Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-02
Correspondence Of the Herald
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The W eather--soldiers' Home District Gov
ernment-Close of Congress-Its Action &c.

in the nineties has set both the resident
and transient Washingtonian in fe-
yer for northern lakes, mountains, for
ests, fishing grounds and the fayorite
resorts of Saratoga, Cape May and
Long Branch; and every train carries
away from the capitol scores of such
pleasure seekers; but Washington is
not without its quiet, shady and cool
retreats, which invite the weary and
care worn to rest and comfort as lux
urious as can be found anywhere. 1t
was the writer's good fortune to be
invited by II. b. Miles, former well
known resident Of Grant Co., and now
the efficient Superintendent of the
"Fire Alarm Telegraph" of this city,
to take drive through the grounds
of the Soldiers Home, located two or
three miles out of town and in one of
the most beautiful parks in the coun-
try. The grounds must comprise some
hundreds of acres of meadow, woods,
hills, wales, lakes, orchards, gardens,
and an endless number Of winding
drives smooth as floor leading thro'
rural retreats, groves of chestnut, ar
bors covered with honeysuckle, and
roses of more varied fragrance than
we ever saw before.
In the midst of these grounds are
the elegant buildings of the Home, one
of which was occupied by Mr.. Lin
coin as a summer residence during his
presidential term. The Home was
founded at the suggestion of General
Scott for disabled and worn out vet
Grams of our military service, and it is
supported by contributions made reg.
ularly by all soldiers in the service
and they now own this beautiful prop
erty and a retreat where large and
happy family are cared for by Uncle
Sam, with all the tenderness a mother
bestows upon her child. Upon the
most prominent point of the grounds
there has just been placed in position
a grand bronze statute Of the "hero O.
Lundy's Lane" and one of the best
exhibitions Of art in this country. Tho
face of the old veteran is a good study
for an hour.
Well, the investigation Of the Board
of Public Works and the District
government is over, and the report oil
the committee has been divulged, and
while the Board is commended for the
extent and value of its improvements,
it is yet adjudged that there was SC
much recklessness in expenditure, in
the matter of business records, and in
the increase of the burden ofindebted
ness, that the Board and the District
government should both be wiped out
as measure of public safety; and
the jewellers in the District are re-
manded back to their DISTINGUISHED
condition, and are heneeforth to be
unlUI an al Irterim government COM
posed of three commissioners, and the
people are we'll satisfied with the
change which buries governor, Board
and legislature beneath the mutations
of time.
Of course the sensation of these
days has been the closing hours of a
long session of congress which we
fear has not covered itself with glory
in behalf of constituency who drive
the great industrial enterprises of the
country. To an unprejudiced locker
on upon their proceedings for the last
seven months comes the conviction,
that personal interest, labor for Bun.
comb and reelection, were consider
atoms higher than any need of the
people in whose hands is the power
that makes and unmakes legislatures.
There were of course honorable ex-
ceptions in the body, but we note
what seems TO have been the rule
True the "Salary Grab" was repealed,
fewer Jobs have been perpetrated, the
budget of appropriations have been cut
down nearly s28, 100000, the pension
laws have been improved, sufferers by
flood have been provided for, and the
body has endeavored to meet the de-
mands upon the national Treasury
without increasing the burdens of
taxation; and yet no congress ever
convened in this city in which was a
two-thirds majority in perfect harmo
ny with the Executive which possess
ed so little power of progress. The
currency question remains practically
the same as at the beginning of the
session, the civil rights bill did not be-
come law, no provision has been made
for cheaper transportation, nor has the
problem been solved. When Brigham
Young sent an avowed polygamist to
congress to defy that body and the
moral sense Of the people, he is per-
mitted to occupy his seat undisturbed.
The expiring hours of the session
witnessed the usual reckless rushing
of important measures through either
house without opportunity for exam
nation or discussion, and if more
disorderly legislative body can be
found on the earth than the American
House of Representatives, why, we
don't want to see it. Criticisms are
of little avail now, and the country
must abide the result, yet the intelli
gent masses of the people are deter,
mined more than ever to hold to a
strict account for their acts all their
public servants, and those who are
found wanting must step aside in TIE
future.
This sitting in judgment on oficia
conduct will no doubt materially
change the personnel of the next con-
gress, and if the Republican party de
sires to maintain the ascendency il
n