Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-04-10
Lerfpr from Washington.

it was resolved by the House that this act or
of the Senate was in conflict with the spr
and intent of that clause Of the Constitution
which requires that all bills for raising
revenue shall originate in the House, anc
accordingly, the result Of the precious labor
and lucu brations of the Senate was LAID upon
the table by vote of l53 t. 9. OF course
! here was half day Of debate on the subj set,
IN which much was said Of the grave impor-
lance of the matter, the necessity of uphold
ing the dignity Of the House, and supporting
| the Constitution, not only in letter but in
spirit. The leading members of the House,
10Th Democrats and .pu5licIns were for
'nce united, AMI the histo-y Of the English
parliament, the practice Of our former Con-
sresses, commentaries on the Constitution,
speeches Of Clay, Seward, and others were
,ppealed u in support Of the common pos
ion, viz: that the body 10 the other wing OF
he Capitol had disregardel an important
prov IsIon Of the Constitution.
But the Senate will probably take diff T
ent view Of the Constitution. Mr.. Morrill,
when it had been read by the Secretary, as
an extraordinary one, and Mr.. Pomeroy re-
marked that if they had no right to make
amendments it was tine they knew it. For
the instruction Of the Senate the res jlutIun
vas then ordered printed. The only benefit
therefore that IS coming from the tariff debate
.hus far, is tPat the minds OF Senators have
b come somewhat settled on the different
questions to be examined, and that they viii
know about what to do when the regular
revenue bill comes in from the House
1t is understood that the Committee Of
Ways-and Means have agreed upon such a
bill and are nearly ready to report it to the
House. A majority of the members are IN
ioubtedly 10 favor of revenue reform. =
Still there are enough protectionists Of the
old school, like Mr. Kelley, who refuse to
yield an inch against the interests Of our
home industries, 10 make respectable fight
upon revenue reform. Besides these there
ire the democratic free traders who are de
sirous Of making political capital, and wbo
will camor always for little more OF some
thing different from what they have reason
10 believe the majority will grant
Tue House at last succeeded in getting to
a vote on the Baltimore and Potomac bill,
which IS to enable the Pennsylvania Central
TO obtain a part Of the national park for
depot. r. pass the bill under sus pension
Of the rules required two thirds vote, and
this the friends OF the bill barely obtained
The usual number of members announced
that they had . paired Off with absentees.
But it was amusing to notice, that though it
required two thirds 20 pass the bill, yet,
with two exceptions, each member opposed
to it had paired with only one who was in
it, favor The result was that the bin was
pissed, while if those who paired had
voted it would have been defeated con.
summation still devoutly to be wished
When It comes up IN the Senate Mr.. Morrill,
viii probably have something to say ID be-
halt Of the park, and against tt is scheme Of
a sra-ping corporation.
The Senate has been spending considerable
time over a bill providing that the c.ty Of
Washington shall subscribe and pay for
5000 600 Of stock in the Piedmont and Pc.
tclnac Railroad. which is 70 run from Wash
,ngton into Virginia. The D strict Legislature
lls already passed act authorizing the
description. and the people, at the last
November election. voted in favor OF It.
The measure is now before c 'ngress for con
Those Senators who make it their
business to advocate JOBS were a. matter Of
curse 10 favor Of this one, and opposed 70 al
amendments calculated to protect the inter
,-ts Of Washington against the possible
allure Of the c irporation Mr. MJrril and
Mr. EImunds ably opposed the bill, aud
though it finally passed were Instrumental
o - amending Il thai IN case the road fails
o be built the District will stand some Chance
lf recovering it's money. Mr.. Anthony, who
appears not 20 believe in the universal ap
D ication of manhood suffrage, novel 81
amendment providing that the act shall g
luto effect when it has received majority Of
he votes Of the Tar payers Of the District
But this amendment was attle>ed by Mr..
PJneroy and Mr.. Morton, and killed.
The different investig atoms which have
1een ordered By the two HJuses, have ali
b en- progressing during the past few weeks.
,Ir. Dana, OF the New York Sun, has been
n Washington with an Attorney and has
udeayored to prove 10 tie Committee the
h4rge- made IN hs paper against Secretary
Robson. The Secretary has bsen preseutat
all the sessions Oft Comm ittee and Las con
Iuct q his own case, examining and cross
examining witnesses. AT the last session Of
the French-Arms Investigating Committee,
Mr.. Markley testified to having received
SlO COO from firm in Baltimore for simply
going to the Secretary Of the Navy and ask
ing if he had any arms for sale. Though
subj cted to a severe cross-examination il
could not be ascertained that the witness did
anything more for the money or that any
one shared his spois The investigation OF
the Board Of Public Works and the District
government is getting decidedly dull and will
probably be soon completed. What decision
the committee Will arrive at, Of course is not
known The Board Of Stocks claims that it
has been completely INDICATED, while It's OF
ponents maintain that all their charges have
been proved. The matter appears to stand
q bout where 1t did bsfore the investigation.
Ii is a fact which must be acknow lodged,
that Civil Service Reform Is among the
things that are yet to be. With the excep-
ton Of two OF three appointments by the
Postmaster General under the rules Of the
Commission adopted By tho President, every
thing has gone on as before here in the de-
partments. Appointments and promotions
are daily being made, with no competitive
VT atever, and those ambitious
mes, who have been - examining up in
Arithmetic, Geography, History and Gram