Dr. J. F. Rhodes brings his History of the 17nited
States from 1850 to 1877 (Macmillan and Co., 12e. each) to an end by the publication of Vols. VI. and VII., taking in respectively the periods 1866-72 and 1872-77. Vol. VII. begins with a curious story of the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. A Committee of Investigation estimated the cost of the line at 410,000,000, and the contractor's profit at 44,600,000. Dr. Rhodes thinks this excessive, but a sum of 42,000,000 was acknowledged, and the truth probably lies between the two. But a more serious matter was the alleged bribery of Members of Congress. Investigation was made, and a Committee recommended the expulsion of two Members. The penalty was commuted to "censure," and even this was opposed. But, as Dr. Rhodes remarks, "the House unwittingly executed on these unhappy men the extreme penalty of the law." Both died within three months. Expulsion was also recommended in the case of a Member of the Senate. As the Session was but five days from its termination nothing was done,—a quite amazing resolution. The whole story is a very painful one, but it has to be considered, the more so because here many influences are working towards the rule of the professional politician. The book deals with many subjects, but no one can fail to be struck as he reads the "Contents" with the frequent recurrences of such words as "bribery," "corruption," "dishonesty," and the like. Here is a specimen of these narratives :—" Barbaric extravagance presided over the furnishing of the State Capitol [South Carolina]. $1,600 went for 200 imported china spittoons. Clocks were bought for $400 each, chandeliers at $650 and French mirrors for $750. Over $200,000 was paid for furniture, the appraised value of which in 1877 was $17,715 A house of ill fame was furnished at the expense of the State." We are not wholly without this kind of thing, but our imitations are but feeble. "Popular control" does not necessarily bring with it incorruptibility.
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