The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-06-26
vEAMmTwGsTow E,ETTlH7sr..
From our Regular Correspondent
wAsHrNaroK, June ~, 1886.

The late Vice President Hendricks
made the remark that ihe presence of
Mr. Holman in Congress was worth
e25, 000,0 900 a year to the q. s. Gov
eminent II is Thought that Mr. Hol-
man and two other members Mr..
Springer and Mr.. Henley saved the
country thrice that amount last week.
j III it had not been for the presence of
/ these veteran members upon the Dem
ocrat side, the Pacific r. r. lobby
would have succeeded in passing
Through the House one of the most
outrageous pieces Of fraud which any
lobby has ever attempted upon the
Governmcnt. The present Congress
is weak from the factthat many Of its
members are raw and inexperienced in
National affRirs. Whenever an i'm
| portant public question comes up,
they have no resources of ready in
formation to draw from When mem
beers like Holman, Springer and Hen
lev show an aptitude for public bust
ness, their constituents will act wisely
in keeping them in Office, no matter
how clamorous popular and aspiring
4 Ounces may be for their places. Green
members, no matter how good may be
their intentions, are utterly valueless
in securing honest Legislation against
powerful and disciplined lobby. The
Pacific Railroad people had planned TO
push their extension bill through Con-
gress, and had so adroitly manipu-
lated the members, that if it had not
been for the presence of Messrs.
Springer, Holman and Henley, they
would have succeeded. Their pyopo-
sition~to extend the payment of the
debt Of the Pacific Railroad was put
in such illusive form, that il made
direct appeal TO the members who were
not acquainted with recent Pacific
railroad history. The argument that
the u. S. would have better security
for its debt, and that in this way alone
wonld the Government secure any
thing, was well calculated to deceive
The report of the committee was unan-
imons, and this was strong argu-
meut in its favor. The lobby had cir
culated reports that the administration
was in favor of the bill that Secretary
Lamar approved ii; and that Mr. Thur
man himself had declared in favor Of
it. These false statements, made with
ont the slightest official authority, seem
to have been swallowed by many mem
beers without question. Neither MIR.
Springer nor Mr. Holman knew that
the Pacific Railroad bill would come
up. The committee reported it with
ont warning. But these gentlemen
were able at once to draw from their
funds of experience and learning suffi
!. cient argument 10 turn the House
against the most gigantic scheme that
has been proposed for years. The
measure involved the refunding of q
debt of S1o9,O00,000. This debt viii
be due in eleven years. The Pacific
Railroad committee attempted 10 rush
this bill through without information
and without reports in the briet time
of fonr hours. Mr.. Springer made the
best speech that he ever made IN the
House. He at first appeared to be the
only member 10 fully understand the
questions presented. lie was without
preparation; but during the speech of
, the chairman Of the committee in ia
Vor of the bill, he got the Thurman
Act, and copy of the Pacific Rail
road bill He is a very ready arith-
metician; and during the delivery of
the chairman's speech, he figured the
money that would come to the Gov
, eminent under such measure. He
found to his surprise that the passage
of the Extension bill wonld cost the
Government $75,00O,O00. His clear
and forcible statement of facts i'm
pressed the House with the discoveries
made by him during the thirty min
utes in which he had prepared his
argument.
MIR. Springer is one Of the most
studions men of the Honse, and he has
at his fingers ends vast fund of in
: formation on all public questions. II
it had not been for his ready eloquence
At is doubtful If the Pacific railroad
lobby bill would have been thwarted.
Mr.. Holman's efforts, however, must
3 not be moderated, and patriotic Dem
ocrats should never forget Mr.. Hen
bricks estimate of him. The great
: Indiana opposer of theft, waste, and
extravaganza, is always at his post,
He has a thorough knowledge Of all
public questions, and he very rarely
makes a mistake. His presence in the
House is standing menace TO the
nnmberless conspiracies TO burglarige
the public treasury. He is cordially
hated by all who are trying to get
their hands into the public vaults. 1t
is common for members of Congress
to say I" w6uld present o bill for this
+ or that appropriation, but Holman
' be SIRE TO Kill it with an objection =
He stands alone, uninfnenced BY
!, yenality. Private, social and domestic
I matters do not touch him. Although
= this debate was sprung upon him as Q
surprise, he displayed a thorough
. knowledge of the minutest details con
corning the Pacific railroads, and was
not equaled by any member Of The
special committee that has had this
! sabjoct under consideration during the
entire session.
Asrogress at ElAe SuIPAaasr REEne.
Fsstttor Lake fll,arles Echo.