The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-12-25
OUR WASHINGTON w LETTER,

OUR wAsHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., December 18, 1873,
The action of the House on the Bank
ruptcy bill has astonished everybody
here. The anti-Administration bankers
have lobby that Is superior in numbers
and material aid to anything that has yet
been known. These bankers are here
for various other purposes concerning
| financial legislation, but they are deter
mined to rise on the fall of Jay Cooke
& Co.. regardless of all the interest of
the country. That they should have
| been able to wheedle and overslaugh the
majority in the House, and actuslly to put
| through this amendment to the bill of
the Judiciary Committee offered by Mr..
Beck astonished everybody. 1t is to be
hoped that the bill as it passed. the House
will be stopped In the Senate long
enough to enable Senators to see the drift
of measure which in time of panic and
monetary trouble, when bankrupt law
is most needed, suddenly and absolutely
repeals it for the future, while it retains
nearly all the Objectionable features of it
for those who are present suffers. 1t is
an outrage ON the common sense of the
community, and If passed now a new
bankrupt law will be enacted before the
end of the presant session of Congress.
The Pennsylvania Republican Associa-
ton had a delightful time at their Socia-
BILE held last evening at the Masonic
Temple. It was the first of these popu-
lar entertainments of the season, and
proved a decided success
The seating of P S. B. Pinchback Of
La, in the Senate prior to the holidays,
has been given up by his friends, it hav-
| ing elected more discussion than was
anticipated.
The Senate yesterday passed the g. :
00O, 900 House bill for an increase of the
! Navy. 1t is understood, however, that
| if nothing further comes of the Cuban
| difficulties, further expenses are soon to
stop.
The Hurlbut substitute for the Hale
salary bill passed the House, and will be
likely to find favor in the Senate. 1t
provides that Sc, 900 shall be the pay of
Congressman, except the Speaker of the
House who shall receive $1,000, and
leaves all the other salaries as fixed by
the last Congress. A green editor of a
Washington daily paper questions the
| right of Congress as well as the effect of
| this law to retroact upon the nine months
| pay already received by members of the
presant Congress. He makes the redicu-
lous assertion that 'it is probably true
| thatit would be beunconstitutonalto to attempt
| by law to compel members to return pay
legally received" The Constitution not
only provides that each Congress shall
tix Its own pay, but the provision against
lmpalring the obligation of contracts
applies only to the States. Congress
has passed innumerable retroactive laws.
The consultation provided that each
Congress is competent to fix the salary
of its members, and the last Congress
having fixed it by law for the last session,
any change of the law for that Congress
is barred by the express terms of the
constitution on the subject.
number of Republicans are now en-
gagged in urging the practical ignoring of
politics in selecting civil officers. If
these officers are so selected in addition
to the military, of what beneficial use is
it that parties are organized, and how
can they be maintained is pertinent
question. 1t is unquestioIable that par
ties are essential to secure scrutiny into
therights and liberties of fthepeople under
all free government If the principles
of successful parties are not to be main
tanned by their proper representation in
the Government appointments how can
they be made available 4? The fact is that
some mean souls who decend to the low
est depths in STOPPING for the favor of
party workers before receiving Office, so
/ soon as they become elevated into posi-
ton of power, become grandilo::nent in
their generosity to political enemies.
Garry this to its legitimate ultimate, aud
after the majority of voters had desided
that certain principles shall govern the
country, the very reverse of these may be
practiced under the ignoring suicidal
policy of these impracticable theorists.
Mr. Frederick E. Dent, father-in-law
of the President, who died few days
since at the Executive Mansion, received
the last sad Office of his friends in ap-
propriate funeral services this morning.
The body is embalmed and will be taken
to st. Louis for interment in the family
burying ground.
The opposition to new taxation and to
the stoppage of necessary Improvements
already begun is not favorably received,
and it is likely that temporary loan
will be substituted for tiding us over the
effects of the panic upon our regular re
ceipts of revenue.
The following was the financial ex
hibit of the Treasury Department. at tbs
close of business yesterday: Currency
S6s7, ,6s2.0l special deposit of legal
tenders for redemption Of certificates o1
depasia S2e, ,slA00; eotn, Sss, e42. 4444.
IS; including coin certificates s31, ,47s.
. 700 outstanding legal tenders, 1874,
5T,01S
The receipts from internal reverp.
sources yesterday were 1919. 4s1. 7a.
7 #N