New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-07
FROM TASHINGTON
THE SORT OF RErRENCHMENT PRO
POSED.

FUSED.
From Our Special Correspotdent
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4, 1859.
The prospect of get,iog On with Dir. john Sill
delrs Cuban business is not brilliant The sands OF
this Congress sJe feet running out aud day by day
something or other srises which postpones its
considerations.
Yestrday and day before the Senate were con-
sderDg the bill granting lands TO the States for
Agricultural Colleges. This bill eIcites COED deal
Of interest. The Senate is very evenly divided
upon it, 1t runs slong ts various stages with
msiority Of sometimes two and sometimes one 10
its favor hen the ~ nate Is at ts fullest and the
pairing of all adjusted This cIosenesso OF the vote
alone is sufficient to keep attention the strain.
The bill passed the House, but If it gets through
the Senate, it has bad 80 many amendments added
that it will have to 20 back. Ii gives 20,UU
acres of labd for each Member Of Congress, Sen.
atOrs included.
The French Spoliation bill was tumbled into the
Committee of the Whole in the House few days
ago, and that is tine end OF the House measure.
The bill which passed the Senate few days ago,
is. however. on the Speakers table, and if its
friends have majority in the House, as seems to
be supposed il can be- passed in spite Of the tricks
OF legislation. But the fate OF no measure not un-
der the whip aud spur of party drill, can be fore
told with any degree OF certainty. All such 60
slong as jacksss runs coming to a full stop just
when they seem to be at the hight oftheir speed.
There must be, inevitably some time or other,
reform IN the method Of transacting business by
Congress. 1t is only punched along nov 10 the
most slOyenly and uncertain manner. SelgbDg
over dry pavement is glib work compared with II.
The reform will have 10 be commenced by pitching
the desbs out OF doors and seating the Members on
benches. This will drive out the eternal dllatorl-
ness and procrasinaiion that prevails, and put an
end ts that huge abuse the endless speeches for
BUncOmbe.
The immense liveliness exhibited within few
days by the Admbistr. ton men in behalf of q re-
treDchment of national expenditure is refreshing
to behold. They seem TO have had from some
source or other decided intimaton that the peo-
Die intend to hold them to strict account for their
lavish prOdigality. 1t is only the pickpocket dodge
Of dropping the purse the moment the search com-
meDces.
As have before said, the business of retrench-
ment of expenditures can only be begun at It's
fountain, which is the ETecutire DepaHments by
m.king it an issue in general election. Never
will there be any holding mp under any Admins
tTatiOn TIL this is done. Old Executive men are
hardened sinners whom nothing but the imminent
prospect of instant perditiOu will startle. These
cries of Ietrenchmeit from the party in power
come too late to induce any belief in their sincerity
IDey are utotD-Oru piouiiscS anu icPcu'ouOOs,
which will be forgotten the moment the terrors OF
their situation are withdrawn.
See what is doing every hour by the men who are
administering the Government. Here Is the Chair
man of the Naval Committee in the Senate pushing
with all bis might and main bill to increase the pay
of the navy. at every possible chance be drives
away at this favOrite object. In this he only fol-
lows suit to the army men, who have already in-
creased the pay Of that bran ,h OF the service to an
immense extent. Getting into the army now Is a
frst-rate business. And here is an Illustration of
it, 1t is the duty Of the Second Audt0r to prepare
annually certain number of copies Of a book CIV
ing the pay Of the army officers, committing
the ratons into their money value. This b ,Ok
shows their actual pay in dollars and cents. These
copies when printed are most mysteriously spirited
away, so that it is NEXT to impossible to procure
copy in any way.
Beside this, Secretary Toucey is distressed be-
cause he cannot have the Navy increased by extern
siye additions Of ships, which be deems ndisPen-
sable and which he exhausts his eloquence In
urging.
Then comes that other official, the Postmaster
General, with his requests to have steamship lines
established to run all over the world, wherever
American commerce is to be found 1t Is only
Yesterday that bill was introduced in the Senate,
10 establish steamship lines to the Sandwich Isl
ands and Shanghae. BY the time Gov. Brown has
a successor, that prospective gentleman VIII come
busting down to Congress, suggesting the absolute
necessity of adding Lancaster Sound and the Fe-Jee
Islands 10 the numerous recommendations OF Gov.
Brown. to which have before alluded; unless be
comes into place on the distinct issue Of Retrench-
ment and Reform and understands that he is to win
renown by holding up instead of branching out.