The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-03-25
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, March 18, 1870.

fact that there can be speedy return 10
specie payment without 30 much OF q
panic as the people have been led TO be-
iieve. Within few weeks gold has de-
clined some twenty per cent. and yet
there has not been extensive failures or
any great disaster. am led to believe,
by the recent financial crisis,
that the evils that would result from an
return to specie payments arc
more imaginary than real. The passage
of the Funding bill by the Senate gives
assurance to the people, that tho goid
ring of New York does not control that
body. and IL the House will pass tho bill,
do not see any reason why specie pay
ments may not be resumed within SIX
The Army bill, which has Just passed
the House. slashes right and left, though
in my opinion II Is more noisy than cfiec-
tive. Whilst 1t appears to reduce the pay
of officers of the army. 1t rather increases
them, il am right in my calculations.
For Instance, tho pay Of Maj Gen. Mt
the present time Is about sI81per month; ;
Brig. Gen. 1926. so; Colonel, s22I; Lieut..
Col. 203; Major, Sl79, Capt. $l37.56;
2d Lieut.. $ll2 so, without food. quarters,
or forage. BY Logan's bill the pay OF
Maj. Gen. Is per month, 1925 BRIG. Cen,
S4i6; Colonel, S29l. .66; Lieut.. Col. $3.50 !
Major, S2OS.33; Capt. Sl66.66; Cd Lieut..
without food, quartcrs'or forage.
Now if this is u reduction of pay, / fail to
perceive where II comes In. 1t Is true
that by tho new bill, officers cannot COM
mute for food, forage or quarters, but
must take in kind, and the government must
necessarily pay for 20 same. and there
fore there seems to be no saving in this
particular. 1t makes provision for mus
tering out some 500 army officers who
are now unassigned to duty. and by this
provision, of course, u large amount will
be saved the government. 1t Is very evil
dent that the Senate will make material
amendments to the army bill rs passed by
the House. The question recently raised
in the House In regard to the resignation
OF members, whether the simple tender
ing of written resignation Uf n member
to the Speaker Is sufficient, has occasioncd
n good deal of discussion. The decision
Of the Speaker in the Whittemore case,
that his written resignation rendered, re-
quired no further actiop, perhaps was cor
rect when no objections arc raised, rs 1t
would DO considered rs accepted by tho
body unanimously; but If objections are
made, or vote called, 1t would require q
vote of that body. This, Mt the present
time, seems to be the prevailing opinion.
and sas entertained by Gen. Banks and
Hon. Mr.. Dawes at the time Whittemore's
case was up. AS there is no express law
upon such cases, the old English law
holds good-a resignation In the House Of
Lords or Commons, the vote must be
taken by yeas and nays. The idea of
Governor Stevenson of Kentucky, refus-
ing to accept Mr.. GOlladay's resignation
is absurd, giving his reasons that his duty
To the Stats, his constituents, &C., dcmasd
u full investigation of the charges made
against Mr.. Golladay. Tho Governor has
nothing to do with the designations of
us that Is the business of the
House. The simple object in notifying
the Governor of the State being to ap-
prize him of the vacancy existing, that he
may issue writs of election to fill the va
cancy. The House has power over
its members, and can exercise that power
while they are members of that body, and
rs u matter of protection, 1t Is essential
that the House alone, rs u body. exercise
the right TO accept or refuse designations.
ANY other view of the case might place
the House in q similar condition with the
Indiana Legislature, when some time
since, quite number of the Democratic
members resigned to defeat thereby tho
ratification of The 10th amendment.
1t is currently reported that the Steam
CT Sancpee is being fitted up In an expcn-
sive and gorgeous style to be taken
charge Of by Admiral Porter, who, 1t Is
said is tn make an expedition of cxami-
nation of our foreign squadrons, and WIS.,
II the ports of foreign countries. The
trip, rs contemplated. will embrace n
period of some two years, and Is design
cd to establish fraternal feelings, sup
pose between our government and other
nations. If tho r,linor is true, 1t will
create some little activity among the ma
val officers, rs detail aboard the Steam-
or would be nice position, and pleas
ant trip to foreign lands with good COM
pany, with all the apptirtenances which
such trip would afford, such rs dinners,
wines and champagne, Is no small affair.
i was very sorry to notice that MIR.
Dawes, who has won the confidence OF
the people by his strict Investigation OF
the appropriations, reported joint reso-
luton from the Committee upon Appro-
priations to pay the widow of the late
Edwin NJ. Stanton one years pay Of an
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE of the Supreme Conrt
AS there is not the least authority or JUS
tice in such an appropriation, 1t certainly
seems very inconsistent In Mr.. Dawes to
report such q resolution. Mr.. Stanton
never was IN ASSOCIATE JUSTICE; even If
he had been, why government should as
sumo the authority to pay his widow a
years salary Is beyond my comprehen-
sion. Why not pay the many widows
Of the employees OF the government q
year salaryP Certainly j. would he much
more appropriate Legislation, for many
are needy, while tho widow of the late
Edwin nj. Stanton has sufficient means
to enable her to live in style becoming
her situation.
Although great excrtions have bccn
made among the temperance men of this
District to secure the passage of . law pro-
hibiting the sale OF. intoxicating liquors rs
a beverage in this District, 1t is extreme
ly doubtful whether such q law will pass
Congress. 1t Is stated that there are more
signatures attached to petitions against
the passage of prohibitory law, than
there is to favor II. Senator Hamlin an
few days since in presenting q
petition against the passage OF u prohii,.
itory law in the Senate, that he should
vote for prohibitory law under all cir
IL other Senators would do
likewise II would be well, but / am In
clined to think that the measure will be
defeated. Senator Hamlin rs Chairman
of the District Committee in the Senate Is
doing noble work for this city and the
people of the District are under great OBJ
legations to him for the energy and inter-
est he has manifested. The Senator Is
favorable towarlsa territorial form OF gov
crnment believing il would be Mlvanta-
gcous to the city. Tho Secretary Of the
Treasury seems at loss, somewhat, to