The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

" AoAAAANO ASANN IL Ssp "A pa as - AOON'
1t appears that we are to have an
other general bankruptcy act, with
all the shameful features of that
which was made the instrument of
so much barefaced fraud on the part
of the debtor class, oppression on the
part of the creditor, and legal robbery
on the part of the officials who exc
cuted it. Under the old act, for the
repeal Of which the whole country
clamored most vociferously, there
was not register nor marshal nor
an assignee nor other officers of the
court in which bankruptcy proceed
ings took place. who did not make
fortunes out of the fees, constructive
and otherwise, that this infamous law
authorized them to exact from insol.
vent estates. The property of the
debtor was in seven cases out of ten
virtually absorbed by these officials,
and the instances in which the credi-
tors received any dividends from the
estates of insolvents were only those
of the greatest magnitude. Ihave in
mind the cases Of two assignees who
were selected in all bankruptcy cases
in Chicago, whose actual earnings for
several years amounted 10 more than
81 ,0O0, 5000 each per year. while Hib.
bard, the register, acquired property
of over $3.50, 900 in the very few years
that he performed the duties of his
Office. The whole proceedings in these
bankruptcy cases were conducted I'M
der system of favoritism, of espion-
age, and in too many instances in the
interest solely of these official plum.
derers. What was true of Chicago
was likewise true of st. Louis and
other large cities, in which the law
was made tremendous engine of op.
preston and injustice. 1t is amazing
that after the experience that we
have had under that outrageous law,
Congress should so soon consider the
circumstances of the country condi-
toned for repetition of it.
The House Democratic Members
have for some days been whispering
among themselves about the eminent
propriety of dropping the tariff bust
ness just where it is and let it stay
dropped, at least for the present.
When Mr.. Morrison therefore called
for the regular order Thursday MORN
ing, he was easily induced to forego
any persistency about it, and the
tariff bill was not again heard of dur
ing the day. The speech of Mr.. Nor
rill in the Senate in reply to Mr..
Beck, has had the effect to frighten
away large number Of the support
ers of the Morrison bill in the House
who have been busy in the tabuIation
of Presidential probabilities in case
the tariff question should enter con-
spicuously into the campaign. With
New York assuming the situation
that Indiana held in 1880 as the essen
TALLY pivotal State, they are begin
ming to apprehend the terrors, of a
tariff issue. Here is a specimen brick
of their many calculations, which l
may say all point to inevitable Re-
publican success, figure as they may {:
The total electoral vote this year
will be 401, with 2O1 necessary to a
choice. The debatable States of Cali
fornia, Indiana, Nevada, New Jer-
sey. New York and Ohio. are not by
any means to be counted as certain
for the Democracy in any event, but
with the tariff issue on hand they can
be implicitly relied upon as solid
for Republicanism. These doubtful
States have "a votes, a bare majority
of which is all that is required to fill
out the POI electoral votes with the
154 coming from the assured Repub-
lican States. In the 154 electoral votes
that they count assured, however, is
that of Connecticut, which too often
loses her way and gets over into the
Democratic camp. Nevada and Cali
fornia do the same, but they are not
likely to this year. 1t will be in
finitely easier for the Republicans to
carry New Jersey and California this
year. than it was to carry Indiana
four years ago, the former having
already demonstrated her position
upon the tariff bill, when not single
member of the New Jersey Senate
dared to record his vote in favor of
the Democratic reform policy of the
present House. Then with New Jer-
sey, Nevada and California added to
Ohio, the Republicans would fall
short only IA votes without either
New York or Indiana, and as Louis
lana as we'll as Indiana may &C for
the Republicans because of their de-
mand for protection, the poor Dem
ocrats hardly know where the cleo
toral majority for the Republicans
will stop,