The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
OUR WASHINGTON X.E'rrEg.
MAsnrNcrox. D. c.. Feb. G.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, u. c., Feb. c.
Leading Washington correspond
ents for Democratic papers have COM
nitted the blunder OF attacking the
administration because, as they al
ege, large number Of men who are
in the Army are detailed to
serve Army officers in the capacity
Of messengers. coachmen and even
walters. The Army and Navy De-
partments are admitted to be run
without regard to party, and this at
tack shows the animous Of the oppo-
sition, and their determination to
make a factious attack at all points
without regard to the real merits of
extravaganza charged. This detail
ing has always been the custom. 1t
was done before the war and since
under Andrew Johnson. Mr.. Wheel
er, of New York, a Republican, used
this fact as an argument in favor OF
curtsiling the army in preference to
the civil service, because tho country
would not suffer from a reduction of
25, 600 men, if all thus employed out
side Of the line of their legitimate
duty, and those who were in the cast
and who were of no use, save to fig
ure on dress parade. were sent to the
frontier OF elsewhere where their ser
vices are required.
The proposition to save $4,000
per annum by stripping the Capitol
of its police, and in lieu thereof de-
failing some of the metropolitan po-
lice for which Congress in part pro-
vides is a picayune business. There
are about half the number of police
men in Washington per capita that
are usually employed in cities. They
are above the average of policemen,
but it would be shameful to establish
a grade of guardians for the Capitol
buildings that are only sufficiently
intelligent to catch thieves and break
ers Of the peace on the streets. The
present Capitol police force are chief
ly composed of educated men who
were manned in the late war, and
besides guarding the building, they
are often found insufficient in number
to perform tie jnnumerable Offices
which they are called on 70 fill during
the sessions.
The Southern Republican Associa-
ton is engaged in discussing ques-
tons of Importance to the country
connected with the development of
the resources Of the South by Manu-
factures and cheap transportation.
At a meeting last evening the Presi-
dent and one Of the members, Hon.
Geo. S. Fisher of Georgia, made very
successful sbowings Of the interest
which the general government has
in this Southern development. Statis-
tics evidence that Southern water
line connecting the waters OF the Mis-
sissippi with those Of the Atlantic
would prove a most invaluable ad-
unet to the prosperity Of the nation,
and that the loan of capital or credit
of the government for such an i'm
provement must yield a ready return
besides conferring lasting blessing
upon the masses in al sections Of the
country.
The Washington correspondent OF
the Philadelphia Press states that
the previous investigation of our Dis
triet affairs cost one hundred and ten
thousand dollars and proved the false
hood of charges made by many of
the same men who have jus; succeed-
ed in driving the House into a joint
investigation of the District which
will cost more than the last. All
this in the name of economy.
The admission Of General Harney
who has fought the Indians all his
life, and is well qualified TO judg-
their characteristics,,is very damage
ing to the veracity OF many military
men regarding the Indians. He has
given it as his opinion before the
House Military Committee that if
the Indians are honestly treated,
and not plundered, they will live
peaceabiy on their reservations. He
saws that Indian outbreaks are usu-
ally made to avenge injuries offered
them by agents and the hangers On
around the camps, who live by de-
ceiying and robbing them. These
are the same scoundrcls who arc con-
tinually sending eastward terrible
stories of Indian butcheries and how
thew mutilato their victims. Many
of our masses swallow these stories
as gospel truth, and there is often
some truth in them, thanks to the
dishonest Vaccinations Of these pa
thetic story hatcbers.
The House Appropriation Commit
tee appear to be smelling around the
Treasury pretty keenly of late. Their
report that "thc slush fund" a tech
nical namo for the money appropria-
ted to pay increased compensation
to deserving and meritorious clerks
is divided on the biblcan plan of ''to
him that hath shall be given" will
cause an intelligent smile to fit across
the eoantaaapce Of many an old clerk
Let them find out who gauges merit
in the Treasury if they can.
The opposition press are now OBJ
jecting to the reduction of estimates
10 the various departments in which
the Appropriation Committee is en-
gagged. They have clamored until
they thought they had frighted TIE
Committee out of its propriety. and
that il would 50 restrict the Govern
meat that It's business could not be-
performed. They are now changing
the cry Of reduction Of estimates"
and say it is all humbug, because in
the case of the 7. o. Department
supplemental estimate has been in-
troduced by the third assistant p VI.
Gen. asking for eight additional
clerks that are required to run his
Bureau, the cost of which is put at