Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-12-24
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON ID. c., Dec. 81.

Lettsr from washington.
WASHINGTON ID. c., Dec. 81.
The debates in Congress during the week
have been - utterly devoid Of interest that
thy are scarcely worth menti,Eing. Ia the
House. Gardrid's appropriation bill ha. been
up. Al members have had an opportunity to
indulge in the kind Of buncome which is very
cheap AMI supPo ed to be very efe,tve. Saw
ing the country Is the favoTite employment of
the average Congressman. and so he does II
the manner or tie question is not of much.
moment. Henry Clay used to save the coun-
try occasionally. with a compromise bill. Dan.
lei Webster did little in th lin, BY defe nd.
ing the constitution. and Gen. Cass imagined
that he wa to save 1t by squatter sovereignty.
bui these old methods are all played out. and
a the business IL still supposed 10 be protita-
Bile. and the composition Il even more liveiv
than in the days of Henry Clay. yet nothing
can redeem the proceedings from stupidity and
tameness.
The appropriation bill always gives the OPP
portunity for grand display Of saving power
on the part OF those members who are uaabl.
TO climb TO the lights wh~re Clav. Webster
and Cass once stood. and while they NAV BE-
sensible that they can make no impression on
a tie ne relating to the principles of Govern
ment or the ghts Of man. they can make
good deal OF talk on the subject OF jack-kniyes
mending OF harnesses. and the amount Of good
there IN AZ be in having twenty-five policemen
to guard the Capitol instead of tweniy.four
"atchnsn. or on the loss 10 the country in al
low .ng 400 Clerks TO the second auditor in.
ste d of s3j.
Economy is COED thing and to b, comm end
ed. but most Of the legislation which relates
to the details of staiioaery. and TO fixing the
number and grade OF the minor suborlinates
in tn, departments is the most arrant non
sense. The men who talk m,>t on these maj
tfr, are usually they who know the Lea,
about them. and when their 30 called reforms
pas they almost Always turn ont 10 be no re-
iJrm at al aud ~ part. mea>ure, are worth
Lss. Thus Garfield will cut down the num-
Der OF clerk. in an Off Il, without taking any
pam, 10 ascertain the STATE of business or the
wants of tina, ofiice; but when the people come
to vote next year. who knows. or IN nks. or
cares aIout ii: But " tn III, loss oft fore
the business gets behind. the people VII, do
business with the Office have to wait. the reru-
talion OF the Goyci nmcnt suffer-. and after all
extra help has 10 be provided and paid for.
Not only this but when bus nos. is permitted
10 accumulate. confusion en.ue-. aud then
some rascal ike Hodges see. ii, opportunity.
and out soe> foom the pocket OF uncle sam q
round half million. Nearly all the defalea-
tim, in the government service have occurred
in consequence OF decays ia the settlement Of
accounts, and can be traced directly to i tin
9iness Of appropriations. II i. much bcticr t.
have 4 sii, p u of help than a deficiency. aud
few Thousands wasted that way !, tar better
thsn TO give the rogues an opprriuuiis To steal
by the half million. But then what would be- /
come Of the economical bunc3me spscchg |
Boutwell, when Secretary went into the small |
economies and stopped the Use Of gold pens.
but do not perceive that it has done mu Oh
toward, making him caniita,e for the Pre.i-
dency. Chase did nothing OF the kind. and |
yet no one urged the point against him when /
he was presented A. a candidate.
These small matters seldom affect the pub |
lie mind permanently, and while the min Of 1
buncome Is running down this small game the /
huge swiDdles run through i'm nolcsted. The I
Senate has been engaged during the week on 4
the bin providing for the government; ofthe |
district al Columbia. II {. proposed TO rule /
the district by commissioners, on the ground /
substantially that Home Rule" IN. been a fall |
urc here. Thi, district has become an elephan, q
large size, and Congress. hardly know. what u !
do with IL. All kind. of rule. have failed here /
and II j. not easy u say which has been the /
worst failure. Mayors and Aldermen failed. I
Democratic Mayor Wallace failed. Republic
Bowen failed the Bo.. shepherd system fall /
ed. and the only question is which failure Ia.
been the most disastrous. Cousres, having
exclusive lea..lityagP'tn se Twenty million dcbi
viii have the pleasure Of seeing the thing
through Ultimately.
The ceremony of receiving the king Of sand
wish bv Cougre-. took plaer on fad.v. and
drew large crowd. though nothing Of special 4
and speer o. PeHn. called each other some
hard name. In a debate on The expense, Of the ]
department. Of Justice. The language used I
wa after thai form 81 poitene-, in vogue with /
Chicago Eltor-. whoa they compliment each I
other on the possession Of gift- that mankind 7
0fthe better class commonly dr;esi. The AZ I
fair woke up the young African. who make |
the gallery sleeping place on cold winter I
day. and passed of without more .rrsHs re- I
suits.
Mr.. Jewell has II grayely announced that he !
worss ten hour. day. a. II ia ai were an un-
common thing fsr an Off ser in 4 new Business
;ha: be doe, not undsr.iAnl.