Daily Republican., 1882-05-20
WAsnIMaTON LETTER.
Lawyers In Congress Tho Whis-
key Ring axA othsr Rings -
Fraud an0 JOhbery-TSO much
MAnAv As.AAa aIhlA

l
key Ring axA othsr Rings -
Fraud ano Johbsry-Tso much
Money AZ ceesslble.
From our regular correspondent.
WAsHIN fToN, d. g., May 20. 1882. -
Oar National Legislature is composed
largely of lawyers. Tho first instinct
OF . lawyer is to get . retainer. 1t Is
suspected that there are firms, organi
cations, corporations and even indi.
vidvals in tho United States wealthy
enough to retain Congress. l say it ID
suspected. do not lay 1t is 80. The
suspicion that q national legislature Ii
purchasable Ia terrible aud deplor.
abe suspicion. Benedict Arnold Nas
foiled and his treachery was abortive.
But, If after tia accumulation of cen
tury, this fair republic can be bought
by WhlsKey illg or Railroad Ring
it Is quite tins to build a monument
TO Benedict AlaGid. The Hon. James
Beck, native OF 5cotlsnd, but at pres
ent Senator. from Kentucky, delivered
this week . 10. & argument In favor of
q bi II to enabln distillers to hold their
whiskey eight years without tax.
Tho principal distillers and whiskey
merchants O. ,he country hsye formed
\ ring to procure legislation, that will
enable them to ago their whisky at the
expense Of the Government. Senator
Beck from Scotland via kentucky is
the advocate for tho ring. He asserts
that no money has been used TO intlu-
enoe legislation except "IIegitimate)y." f"
How money can be used legitimstely to
influence legislation no has not ex-
planned. The Ia y that the whiskey
men want will enable the distiller to
bond his poison unstamped for ninety
six months, which Is the longest period
Of bonded stowaga allowed In the bill,
and it will deprive the National Treas
ury of an immense revenue.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
Several ears ago Congress granted
to railroad corporations over 1S0, 1000
square miles Of land, or 115. 900, 900
acres, on condition that they should
complete the railroads within.a certain
limited time. The grant covers an
area of territory larger than all the
New England States, with New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Mary
land thrown in. Up to the present
time they have earned about 33, 900 900
acres, and there remains yet about
S2, ,000,0 900 rot earned but claimed by
these roads and withheld from settle
ment. D.. .ded up into 100 acre home
steads, these fortified grants would
give homes to a population as large as
the State of OHIO. These lands, for
feited through failure to complete
the railroads within the legal limit, are
worth $500, 0o0, 900. But they are claimed
by the raill Dads, which no longer con-
sist of sev On corporations, but are con-
solidated into three or four powerful
corporsticns that, like the whiskey
ring, have their advocates III tbs HOUSE
and in the Senate, and are able 10
show a corruption fund, beside which
that Of the Credit Mobilier would seem
q bagatelle.
The House committee OF Tie Judici.
ary are engaged IN the Investigation of
the status of the land grant to railroads
and reports will be made as soon as
conclusions are reached. The commit.
tee adopted resolution some ten days
since enjoining absolute secrecy upon
its members, SO that little is known as
to its action so far.
The Pension Bill for the next year
one hundred million dol.
lars. 1t has been proved that the
frauds on the pension list are between
five and twenty per cent. of the just
awards. At the lowest figure, this
would be IS, ,000, 900 Of the present bill,
at the highest SIC, ,00O, 900. Fraud has
become regular business with perfect
ed machinery, handled by . host of
pension agents who have gro wn 80 rich
within few years, that it has been
said the increase Of pension bills was
passed through their influence, and for
their benefit. Congress should do
to protect taxpayers from
This robbery, which could not be carried
On without collusion in the Pension
Office, G, A, 8.