The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-25
From The .Ncw York Tribune.
MATTERS AT WASHINGTON


walton and inquiry in Washington. The
impression imbibed during his brief So
Journ at the Federal Metropolis have been
freely communicated from day to day
through his letters. The general results
OF his inquiries are The following conclu-
sions:
]. There is now rather more probable
lty that some plan ofFiuance and Curren-
cy, based on the Presidents suggestions,
VIII be adopted at this Session than that
one will not. Its character will proba-
oiy undergo material Transformations, Ell
'her IN Committee or in the House. The
power to discount or purchase Bills of
Exchange will probably be stricken out.
The great difficulty will be to so designate
ana constitute the Board of Control, Tor
whatever 1t may be termed, as to add
holhIng to the power and patronage of
the President. On this point, many Wing
Members are inAt xibe, and if not conce-
ded, they will reluctantly vote against the
bill. ''''' WIZ
II. There is good hope that thorough
examination of the ordinary Expenditures
oil the Government-Salari2s, Fees, Sc
VIII be made at this Session, with view
to the Retrenchment of any and every
expenditure that may be curtailed without
injury to the Public Service. If any Off
ces are found unnecessary, they will most
certainly be cut off An excellent and
determined Committee has this subject
specially in charge, and the temper of the
House is good. The point of most diff
Guilty is the reduction of the paw of Mem
bers of Congress. Many consider that
they have less now than is paid to public
servants in any other capacity requiring
equal talent and involving equal RESPONSE
blllty, apart from the fact that they are so
lrregularly employed as to derange any
business they may have, without paying
them for more than third of their time.
There is force in these suggestions; vet
we are confident that reduction of their
compensation to the bare cost of econo-
mic living in Washington-says S25 to
S4O per week-would tend greatly to
reduce the length and the incidental cos,
OF the Sessions, and improve the charac-
ter OF the Houses, by leaving out needy
young professional men who are injured
by being taken from their business and
sentt to Congress at any price, and replace
them by men Of greater experience and
maturer Judgment, who are not distracted
by private cares, and to whom the pav |
would be no object. We earnestly hone
that reduction will be made, and that
the Mileage will at any rate be cut down
one half. 1t would then be higher, in
view Of the greatly improved means cf|
communication, then the present rates
were then established
iii. The departments of War and the
Navy call urgently for largely increased
appropriations, in order that the Country
may be placed in a thorough posture of
defence. The general impression that our
Foreign Relations are in so critical con-
dl'ion that ample preparations for War
are the only sure Conservatives of Peace
will induce Congress to accede measure
bly, to these demands, but probably not to
their full extent.
". The supposed alienation of many
Wing Members from President TYLER will
rarely induce them to vote against his
Fiscal project. On the contrary, many
whose dissent from his course is most de-
olded are among the most earnest advo-
Gates OF adopting some measure based on
the Presidents proposition. Indeed, ii is
evident that, if personal con sderations
were to override, the rejection of his plan
would strengthen the President more than
It's well-considercd adoption.
V. The Tariff will probably be some
what improved at this Session, though
not half what the interests of the Coun-
try require. The Compromise Act pro-
vldes that duties after July next be based
upon the value of the imported articles in
MS Country; this can only be carried into
consistent and beneficial effect by ascer-
tanning and settling the average dlome
Value of Iron, Sugar, Silk, SC. &C., and
making the duty specific on that amount
For instance, if the average value in this
Country of pig iron is found to be thirty
dollars ton, let the duty invariably be
twenty per cent. on that amount, or Sc
per ton-and so throughout. We hope
this will be done, but do not feel assured
OF it More we hardly expect this Ses-
sion.
vi. The Land Distribution Bill will
not be repealed, nor will the Bankrupt
Law. lfany attempt is made on either,
it will only be for effect elsewhere. An
effort will be made to subject Banks to
Compulsory Bankrupt Law we hear,
without success.
VII. vast number of Private Claims
against the government have been suffer-
ed to accumulate throughout the last
ten years-many of them preposterous,
but many, again, founded in the clearest
Justice, and the postponement of which
is grievous and inexcusable wrong. We
are confident that thew will he ipyes,;ro