Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-27

wAsHMeToH HHws AND GOSSIP.
The Seven Steam sloops Bill.-Ths bill to
authorize the construction of the seven sloops
OF var. We understand, may yet Be passed.
Surely it ought to pass, for the debate in the
Senate, few days ago, shows at least that
our relations with the two great naval powers
Of the world are not altogether settled, and
that We can scarcely expect to escape trouble.
We certainly shall not do 30 by taking dc.
FAINT position, and exhibiting at the same time
no power to maintain 1t. Our weakness now
invites aggression, and the expense of . war
thus brought about would be far more than
many times the cost of our whole naval estab-
lishment. If We choose to manifest the bra.
vado Of giant, We should possess something
more than the weakness of Q pigmy. The
Senate may insert . clause authorizing the
construction Of the sloops asked for by the
Secretary Of the Navy, in the naval appropri.
alton bill, and the House will then be brought
to direct vote upon 1t; and We hope and be-
lieve there will be found sufficient strength to
carry measure SO strongly recommended BY
sound policy.
The Marine Band.-We trust that Congress
will not forget to increase somewhat the wages
Of the Marine Band, than whom no Govern.
ment has NO more faithful and laborious en-.
ployees The custom Of calling on them to
perform in the public grounds for the enter.
tainment Of Congress and the community
here, a. we'll a. their employment at the ex-
ecutive mansion and elsewhere on all public
occasions, is extra labor-additional work
they did not enlist to do. That extra labor
on their part, is great accommodation in
deed to the public, to say the least of it. As
they perform thunder Government orders, it is
but fair that they should receive some com.
pensation for it. Most Of them are men with
respectable families settled around the ma.
rine barracks. The increase Of the cost of
living affects them seriously, inasmuch as their
poor pittance of pay SO far, remains the same
Not one man in ten usually enlisted in the
Government military or naval service has a
| family to support. Their case, however, is
different, as explained above. We trust that
eur Congressional readers will not forget these
deserving men.
Tho Railroad land Donating Bills "A
fanz pas vas made, it strikes US, in bringing
forward the Alabama, Florida, and Michigan
railroad land donating bills first, before the
House. They were evidently the weakest Of
all the long list of such measures which have
been considered by tho public lands committee
at the present session.
The Iowa bill and the Wisconsin bill, both
of which propose to construc: most important
links in or extensions of well known success full
great lines Of improvement, have far more
strength in the Hall, evidently, than either of
the others mentioned above-inasmuch as the
constituents of Representatives from many
States are interested in the completion of the
lines Of improvement referred to. We think
the Iowa bill could have been passed on any
day of the session, and shall not be surprised
to find it yet successful ere the session closes
The Supreme Court We sincerely hope
that Congress will not close its session without
increasing the salaries of the Justices of the
Supreme Court. Four thousand Eve hundred
dollars per annum may seem to be large pay.
Yet it is impossible for either of the members
of the court to save a dollar of that salary,
such being their necessary expenses. When
that sum was originally accorded them, it
went nearly twice as far as at present. This
Is fact notorious to all, and should be duly
weighed by Congress. All Of them are law
yers Of such eminence that in the practice of
their profession they could make much more
than they now receive. To under-pay them
is a very dangerous experiment, indeed. and
cannot long be persisted in without resulting
in bad consequences.
List Of senators.-The following is correct
list Of United States Senators, with the expira-
tion Of their terms Of service; and also of those
elected to fill vacancies occurring on the 4th of
March, 1856:
Maine-Hannibal Hamlin, 1857; w. P.
Fessenden, 1889.
New Hampshirs-JOhn S. Wells, appointed,
1855; vacancy, 1859.
WI hons- IL DIoiuo1u, lOSo D. TOOt, looI
j. COlamer elected.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Sumner, 1857; Henry
Wilson, 1859.
Rhode Island-C. T. James, 1857; Philip
Allen, 1859.
Connectieut-F. Gillette, 1856; Isaac Tou-
cey, 1857. Mr.. Foster elected.
New York-Wm. IL Seward, 1855; Hamil
ton Fish, 1857. VIM. II. Seward reelected.
New jersey. K. Thomson, 1857; William
Wright, 1859.
Pennsylvania-James Cooper, 1855 Rich.
ard Brodhead, 1857.
Delaware-J. A. Bsyard, 1857 j. NJ Clay.
ton, 1859.
Maryland.-J. A. Pearce, 1855; T. g. Pratt,
1857. j. A. Pearce reelected.
Virginia NJ. Mason, 1857; r. NJ. T.
Hunter, 1859.
North Carolina.-G E. Badger, 1855; D s.
Reid, 1859. A. Riggs elected.
South Carolina-A. P. Butler, 1855; ]. ].
Evans, 1859. A. P. Butler re- elected.
Georgia w. c. Dawson, 1855; r. Toombs,
1859. - Iverson elected.
Kentucky.-A. Dixon, 1855; ]. B. Thomp
son, 1859. j. j Crittenden elected.