The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-07-27
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WasH1SGroN Cry, July 18th, 1871

WASHINGTON CRY, July 18th, 1870.
The relict of the late lamented had
her case asking for a pension of 3d.
900 a year, again before the Senate
on Saturday. The debate was rather
lively. The Senators who opposed
such pensions spoke as though there
were such revelations behind their
words as could not in decency be
promulgated. Senator Howell, of
Iowa, said it was a sneaking fraud to
place civilian on the pension list.
Senator Salisbury, of Delaware, test
ed the sincerity and sympathy OF the
tender hearted radicals, who wished
to bleed our common Uncle to sus-
tain extravaganza and glitter, by Of
fering to make up purse for the
widow Of Mr.. Lincoln and he pro-
posed to give as muchAs Sumner.
This created q laugh but the friends
of the widow did not relish the
thought. Benjamin Yates, OF Illinois,
who knows a good deal about the in
ner life at the White House, during
the time that Mrs. Lincoln was in her
glory, declared that he would not
vote dollar for her as she and her
family sympathized with the rebel
lion. 1 guess Yates has. other rea-
sons but does not care to give them.
The woman Lincoln has no consci-
ence in thus importuning Congress
for money, and her son Robert, SON
in-law of Senator Harlan, should, il
he has any influence over her, use
his utmost endeavors to prevent a
recurrence of this humiliating spec
tacle. I hope we have heard the last
of this fashionable tourist and beg
gar. The tariff and tax bills were be-
fore the House on Saturday. The
motion to strike out the income tax
was lost by 50 majority. It was then
agreed by a vote of 80 to IS to con.
cur with the Senate in fixing the tax
at two and half per cent, with ex-
emptions at $4,000 and rent of home
stead deducted. A grand feat of fl
nanceering on the part of our blum
dering law makers. This is the re.
suit of the Railroad lobby. Eithe,
the tax on gross receipts OF that Oh
incomes must be retained, according
to the Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, Hon. John Sherman, and in
consonance with Radical usage the
large corporations must be protected
and the people feeced by a tax pro,
claimed by both Radicals and Demo.
Gratis as inquisitorial, oppressive and
odious, and by the very trainers as
probably unconstitutional but neces
sary. By this wise and liberal Rad
ical Congress this income tax will b.
the law of the land for two years lon
ger. The House also agreed witt
the Senate in fixing the duty on Bes
semer steel rails at $2S per ton
Thus the steel ring were well take1
care of. Then the rest of the differ
ences between the two Houses wer,
committed to conference commit
tee. The Senate on Saturday passed
the army appropriation bill and tack
ed on an amendment to reduce tn
army, in lieu of the bill recently de
feated. That part so very objection
able to the friends of Generals Sher
man and Sheridan, viz cutting dow,
salaries was cut out. So that tn
pay roll is as heretofore. The provis
ions for mastering out officers re
mains unchanged. The army will b
reduced to 5000 men year henc
and about 100000 will be save,
yearly. So Ills claimed. The reason
why the Radicals so bitterly oppose'
the reduction of the salary of Gene
raj Sherman and the frllsome prais
bestowed upon him by SO many ora
tors in the Senate, is to be found il
the fact that the Radicals have cas-
around for candidate to succee
the present imbecile, who figures a
President of the United States, an
chief of the Radical party by yirtu
Of his position ; and we'll KNOWN
) that the glitter of military reputa
ton is essential to success, they hay
determined on Sherman as the ma
and his "march to the Sea " as tl
dust to be thrown into the eyes of
gullable people. Grant ever jealot
on the score of the succession
! alive to the position Sherman occ'
, pies and already is cool to his "al
Gent" He may as well keep co
5 and enjoy the pleasant drives, Il