Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-02-28
Our Washington Letter.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE STANDARD.

The Discussion IN the Senate on the Louisi-
ana Elections-fhe Army Approximation
Bill in the House Indian Affairs r. .mov-
al of Territorial Oficers-The Mail Con
Observation-Disclosures Territory in the De-
partmentsWhat to Do with Alaska--'rhe
Territorial Railroad }ill-Washington Ter
ritory Bills before Committees.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1874.
The proceedings of Congress during
the past week have been in the Senate
mainly confined to the discussion of the
Louisiana troubles, and in the House to
that OF the army appropriation bill. A
few days ago it was thought almost a
certainty that Congress would order a
new election in Louisiana, but now it is
extremely doubtful. Senator Carpen-
ters speech very clearly proved that
Kellogg was not legally the Governor
of the State, and that it was an act of
usurpation on his part to assume the
Office, and in spite of all these is grow
ing up the feeling that 1.-TWO wrongs
will not make right" It was mis-
take in the first place for the general
Government to interfere in the local
election, and virtually place Kellogg in
the executive chair by the force of the
national bayonets. 1t would be but n
repetition of this error to now declare
the whole election and proceedings
growing out of it null and void and or
der a new election. AS the French
proverb says, 6 1t is the first step which
costs" If that had not been taken the
Republican party would have been
saved world of trouble. President
Grant is determined that there shall be
no more political monstrosities, as he
terms the Louisiana troubles, and lately
when appealed to by Gov. Davis, of
Texas, for assistance in retaining him
self in Office Notwithstanding the cleo
ton had gone against him, replied
rather tartly that he had better submit
to the expressed will of the people:
tho National Government would not
interfere in matters strictly appertain-
| ing to the States themselves.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
In the discussion OF the army appro-
priations there have been divulged some
queer facts. Mr.. Wheeler, Of New
York, stated that there were ono thou
sand enlisted men in Washington City
who were doing other duty than that of
soldiers, some of them acting as SER
wants at the houses of prominent Off
Gals, and advised that they be sent to
the frontier to reinforce the troops at
the several advanced stations. Mr.
Cox, of New York, made an exceeding.
ly witty speech on the subject of moths,
which kept the house in roar Of laugh
ter. He showed that the Quartermas-
ter Department had on hand the enor-
nous amount of eight hundred thou
sand uniforms left over from the war
and amounting in value to eight million
dollars. Last year $3.50, 900 were ex-
pended to preserve this clothing from
moths and mildew, and this year $780,
600 has been asked for the same pur-
pose 1t would seem the better plan
to sell out this immense clothing cstab-
lishment, as the old uniforms are dead
stock, an entirely new uniform having
been recently adopted for the army.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
After lingering SO long, Inspector
Inspector Kemble has been confirmed
by the Senate, though it may be that
his tenure of Office will be but of few
months duration. Strenuous efforts
will be made this session to transfer the
Indian Bureau to the charge of the
War Department, abolish the Indian
Inspectors and assign that duty to the
commanding officers of the several mil
itary departments in which the Indian
territory is embraced. Mr.. Neslnith
will make speech to that effect very
shortly. With his great experience in
Indian affairs he will be listened to
with much attention and his practical
views on the subject will have great
weight. Through his energy and man
agement, and that of other Western
members, the proposed transfer will in
all possibility pass the House, but it is
extremely doubtful about the Senate
It will, of course, be bitterly opposed
bv the humanitarians and self-styled
philanthropists of the Eastern States,
who think they alone are able to man.
age the Indians.
FEDERAL OFFICERS IN THE TERRITORIES.
Quite a number of changes were made
few days ago in Colorado. The Del
egate demonstrated to the President
particularly against the removal of the
Governor and the appointment of Gen.
McCook to the position. The President
replied that he thought it was about
time to make change in the Federal
appointments throughout all the Terri
tories. If he carries out this expressed