The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-01-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
T.. OF 1904

~ thoJ w NA
ed fact, barring the absolute pur-
chase of Congressman by Hunting
toms agents, that the present Con
gress will meet the expectations of
the people in compelling the sur
render by railway corporations of a
number of forfeited land grants. The
House Committee on Public Lands
has already decided upon a number
of these grants, the most important
of which is the Texas Pacific, which
Mr.. Huntington is trying to gobble,
and there is no doubt that the COM
mittee will be sustained in its re-
port. A fierce fight will be made by
the lobby, but the current appears to
be too strong for them, and the eyes
of the country through the press, are
too close upon them to render the
purchase of enough votes practicable
orpossible.
If the Texas Pacific had been built
under the law making the grant, the
company would have been entitled to
Ia, 000, 900 acres ofland. But the com
pany failed and abandoned the work
after having earnestly besought Con-
gress for other aid in raising money,
which was refused. Its chief argu-
ment was that there ought to be q
southern route TO compete with the
Union and Central Pacific. But here
comes in Mr.. Huntington of the
Southern Pacific, who defeated them
by setting up that his company
would build the desired competitor
without subsidy and without Gov
eminent aid. To beat Scott and gain
his point he eve claimed that the
Texas Pacific grant had already laps
ed, and pushed his line through
territory upon which he was really a
tresspasser if that grant was alive.
The Texas Pacific went down. Tom
Scott broken in health and defeated
in purpose, sold out to Jay Gould.
And now comes the anti-subsidy
Huntington, who built his road upon
the ruins of the Texas Pacific, and
presents Jay Gonld's order on the
Government for this fourteen mill.
ion acres of land which the Texas
Pacific woald have been entitled to il
it had been built. The enterprising
Gould having no desire to build the
road, obligingly turned over te
Huntington, for whatever he could
make out of it, the land grant te
which he himself had no more title
than Satan had to the real estate
once offered by him from the top o,
a mountain. 1t is gratifying to OBJ
serve that the scheme is going to bt
heavily sat down upon by Congress
and that some vast territory sup
posed to be in the grasp of those whc
have V given anything for it, il
to be restored to the public domain
Somebody has called attention t.
the curious fact that it is unluck.
for aspiring statesmen to build bi!
houses in Washington, and the re
cent defeat of Mr.. Peldleton seem'
to be a fresh illustration of this pc
cular truth. In nearly every case
even as far back as Douglass Brock
, inridge, the public men who hav
attempted a fine permanent residenc
here have found it the erection of
m%ausoleum for their political hope
, instead off palace. Neither Spragu
nor his father-in-la law long enjoyed
the stately mansion with its larg'
grounds, at the corner of Sixth ant
E streets, which is now a bosrdin,
house. Attorney General William
was one of the first to build a fin
residence in the new part of the Yves
End. The red lining of a carriag
killed him not long after. Senate
! Stewart built what is still Gale
"The Castle" further out. 1t nearl
burned down twice, and his famil
have only occupied it for a short tim
lately. Gen. Butler erected the vel
known granite mansion on Capita
Hill which could not have cost les
: than $1,000 just before he wen
3 out of national politics apparent,
"for good" Even the leasing of
seemed likely to prove almost equal
r fatal TO the prosperity Of Senate
: Jones, of Nevada. "Boss" Shepher
t only completed his fine house abou
, the time the return wave came in hi
fortunes and sent him to the MeXica'
mines and his house into the hand
of a receiver. Mr.. Robson has nc
lived in his house; Mr.. Blaine Only
short time in his; Mr.. WINDOWS wa
directly used as a campaign carr
against him; Senator Cameron ha
gone a road from his immense blu
somewhat gloomy pile, and his Stat
has reared and kicked up agains
him; and now the near neighbor o
those last mentioned has ruefull,
) walked the plank in Ohio.
l The Investigation being conducte'
? by MI. Springer's committee int
the affairs of the Department @
!, Justice is developing very interest
| ing state of facts concerning variou
: United States marshals. 1t appear
that nearly every marshal has tsker
care to get a good deal of Govern
ment money in the way of fees, ant
; that numbers of them are short il
their accounts. Ex-Marshall Hall
of Pittsburg, it is said, made $3.50,
900 unlawfully, and about a dozel
others owe the Government from
$4,000 upward. This is a nice stat
of facts which was not suspected out
side OF the Attorney Generals office
=, aid the curious part of it is in tn
indifference shown there and til
utter lack of accountability or re
sponsibility exacted by that depart
ment. 1t is said there will be som
loud music when the investigation
gets down to the Star-route trial an,
kindred matters. PHoNo.
:, Take the DEMOCRAT.