Some parties are making great efforts to pass a bill through Congress that will compel the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to pay large sums into a sinking fund, and I have some fears that such a bill will pass.... The temper of Congress is not good and I fear we may be hurt.[542] A letter from Colton dated March 5, 1878, reads: By the telegraph this morning in the papers I see outline of Thurman’s Sinking Fund Bill, etc. It does seem as though the whole world, Courts and all, were determined to rob us. * * * * * I know you are having a terrible struggle on that side, and think of you very often, but, Huntington, I see no way but to fight it out on these lines, and fight them inch by inch while we last; let’s look to paying our debts, incurring no more, and stand by the wreck to the last. We can at least die game.[543] When the Thurman bill passed the Senate, the correspondence took a still more gloomy turn. Huntington wrote Colton on April 19, 1878, that in his judgment the House would follow the Senate’s lead. He had made some mistakes, of which the greatest was Gould’s going to Washington. Colton replied, on April 29: We all agree with you that this Congress is simply a band of robbers. They were such a set of cowards they dare not go onto the highway and give the man they rob an even show with them, but went to Congress and did it through that channel. But Huntington, we will live to see many of these fellows come to grief. I trust the day will soon come that we can get in a shape that you can avoid going to Washington during a session of Congress. A few sessions like the present one and the last will wear you out.... * * * * * I think you will remember I wrote you once or twice that in my opinion Jay Gould would be a heavy load for us to carry in Washington or elsewhere, whenever we had connections with him that would affect our interests, on account of the general feeling against him. So I am not surprised to read what you say of him and the Funding bill, but it was a thing we could not help, as I understand it.... * * * * * I hope Congress will adjourn soon, and that you will be able to get out here as early as possible, for I want very much to see you again. There is much for us all to talk over and look after. I do not think you will find anyone to buy you out, nor do I want you to. I think we must stick to the wreck.[544]