The weekly Louisianian., 1872-12-14
our WASHINGTON LETTER.

i =. WASHINGTON, D. c.. |
l December 2, 1872. !
! At an early hour the galleries 0
both Houses Of Congress were quit
well filed, and upon the floors thu
usual hand shakings were observed
The liberal Republicans were th.
centers of attraction in the different
circles. With the exception o1
Senator Sumner, none Of the sore
heads seemed at all out of sorts
and all appeared reconciled with
the situation. The resolution o1
Mr.. Sumner, in reference to striking
from the Army Register and regi-
mental .colors all illusions to the
battles Of the late war, and also
Senator Rice's calling upon the
President to explain why troops
were sent into Arkansas, created no
little surprise.
On roll call, only one hundred
and forty-nine members answered
to their names. Although there
was q quorum, much surprise was
manifested on account of there not
being more members in their seats.
In the Senate, however, there was a
better representation.
The refusal Of the House to accept
the resignation Of General Banks as
chairman Of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, is the theme for
discussion in every circle, and gen.
orally the course of the House is
disapproved.
The Presidents Message, with
perhaps one exception, and the re-
ports of the Heads Of the several
Departments, are highly commen-
ded by every republican.
One hundred and sixteen million
Of dollars covers the difference of
the out standing public debt since
the adoption of the Constitution.
The differences, with the exception
Of about one million, explained.
The report Of Hon. A. NJ. CIapp,
Congressional printer, furnished the
following of interest
The total amount of'printing du-
rine the past year authorized by law
or by joint resolution, has been
$436,449,30; total authorized BY
the Senate, $l25,645,45; total au-
thorized by the House, $2o5, ,9o9,@,
total for the use Of the Libary OF
Congress, $1s,o43,241; total for the
Commission to revise to United
States, Statutes, $7,141,s3; State
Department, $24,106,119; Treasury
1872, ,861,50; Interior 1926; ;798, 90
War, $42, 10000; Navy, $88, ,oo1 ,4o;I
Judiciary $42,473,41; Post Office,
b167, 1866. .35; Agriculture, $21, ,790-
Is; Congressional printing $685.
307,o2.
The above statement of'printiug
includes lithopraphing, cost OF pa
per, dry pressing, folding, engraving
binding, etc, which is no small
proportion Of the sums total. |
In concluding his report, Mr..
3lapp, very appropriately calls at
ention to the present and prospec-
i've necessities Of his Office and
'ecommends an appropriation su&-
'ient to erect q wing on the west
inc Of the present building similar
o the one erected on the east side
me year ago; also an increase Of
lesical force and an encouragement
+ higher grade BY an increase. Of
'ay. !,
The iabors Of the Government
it is conceded, are greater
Or the same salary than in other
government Offices. +
The, business Of the oountrs has
. no small extent been deranged
y the late stringency in the money
market. For some time it was i'm
in New York, to get mer-
autile paper discounted at any rate
with ordinary profits IN o.
>gitimate business. Even first
lass notes were charged one perl
ant q month, and second class had
Q chance whatever The interiorl
'ade suffered from the same causeaI /!
Export trade was burdened IN addi-
on by irregularity in. gold and
high rates Of transporta-