Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-03-27
Letter from Washington.

/ Ieher IN the galleries nothing could be more
uninteresting than the debate, and maneu-
verings of the Senate and House during the
last two weeks. Tne brilliant audiences
which hung upon the eloquence Of the
| French arms debate have vanished. and in
their place are seen only few lisrless look
ers-on; and these are mostly colored pc lple
out OF employment, who, from their wan
behring's in the street, here seek shelter and
warmth free of expense. The doorkeepers,
who were reused during the excitement of
the debate referred to, to something like
action by the throng which daily poured into
the galleries and demanded seats. have now
r elapsed INTO their normal condition tied
their strings 10 the doors. established them
selves in their chairs, and prepared to pull
and doze, and doze and pull till the day Of
final adjournment
The Ssnate, early in the session, passed
| dill providing virtually for the importation
Of certain building materials to be used 10
Chicago, free Of duty. Then the bill was
rec Jnslderei and the ) majors from Wlscon-
sin and Mlchiglh took a second turn at
attacking it. Endless petitions were offered
/ by the lumbermen of these tw1 States,
showing the injustice of granting lavors to
Chicago at their expense. The constitution
which says that duties shall Be uniform
throughout the land, was invoked by Mr.
Carpenter against the measure and Mr.
Chandler wagged his head and shook his fist
att. But all to no purpose. The constitu-
tlonal objections were answered, as has be-
come common Of late, by the production OF
presidents, and tie bin was finally passed
by e vote Of % to H. In the HJuse the bllI
was immediately attacked by the same inter
es,s which plotted It's death ia the Senate :
but after a short tight it was referred to the
committee of ways and neaus-a victory
Tor the friends If the bill
Mr.. ConklinSs resolution providing for
an investigation as to the number of govern
ment employees charged to and appointed
~ the d hlence of the senators from New
York, Missouri, Illinois aud Nebraska. mas
heen passed. Nothing in the way 81 iny,s-
tkation Is at present 50 small or c5ntempti-
Tel as to be rejected II once urged urou the
senate In the course OF au EXCEED debate
a senator advocates evil service re.uIm and
dcnouuces the hanging upon tie skirts of
power for party patronage. lie D. tlunt-
lngly asked in reply how long 1t has been
since he hung upon the skirts u power. And
when he says Never" lie ~ informed that
though forever preaching reform and de
nouucng corruption be is as eager an app.i-
3 {.
. the present administration he has made over
IL Luudfed Recommendations for Ofiec lie
denies the statement, and it is affirmed lie
axis IN what authority such a charge l.
made aud is told that tables coming from
official sources show it concusIvely. And
hen comes the resolution Of Investigation.
Ii il called up every lew days, amendments
are adopted and voted down aud now 10 has
been passed, aud the executive branch Of the
government, with which is lodged the az
pointing power, is called on to report as to
how many officers have received their posi-
tIons through the influence and solicitation
OF certain members OF the legislative
These matters disposed of the senate
settled down IN the tariff ami proceeded 10
discuss the bill reported By the finance CON-
mittee. Essays on protection and free trade
were now in order, and the tllcr,es became
emptIer than ever. Mr. Frtlinghuy,en ar
suei in favor OF abolishiug duties Oh articles
not produced in this country, and imposing
them Oh foreign articles which come IN com
petition with the productions of our own
country. Mr.. Sawyer of South Carolina
plead Tor the retention Of the duty on rice
Mr.. Morton described the evils Of import.n,
more than we export, and thus having the
balance Of trade constantly against us, and
then proceeded TO advocate putting tea and
cJIee on the free list because the importa-
tons would be enough larger to prevent any
dlminutiJn Of revenue. Mr. Scott of Penn
-ylvania moved 70 remove al duties from
TIA and life, and the an .ndmeat was car
ried by vote Of 81 to -, although John
) erlnau and the finance Committee were
strongly against il. On this amendment
Mr.. EImunis voted aye and Mr. Morrill, no.
In tie midst Of the tariff discussion a home
s cad bill. which Is to enable discharged SOL
dler5 and sailors, their widow ami orphans.
to obtain homes on our public LANDS was
Fought up and passed
In the House, Mr. Sargent of California
presented petition signed by four thousand
women of California, Praying for the en-
frlnchIsement Of women in the District of
Columbia and the territories. Mr.. SARGENT
stated that the petition I'D not come from
the dregs Of society, but from those eminent
or social and political position 1t was
referred to the committee on the judiciary.
For some time the committee on the DIS
trict of Columbia has been agitated over the
requests Of the Biltimore and OHIO and the
Baltimore and Potomac railroads for a site
in The Leart Of tie city, on which to erect
and DEPOT. Tom Scott and the LOBBYISTS
have male 81 eeches to the committee. and
prolessei no END of friendship for the inter
ests Of Washington. One would think that
these soulless corporations bad suddenly |
turned into benevolent institutions. The
prop sei depot is to interfere, however, with /
the park on which many have set their
hearts AID cJmpltiIts are laid against h.v-
Ing engines puffls and scce4mil, 10 to
Penusy lvania Avenue. The Committee has
at last reported in favor of the railroad. and
the fight has commenced 10 the house.
But the question of the week in which the
member and the lobbies were most interest
ID was the proposition T. increase the subsi
iy 10 the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
)y $500 900. Over this considerable elo-
luence was wasted. Mr. Haldenax of Penn
) lyania held forth in this wise:
I'm my dreams dream the dream of Eng
10