The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-12-05
Our Washington Letter.
1uE APPROACHING CONGRESS.
Washington, u. G., Nov. 20.

Washington, IL. ", NOV. ~.
Mr.. Editor PROM year to year the
range Of Congressional Legislation has
increased in extent aud importance. Ii
is found as the country becomes older, Its
interests are more diversified, aud that
the old policy Of allowing everything to
drift with the tide aud take care of itself
can no longer be maintained.
Among the new measures which will
come before Congress, and upon which
the press and people ought 10 be posted
pro aud con are:
The organization of Post. Office Saving
Banks. which will enable the people to
have a saving bank that can never break,
at each county seat or other places oil COM
mercial importance. The government
will pay for the use Of money from
five dollars upwards, G5-l00 per cent.
or one cent per day per hundred dollars,
and transfer the deposits by means OF
post-oflicc orders to any locality within
the United States, free Of Oh .rgc.
The abolition Of the telegr phi monopo-
ly aud the establishment oil postal tele-
graph system, so that messages can be
sent everywhere at II uniform rate, not
exceeding twenty cents for Ten words and
one cent for every additional word.
The establishment Of Bureau of I'm
migration to take charge Of the interests
Of newly arrived immigrants, who are
now subject to very great and unneces-
sary hardsbips, by which means immigra-
ton, especially OF the better sort is found
to be impeded, and the immigrants de-
moralzed.
The prospect Of! establishing Govern
ment Insurance Company, which will in.
sure all the real estates in the country at
greatly reduced rate Of premium, and
not be affected disastrously by a conila-
grafton as that Of Chicago, and will also
receive attention as it is now in success
lul operation in Germany.
Measures for the better protection Of
the ballot box will be devised, so that tn,
purchase and intimidation Of voters, tn,
repeating and cheating going on in Scv
York city aud in south may be check cd
if not prevented
The tariff will also be revised aud tax
alton diminished, aud preliminary igsla
ton looking toward the resumption o
special payment bill will undoubtedly b,
enacted Senator Sumucr and othc
leaders are already moving in the matter
Of specie payments.
Measures for the revival Of our foreign
commerce, and for the reorganization .
the Civil Service will be up for discussion
aud it being II Presidential year, all tn,
political questions OF the day will b,
thoroughly considered.
Under the circumstances the Capita
will be the political focus OF unusual bril-
fancy aud power, and the political use
tulness Of every citizen during the com
ing campaign will bc in precise proper
ton to his Intelligent appreciation Of The
new measure. Our local politicians auC
publishers must cvucc "A disposition t,
learn what is new. They will not b,
able to interc.t hearers or readers il thei
whole stock in trade consists of by-gon
issues.
Visitors during the session of Congress
now about to convene, will 6nd NOR
than the usual change for the better
The widening Of the south entrance t.
the rotunda and the removal Of the gran,
bronze doors from that corridor to tn
east front; the remodeling Of the oil
Representatives Chamber the paintin
inside aud out of various portions of tn
edifce; the curbing and sodding of tn
surrounding terrace aud plateau. all ad
materially to the nentness and finish {
this eraudcst Of architectural structure