Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-08-06
Correspondence OF the Baltimore Patriot.
WASHINGTON JulY %. l

AAsHINGToS July ~, 1917.
The House passed the contingent bill last eve.
ming, after a long session. Somo OF the Prov
sIous Of this bill are most important, and wt re-
suit in great saving 10 the country. In my
next, viii furnish you with an abstract OF the
most important provisions, which, you Will see,
provide the ways and means for choppjng off many
Of the extras of the Executive and the Depart
ments From all appearances, the present Cons
gress will not break up without accomplishing
oy tdieIous reforms. The expenditures IN all
departments Of the public service viii be very
maternity reduced. The House adjourned last
eyenng af.er the bill was reported e the House,
ton this morning.
The committee Of conference upon the Navy
till Will also report this morning. From the or
ganization Of the committee, it Is probable the
senate will recede, aud that the navy will be re.
duccd quite to the extent proposed by the House
Of REPRESENTATIVES. NJ next letter will proba-
BY, however, make what is doubtful certain, IN
reference to this important bill.
The Senate had a session Of soven hours, YES
tcrIlv, and five Of them were consumed upon the
Revenue bill. 1t was "ajl talk and no CIDER
rncre was an ocean Of words, aud not one vote.
am sorry to say. The discussion, too was con.
ined pretty much to the consideration of a single
amendment ana that the article Of cotton bag
ging. Five hours talk, with prelude OF two
hours more and the thermometer at 90, is no ike.
can assure YOU, especially to those who are stow
ed away in the gallery. listened to much OF
the discussion, and though do not remember to
have heard more earnest debate, there was no
enjoyment IN listening even TO the best speeches.
1t was treat to many, however, for the reason
that some OF the most distinguished Senators par
ticpated in il. Mr.. Preston, Of South Carolina,
and Mr.. Simmons, Of Rhode Island. had pas
sage.atarns and both Senators exhibited their
peculiar traits of character. The Senator from
the South, with four times the polish and gift Of
speech, and perhaps classical reading and book
informl ton, has about one.tenth Of that prac-
teal information and good sense which is worth
every thiog else to one called upon rather to say
what s true than what is beautiful. Mr. Pres
ton was inmeasurably dIstanced in his argument,
and such was the Judgment Of the majority OF the
Senate.
Mr. Evans, Of Maine, and Mr. Walker, Of Miss.
had some sparring also upon this article of cotton
baggjng. Mr.. Walker told Mlnchausen story
Of payment of duty at the rate Of two hundred
aud ify per cent for gunny bags, which Mr..
Evans reduced with the books md the prices cur
rent before him. TO ono-tweltlh of this sum.
Messrs. Criten3en aud Calhoun led of in the
debate-the ore IN defence Of the higher duty.
and the other for the lowest. Both gentlemen
sustained themselves 9eFv ably.
Oaa Of the mos: cre5itab'e and manly speeches
of the day. was from Mr.. Barrow. of Louisiana,
whose example was one worthy Of all Southern
Senator'S and particularly those calling themseIs'
Wings. Mr. B regarded himself as representing
something beyond Louisiana, and seeing ihat he
could regard well his State, without sacrific
lag the country. he supported both. HIS patriot
ism is that of locality, but OF country. and
it was most agreeable TO hear such speech III
contrast with these which came from Mr.. Pres
ton.
The Senate were Ia session until nearly six o.
clock before The adjolrament. To-day, It Is pro
babe, vote may be had upon some Of the a.
amendments. and the Indications now are, that the
bill will pass the Senate pretty much IN the form
IN which il passed the House.