Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-01-27
TELEGRAPHIC.
WASHINGTON.

ASHlNGTON, Jan. ZZ-Mr. WClSul
to-day introduced bill in the Senate
providing for a reduction of the sala.
ries of employees of all branches of the
government service of ten per cent.
from July l, 1876, if they exceed 81, 600.
The President and U. S. Judges are
exempt.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-The Repub-
lican Senators held long session to.
day on the Louisiana matters. No
conclusion was reached. The caucus
agreed to fight the action of the Com
mittee on Election on the Pinchback
credentials.
Some of the Senators say there's no
eacape from the present difficulties in
that State except by remanding it to a
Territorial condition. BY this means
they could avoid the complications
growing out of the official recognition
Of the Kellogg Government, and open
q way by which order can eventually
be restored. Others thought a stronger
hand ought TO be stretched toward
several Southern States, otherwise
there might be anarchy. There were
opinions different from these express
ed by the more conservative.
The House Republican caucus was
largely attended to-day, and the con-
dition of the South discussed, but
without any definite action.
A resolution was adopted placing
the power of passing all public acts
with the majority of the House. Such
q resolution will probably be intro
duced in the House Monday. Ifpass-
ed the effect will be to evade the two.
thirds rule as to public acts, including
civil rights, more energetic enforce
ment of the protective laws In the
South, and authorizing the President
to suspend the writ Of habeas corpus
in certain cases, together with other
measures which have been tho subject
of consideration by the Caucus Com.
mittee. The proceedings are repre-
sented to have been harmonious and
the result entirely satisfactory.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.--The navy
department caught fire in the upper
story about half past twelve O'Clock
this afternoon and is burnningjiercely.
A general alarm has been sounded and
fre engines from all directions are in
the service. The flames are confined
to the rooms just below the roof but
are making headway, and fears are
felt that the building will be consum-
ed. Tho rooms on fire are stored gem
orally with records, which are likely
to be destroyed. Rumor has II that
some persons are in the upper story
and the flrmen are attempting to res
cue them. The supply of water seems
scarce and the wind is blowing mod
crate breeze from the northwest in tho
opposite direction 10 the War Depart.
ment, which is next to the Navy De-
partment buildings, and there 10 little
danger of that department catching
fire. The fire originated in the east
end of the main building.
LATER-2 o'clock.-Thc FIRE is still
burning but it 10 believed now that
the flames will be confined to the up.
per rooms. No lives were lost as
feared, though some of the employees
and officers of tho Navy on duty in
the building we're in danger of snff0-
cation while attempting to remove
valuable records. The upper floors
are now completely flooded with
water and many records have been
seriously damaged. Nearly all the
Bureau officers and chiefs of divisions
have made preparations for removing
their respective offices in the event of
the spread of the flames.
STILL LArER-The fire IL complete
" under control, the building is dam
aged % much by water as flames
Tho papers destroyed can mostly be
copied. The cause of the fire is sup
posed to be q defective fiue.
WAsnINGToN, Jan. 25-The President
to-day sent to the Senate large mass Of
manuscript, copies oil correspondence rela-
tive to the Loulsfans disorders. The corr
respondence dates from October, 1874. The
first dispatches are cipher kilograms from
Gen. Emery to the War Department, ex-
pressing strong disapproval Of Major Mer.
rill's action in making afiidavits against
citizens of Shreveport, under which they
were arrested. The dispatches contain .
correspondence between Merrill and Emery
Dspsrsnsn. ts,sessphed Merlin, D i, s
"a, justifying his action. Among the pa.
u
Morrow, concerning the Red river country,
to the effect that there is not the slightest
disposition there to oppose the General Gov
ernment, but opposition to the State govern.
ment is determined and expressed openly
Law has fallen into disgrace and Judges are
openly charged with corruption. United
States Marshals have sometimes used troops
unnecessarily and been harsh if not cruel.
Col. Morrow gives as his deep seated con-
viction, that the present State government
cannot maintain itself single hour without
the aid of Federal troops, and even with
them cannot collect taxes and perform the
functions of government. State power has
no respect VI confidence. He believes there
is desire to live peaceably under the Con.
stitution OF the United States, and there is
no Disgusting the fact that the protection
afforded by The Federal administration to
the government of the present State Execn.
tive is the cause of bitter personal and po-
litical feeling in the breast of nineteen.
twentieths of the white inhabitants of the
State.
In forwarding this report, Dec. 20, Gen.
Emery says: sFor nearly two years thecon-
dition of affairs has been very precarious,
and the State government has constantly
shown itself UNABLE to cope with the diff
culties ofthe situation. This state of things
is growing more serious" He recommends
that the military power Of the commander
be increased greatly.
Gen. Sherman endorses this document,
saying that he knows no officer of Colonel
Morrow's rank better qualified to speak,
but he refuses to intrude his opinion in the
confusion in which the subject in now en-
veloped.
WAsH1NGToN, Jan. 26.-The Judic.
larry committee made reports ON vari-
ous subjects, including one to amend
the Constitution by making the Presi-
dental terms six years and declaring
q President Ineligible to sffice q second
time. A discussion followed.
CONGRESSIONAL.
inEs Of 4Sd CONGRESS-.