Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-24
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. DC. NAV 90. ,

WASHINGTON, D. c.. May 20. 'S2.
Our national legislature is composed
largely of lawyers. The first instinct of a
lawyer is to get retainer. 1t is suspected
that there are firms, organizations, corpor
atoms and even individuals in the United
States wealthy enough to retain congress.
| say it is suspected. do not say it is so.
The suspicion that national legislature
is purchasable is a terrible and deplor-
able suspicion. Benedict Arnold was foil
ed and his treachery was abortive. But,
If, after the accumulation of a century,
this fair republic can be bought by a
whisky ring or a railroad ring, It is quite
time to build a monument to Benedict
Arnold. The Hon. James Beck, native
of Scotland. but at present senator from
Kentucky, delivered this week long
argument in favor of bill to enable dis
tillers to hold their whisky eight years
without tax. The principal distillers and
whisky merchants of the country have
formed a ring to procure Legislation that
will enable them to age their whisky at
the expense of the government. Senator
Beck from Scotland via Kentucky, is the
advocate for the ring. He asserts that no
money has been used to influence legisla-
ton except "legitimately." How money
can be used legitimately to influence legis-
lation he has not explained. The law that
the whisky men want will enable the dis.
tiller to bond bis poison unstamped for
ninety-six months, which is the longest
period of bonded stowage allowed in the
bill, and it will deprive the national treas
ury of an immense revenue.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
Several years ago congress granted to
railroad corporations over 100000 square
miles of land, or about II 100000 acres,
on condition that they should complete
these roads within certain limited time.
The grant covers an area ofterritory larg.
er than all ofthe New England states, with
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and Maryland thrown in. Up to the pres
ent time these roads have earned about
$4,000, 900 acres, and there remain about
S2,000,000 not yet earned but claimed by
these roads, and withheld from settlement
Divided up into 1G0 acre homesteads, these
fortified grants would give homes to q
population as large as that of the state of
Ohio. These lands, forfeited through fail.
ure to complete the roads within the legal
limit, are worth $500, 100000. These land.
belong to the government but they are
claimed by the railroads, which no Longer
consist of seven corporations but are con.
solidated into three or four powerful cor.
porations, that, like the whisky ring, have
their advocates in the House and in the
Senate, and are able to show corruption
fund beside which that of the Credit
Mubilier would seem bagatelle. The
House committee on the Judiciary are en-
g ,ged in the investigation of the status Of
tie land grant railroads, and reports will
b male as soon as conclusions are reach.
g. Tue committee adopted resolution
snme Ten days since enjolning absolute
Sec c> upon its members, so that little is
Nno"n AS To its action ST. far.
TIE pension bill tor the next year APP
npriates one hundred million dollars. L
nt- been proved that the frauds on the
prnson list are between five and twenty
per cent of the just awards. AT the lowest
figure, this would be $5,OO0,O0O of the
present bill, at the highest S20,00O,00O
Fraud has become regular business with
perfected machinery, handled by host o.
pension agents who have grown so rich
within few years that it has been said
the increase of pensions bill was passed
through their influence, and for their bene'
fit. Congress should do something to pro-
tect taxpayers from this robbery, which
could not be carried on without collision
in the pension office.