Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-08
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.

/ We have been informed by the Superinten-
dent Of the Folding Room, House, that the
Report Of tho Department Of Agriculture for
1862 will not be ready for distribution for
some months to come The Report has been
stereotyped, and some copies have been print
ed, but such is the pressure Of work in the
Public Printing office that the press work and
binding for the entire edition cannot now be
DONE SO the farmers must wait; and, more
over, since the members Of the present House
have voted to themselves the books which
belonged to their predecessors. (oi which VIC
make no compaint.) the farmers must look to
the present M. Cs. for copy Of the Report
when il shall be ready for distribution. By
favor Of the Agricultural Department, we have
received copy Of the Report, and we assure
our agricultural friends that ii is we'll worth
having. It is avolume Of 632 pages, and fill
ed with matter which is specially valuable to
agriculturalists and hortcuturists, and in
teresting to every body We shall not un-
dertake to specify very fully it being enough
to say. that almost, if not quite, every branch
of agriculture has received attention, and in
many ways. Vermonters will find enough to
interest them in articles on cattle, sheep,
horses, butter, cheese, sugar, various grains,
modes OF culture, farm implements, &c, and
there are a hundred other things worthy Of
attention The illustrations are altogether
better engraved and better printed than has
been usual in the As&cutural report; and
both printing and binding are far in advance
Of the former contract style, though we must
add that there is still room for improvement.
The paper is not even in quality or color,
which we are sure is contrary TO the good taste
Of the Superintendent Of the Public Printing
office. He has had to meet great difficulties
in paper he has been and is overburdened
with work aud, then, too, his workmen have
bothered him by " strikes" and running away
These are good reasons for imperfect work,
and long delay Of such as could be postponed
The delay IN he payment Of Deceased Soldiers
dues.
The New York Herald says: Nothing has
yet been done towards the reorganization Of
the Second Auditors office, so to facilitate
the payment of bountes and arrearges due to
the Representatives OF deceased soldiers. The
widows and orphans Of those who have died
in defence Of their country are still compelled
to wait rom twelve to eighteen months for
the pittance which might now keep them from
freezing aud starvation. AT the last session
Congress passed a law allowing bountics TO
soldiers discharged rom the service on ac-
count OF wounds received in battle. As yet
III al.
bounty, but, because Congress failed to make
special appropriation for its payment, few,
If any, Of the applications up to this time
have been acted upon. These outrageous
delays are not beyond remedy. II not with
in the power of the Secretaries o' War and Of
the Treasury, it deyolves upon Congress dill
gently to ascertain the causes and promptly
provide remedies for the turdy administration
Of justice to our manned soldiers and those
who have been made widows and orphans by
the patriotism Of their natural protectors
Congress had better have sat during the
holidays and taSvn of the widows and
orphans Of the soldiers
Congress.
Both Houses met on the 5th In the SEN
ate Mr.. Wilson introduced bills increasing
the bounty Of volunteers and amending the
enrolment act, and Mr. Ten Eyck spoke
against the Presidents project Of recons'ruc-
ton. In the House, Mr.. Holman gave no.
tice Of bill to pay bounty to discharged sol
diers who have served less than three years;
resolutions were adopted calling for the facts
on Jay, Cook Il Cos. agency for subscrip-
tons fo- treasury bonds, and inquring into
the expediency Of reducing the tax on coal ;
Mr. Nelson introduced bill repeating duties
on foreign coal and paper Mr.. Morrill, pro-
posed to set apart the old Representatives
Hall for statusry. and Mr.. Wasbburn OBJ
jeoted, saying he was for removing the scat
OF government from that barren and isolated
country" The President sent in a message
earnestly recommending an extension Of the
time for paying bounties to the LIST of Feb
ruary
Special thanks are rendered to a friend for
doubling the subscriptions to the Waterman
in one of the towns in this county. We do
not expect to make money on newspaper sub
scripiions this year, and shall be content if
we do not lose too much, nevertheless such
good deeds will never be forgotten
In the dearth Of stirring news for the last
week, we have given miscellaneous matter,
and an unusually rich supply of poetty-in
both quantity, and quality. Native poets all:
Eastman, Clarke, and Eyangelne.