-01-04

ATTORNEY GENERAL BREwsTER's letter
to George Bliss on the Star Route cases
has the right ring. The civil and crimi-
nal prosecutions, Mr. Brewster says,
must be earnestly pressed" The public
will be happy to see some speedy and
tangible results of pressure thus plainly
promised.
IT is gratifying to be able to note that
one of the many memorial movements in
honor of the late President Garfield, star
ted Immediately after his death, is certain
to be successfully carried out. The fund
for the endowment of Garfield Profes-
sorship in Williams College has already
reached $95, 900 and will undoubtedly
soon attain the full amount of $4,000
originally contemplated.
THERE is likely to be battle in Con-
gress over the question whether the tariff
shall be directly revised or referred to q
commission. The tendency at this time
appears to be i'll favor of a commission:
bat there are strong arguments favorable
to action by the Ways and Means Com
nittee. 1t can gather as much practical
information in less time and at less cost
than commission. And as it must deter
mine what shall be done, it is best for it
to gain its own information.
THE smallpox epidemic is confined to no
one locality. Numerous cases are repor-
ted in nearly all the principal cities of the
country, and the scourge has appeared in
rural districts in the Far West. Medical
science has not yet found reason for the
occasional outbreaks of this dreadful dis
ease, following long periods of almost en-
tire exemption from its ravages. Perhaps
the cause lies in a condition of the atmos-
phere favoring the activity of it's germs
and rendering the human system unus-
ually liable to their absorption.
r A WASHINGTON dispatch to the Tribune
describes the trials of Western Congress
men who spend nearly all their time in
attending to the private business of their
constituents, neglecting their legislative
duties, and running from Department to
Department with their hands and pockets
full of papers, urging that pension and
other claims be made special" and put
through out of their order. 1t is said that
these members have no time to attend
committee meetings and take little part in
the proceedings of the House, except to
vote on party questions. Yet they are
popular at home, and are reelected be-
cause they are so obliging and attend to
business SO diligently. Such members are
in reality claim agents
A WARM debate ON the Mormon uueS-
ton is expected in the House at an early
day, when the Campbell Cannon contest
comes before that body for action. 1t is
thought probable that neither contestant
will be admitted, and an effort will be
made to deprive Utah of representation so
long as polygamy is practised and protec-
ted in that Territory. In all these six
years of Democratic control, Mr.. Cannon
and his polyganOus associates pursued
the even tenor of their way, and not until
the Republicans oraganized the present
Congress did they have cause for alarm.
Now he will certainly lose it, even if he
shall be seated Temporarily; and, besides
that, there will be stern legislation against
polygamy.
SATURDAY the first through train over
the Southern Pacific Railroad left San
Francisco, bound for New Orleans. The
completion of this road connecting the
Pacific with the Gulf of Mexico is an
event Of National Interest. It's first effect
on the currents of commerce will NO
doubt be to cause a large portion of the
grain which now goes from California to
Europe by way of the long sea passage
around Cape Horn TO take the much
shorter route by New Orleans. The road
will be Of great and immediate benefit to
the metropolis of the Gulf, which declined
In busl1ess and population during the de-
cade following the war, and has only be-
gun to recuperate since the completion of
the Mississippi jetties. It will also facilitate
the rapid settlement of Northern Texas.
develop the mining resources of New
Mexico and Arizona, and give fresh and
needed stimulus to the growth Of Califor-
mia,
GurFEAU in the dock, early in the day
Friday, was as noisy as eyer he had been
in his place beside his counsel, and inter.
rupted the proceedings repeatedly. A
letter written by the assassin to Senator
Cameron asking for money was read after
q long contest and in the face of Guiteau's
protest, DIR. Walter Kempster, of Wis,
consin, the chief witness of the day
thought that Gpitean was f-igning in.
sanity. His head was not of an unusual
shape-a statement which he illustrated
by card-cuttjngs showing The contour Of
the heads of several yeli,known men
His testimony on this and other points
was regarded as important. as he has
made speciality Of cranioiogy. and hos
had an extended experience with insane
criminals. Friday, after thcHsual recess
Geiteau, who had been comparatively
quiet, became insulting to Judge Porter