Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-01-11
Washington City Gossip.

1t would seem as though Congress was
determined to endow the nations heroes
with homes In the great West. In the
House Oh Friday Mr.. Julian's resolution
was adopted, instructing the Committee on
Public Lands to inquire into the expedien-
cy OF providing by law that every officer,
soldier, or sailor who served ninety days In
the war for the Union, aud was honorably
discharged, shall receive leo acres OF pub
lie land as homestead, his actual term OF
service to count as part of the five years
required by the hon estead act of 1862
A special message from the president is
to be sent to Congress, accompanied by
d commentary evidence, showing the pres
ence of an nsurrectionary spirit at the
south. The president thinks Congress
should take action on the subject. If, then
general amnesty is delayed, it is not diff
cult to find the reason The bad spirit Of
the southerners is their worst enemy.
The bill! reducing or repeating the tariff
on various articles, which went into effect
at the beginning of the present year, Illus
trates very clearly the financial policy of the
republican party, which is to take the tariff
off from articles of general use, and thus
free the masses from burdens, while it col
lects its revenues from such articles as can
best support it. Thus it entirely frees from
tax on importation not less than two hun
dred and one articles, most of them drugs,
dyes aud chemicals, while it reduces the du
ties on sixty others, including sugar, tea,
coffee, pig and least) scrap iron. Besides,
it either admits free or reduces the duty on
large number of articles which have no
special rates, while it increases the duty on
small sumber, including steel rails, fax,
faxseed, liuseed oil and watch materials. 1t
will reduce the revenue about fifty millions
annually.
The President has wisely, we think, We
toed bill giving indemnity to various per
soDs for losses sustained during the war. If
the door is once opened in that direction
there will be no end of demands.
Mr.. John Ii. Surratt is about as despica-
BILE creature as slavery ever spawned and
mock chivalry nourished but free speech
is nevertheless precious and not to be fore
gone on whatever pretext. We would walk
good mile to get out of hearing of the
miscreant's stupid lecture" on Booth ex
ecrable business but We think that Surratt
should be allowed to speak wherever he can
find willing hearers IF he breaks any law,
punish him according to the law; but do
not let the sacred right of free utterance be
outraged in his unworthy person. If you
are doing Gods work, reject the devils
weapons.
OF eight hundred United States consular
officers in the world, it appears that more
than two hundred and ninety maks the re.
qured returns of fees received. OF these
latter, Paris returns the largest amount, be-
ing over fifty thousand, London thirty
eight thousand. and Liverpool twenty nine
thousand.
One who is we'll informed says: "The
biggest lobby ever organized in the United
State. is now being fixed mp to get the sub
sided corporations released from their OBJ
legation to pay interest semi annually ON the
United States bonds Issued to aid the con-
struction of the roads. They are bound TO
swindle the Government if it is possible
thing"