Year: 1874

Correspondence Of the Times.


WASHINGTON, D. c.. March 25, 1874.


The Capitol is draped in mourning
Grape is festooned in corridor and lobby.


the usual badge of sorrow is worn by all


the habitues of the Senate, and sad ewes


rest on the seat 50 long occupied in the


Senate by Mr.. Sumner, who was to the gal


leries and on the floor the central figure of
interest.


Gen. Logan has vigorously assailed the


position taken by Carl Schurz in his late


brilliant speech upon the subject oftinance;


Senator Logan boldly advocated the in


crease of more money; he asked how it was


that S2O, 600 900 of certified checks were


issued by the Bank Association during the


panic, if there was money enough. He
denounced railroad speculation as the


cause of that panic.


The cheap transportation interest in the


House is sadly in need of a leader; there


has been a deal of scattering talk upon the
subject; there is an evident disposition u
mong western members TO >entilate their
opinions on it: but no combined effort
seems to be determined upon by the friends
of cheap transportation to secure favorable
! legislation for the producers of the coun-
| try. as against the consumers. Mr.. Nc
Crarev, of H., made a gallant fight for the
consideration of his bill on " ednesdav.
but was overborne 10y a multiplicity of
selfish interests and through them the sup
port he was entitled to. and had a right
to expect, was not given TO him. The
friends of such legislation will find it ne
cessary to combine upon some measure
looking to reform upon this important
question. or the session will pass and no.
thing will be done.


The investigation Of the Board of Pub
lie Works is progressing. and becoming
more interesting as it proceeds. 1t is
thought that while there may not be direct
personal official corruption proved against
Mr.. Shepherd, or other prominent official.
sort of lax conduct, which proyokes more
dangerous, because a more subtle dishOn-
esty, will be shown, through comming
ling of private interests with official rela-
tions. through the knowledge obtained in
the latter way of profitable opportunities
for the investment OF money where il was
certain to do the mos. good.


The Printing and Engraving Bureau of
the Treasury Department has been under
SpiHS IuNSStlSatltu W AtCu IL
its fate every session of Congress. This
winter no less than seven investigating
committees have been sitting on this Blu
reau, and it is the opinion of the knowing
ones that the results of their work is far
more satisfactory TO the Superintendent
than some of the methods that have been
resorted to to make capital for the investi-
gators. This Bureau has to meet and be
constantly prepared for the bitter hostility
and antagonism of the Bank Note Compa-
MES. These Companies naturally turn
with longing eyes upon the work done by
this Bureau; If il could only be squeiched,
the road to large dividends would be clear
ed at jump. Consequently, every effort
is made to accomplish this purpose
There is an active and persistent lobby
constantly on the alert to make friends To
help cast odium upon the workings of the
Bureau; spies are put on the track of the
superintendent, who follow his outgoings
and incomings with devotion character
istic of the spirit of the work. and worthy
of a better cause. Detectives are placed


as employees in his office to watch and
pray that something may be discovered


out of which a point can be made. In
spite of this unwearying effort, Mr.. Nc


Cartee stands with no shade yet cast upon


his honor or good name. There seems to


be no good reason why, with all the ma
chinery and force provided, the work of
| printing and engraving all the money
should not be done by the Government
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars


was paid to Adams Express Company last
year alone for transporting the money back


wards and forwards from New York to
Washington. Ifeconomy is the object de-
sired, here is leak that can be stopped


without distressing worthy clerks in the
Departments, who have served the Govern
ment well and faithfully for too many years
to be of service in any other industrial pur-
suit.


Speaking ofinvestigations, of grave charges
have been preferred against James H. Ba-
ker, the Commissioner of Pensions, and
are now before the Committee on Invalid
Pensions for examination. There has been
so much complaint about this mans man
agement of the Pension Office, so many un-
fair decisions, discriminating always "a
gainst the claimant, that it is thought an
investigation into the charges ought to be
made, if for no other purpose than to clear
the skirts of an official who, if innocent is
certainly a much abused man. The Pen
sion Bureau is one OF the most important
departments Of Government, and its head
should be man of ability, efficiency, and.
above all, possessed of strong love ofjus
tice. If it is right to give our disabled
soldiers and their widows and orphans
pensions at all, it ought to be done in
spirit of generosity, and not of parsimony,
or what is worse, in spirit of alms-giv
ing; soldiers are often deferred from max
ing applications for a pension, when clear
ly entitled to it, in consequence Of this at
titude of the Pension Office toward appli