The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-29
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON Cry, June 22nd, 1870
The Senate Finance Committee, it
is understood, will not report the tax
bill, recently passed by the House,
for at least a week /; in the meantime
they will consider the income tax
with view to its entire repeal. The
Radical Senators are well aware how
unpopular the Income tax is, and
how twill initiate against them in
the fall elections, but true to the
principles and spirit of Radicalism,
as was the House, they will not lift
this odious,, unjust and inquisatorial
tax from the people. The Commit
tee will not entertain the proposition
to reduce the tax on spirits. The
San Domingo question has develop
ed another phrase Of. the /" let us
have peace" policy. In the Execu-
tive Sessions held during the past
few days the debate on extending the
Investigation in regard to General
Babcock's imprisoning an American
citizen in San Domingo,,in order to
prevent him giving evidence that
would imperil the ratification of the
San Domingo treaty, into all the ne
gotiations connected with the treaty
has been of the hottest kind. Sena-
tor Schurz offered the resolution and
he has been backed by Senator Sum
ner in the strongest language that
he could command, denouncing the
President for the manner in which
he was trying to override co-ordi-
nate branch of the Government. 1t
will be noticed: that Senators Sum-
ner and Schurz, though fanatical,
radical and INSCRIPTIONS in politics
have never had their honesty ques-
toned as regards. jobs, or money
schemes they are. for Investigation,
while Senator'S Nye, Chandler, and
Howard, who defend TIE President
and Fear inquiry into his acts, are of
that class whoare ever foremost in
what are known as "big things, :"
each can draw his own conclusions.
This San Domingo job will result
equally as disastrously for Grant as
did the gold ring swindle oflast Sep
TENDER and deal worse for the par
ty Of which he is chief, as it has driv-
en- the wedge, already entered, deep
into its vitals. A new military bill,
the result Of the House and Senate
conference was introduced into the
House on Saturday as was agreed to.
The bill provides for reducing the
army to 10000 men, a reduction OF
1000. The Offices of General and
Lieutenant-G General of the Army
shall continue until a vacancy shall
occur andsno longer, Officers who
resign before this and January LIST
next shall receive one years pay. The
number Of Major Generals to be re.
duced to three and Brigadier-Gene-
rails to six, when by death or resig-
nation they shall reach that number
Brevet rank is abolished. The pay
Of General to be $4,000 Lieutenant.
General $40, 900, Major General ST.
500, Brigadier- General $500, Colo
mel So, 500, Lieutenant-C Colonel 49,.
900, Major $4,000, Captain $500
mounted $4,000, first Lieutenant SIS
90, mounted $1,000, second Lieuten-
ant $500, mounted $14OO. This il
the full pay, and there are no allow.
ances. The pay and allowances O
General at present is about $4,000
per anpum. General Sherman vii
now be compelled to resign, as h
stated to the Committee on military
affairs that he could not live on les.
than$18,000 year. Poor Sherman
I pity him, he used to live on abou
$500 previous to the war when ht
was Professor in Military College
and now be compelled to drag out {
miserable existence on patty $4,000
a year is shocking barbarity on the
part of an ungrateful Republic. HI
certainly will be forced to resign
Mr.. Scott Smith, correspondent 0
the New York Evening Post, ha
made some disclosures in his pape
lin which corruption is char G
against Mr.. Fitch, of Nevada. MI
Fitch had Mr.. Correspondent on Sat
urday before the bar of the Hous
and after q considerable amount o
congressional Indignation had beer
expended over the absurd idea tina
there could be a venal Congressman