The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-12-14

1 WOuiu nave Wrltton b COURIER
ere this, but the telegram has already
apprised its readers of tho more i'm
portant Of its acts. II is hardly
necessary to enter into details. 1t il
the same old story. The usual
sounding Of the gavel is heard. The
members voices are hushed and tho
voice of the chaplain is heard sup
plicating the Throne o. Grace. These
prayers are almost useless. It is al
most . mockery to pray that legisla-
tors will b led in the proper chan
mel and labor only for their country's
good. The Republican members
don't need the gentle reminder, and
the hoary Democratic sinners like
Chas. Eldridge and Fernando Wood
won't take advice from anybody. In
the House the roll Of members was
called. after which the following new
members appeared and we're sworn
in: Kellogg, Of Connecticut, Cough
Ian, Sargent and Houghton, of Cali
fornia, snapp and Beverage, Of Ills,
Foster, Of Michigan, and Conner and
Hancock. OF Texas. The credentials
Of Messrs. Clarke and Herndon. of
Texas, we're referred to the commit
tee on elections. General Chapman,
delegate from the District Of Colum-
bia, appeared and was sworn into Of
flee. The tall form of our blonde
General attracted considerable atten-
ton. He is gallant, patriotic, popu.
lar with the masses and will reflect
credit upon Iowa and the District.
l say Iowa because we do not
propose to relinguish all claims upon
SO estimable . gentleman and brave
soldier. Senator Harlan ie at his
old residence on 81 ST., hard at
work as usual. He lie continued az
chairman of the Committee on In
dian Affairs, is . member of the Com
mittees on the Pacific Railroad and
Foreign relations.
Hon. George g. Wright ia at No.
81, Al street aud occupies the form.
or residence of ex-senator Wade and
Vice President Colfax. MI. Wright
is growing in strength and already
Yields much influence with the Pres.
ident and his Cabinet. He is on
three committees-Finance Claims
and the Revision of the Laws of the
United States.
Hon. George W: McCrary, our en-.
ergetic member from the let District,
is here with his family and mas rent
ed q house in Ingle Place on Capitol
Hill. Mr.. McCrary is one of the
hardest workers in Congress. He is
. model man; never smokes, never
chews and never drinks. HI don't
60 to suppers, balls, OF parties. He
don't run to the opera every night,
wearing q white vest, faultless Kids
and q pomatumed head. He is no
dandy, and abhors shoddy aristocra-
cy. But there are some things he
does do: He attends strictly to his
business. He is paid to look after
the interests Of the government and
tho First District. A man who does
his whole duty in these respects has
little time to devote to am thing else.
Such a man is George w. McCrary.
He stands at the head Of the com.
mittee on Elections-one Of the most
important in the House-and is max.
ing his mark. HI is liked and COM
mands the respect of all.
Hon. VIM. g. Donnan, of the
Third District, has rooms at No. 317.
Al street, whore Colfax formerly
lived. Maj. D0nnan is q true tyne
OF the western man, and always has
q warm grasp of the hand for his
friends. He has been assigned q no.
sition on the committee on Military
Affairs, with Coburn, Of Indiana,
Stoughton, of Mieh., Hay, of Illinois,
Morey, of Louisiana, Harris, OF Miss,
Slocnm, Of N. z, Campbell, of Ohio,
and Terry, Of Virginia. This is an
excellent committee, and it is no
small compliment to Maj. Donnan
that he is assigned q place among its
members.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF wAR.
| have just received 3 copy of the
last report of the Hon. W. w.
Belknap, secretary of war. 1t is q
very able document, utterly devoid
of all bumcombe and is practical
throughout. IL is just such report
as We would expect from such M ian
as Belknap. The Daily National
Republican Of this city has the fol
lowing to say Of this concise and
well written document.
aThe report Of the Secretary Of
War, has, doubtless, been read by all
u readers. The country at large,
taking the deepest interest in our
gallant army, always read of mat.
tiers pertaining thereto as deeply
concerning the honor and interests
Of each individual citizen. The ad.
m~inistration of the War Department
by Secretary Belknap gives univer
sal satisfaction, and his recommends
tions are the result Of close examine
ton into the wants of the service
and the highest interest of the
republic. We believe the reductions
have been in good taste, and al.
though many good officers had to
make way to suit the requirements
an army. in time Of peace, tho.
necessity OF the S~ecretary's action
will be seen from Q fair examination
IF tho act Of reorganization adopted
July Is, 1870.
The expenditures have been less.
,nod fully one half in three years.
And this includes river and harbor
Improvements, since tho late war es.
important, as so many of our
oorts-particnlarly in the Southern
in q very unsafe condi-
ion. Distinctions and neglect du,
ing the years OF the war make the
increased expenditure by the engin-
er corps a matter of necessity, and |
bis branch Of the service demands !
attention. Gen. Belknap
due credit to this Invaluable {
ranch of tho military service. A Il
eseryedly high compliment is oaid