The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-02-20
Ie,ter from JYnshiaoton.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 10th, 1876.
Only seventeen days more and then the second
session of the AID Congress closes, and with it the
labors OF hundreds of anxious people who have
been here the past two years or more in behalf of
their respective bills and measures before Con-
gress One can see at every turn the greatest
anxiety depicted on the conntenances of these
people. But few, if any, private bills will be
considered this session, so many are there Of ma
tional Importance awaiting action Among those
that demand immediate attention is the Postal
Telegraph Bill which has received the favorable
consideration of committees of both Houses If
the bill passes and becomes law the cost Of tel
egraphy will be greatly reduced.
The passage by the House, yesterday, Of the
new bill 'to equalize the bountes to soldiers who
served in the late war of the Union" is sS2 .,
for congratulaton. 1t puts all who voluntarily
and truly served their country in its time Of peril
on an equal basis of reasonable compensation il
prevents the cheating Of the soldier out of his
bounty by any pretense of purchase and assign
ment of his right thereto, and limits the fees OF
attorneys and claim agents for prosecuting his
| claim to $40. 1t gives all nor. commissioned of
6cers, musicians, arti6cers, wagoners, private
soldiers sailors and marines, eight and one third
dollars per month for the time of their actual ser
vice during the Rebellion.
The vote on the amendment to the Postofice
Appropriation Bill allowing the public documents
printed by order of Congress, and of seeds, cut
tings, &C., furnished by the Agricultural Depart
ment, shows that Congress has not yet come uE
to the mark Of returning even in part to th'
principal of the repealed Franking Privilege. 81
much lodging was manifest, and so little argu
ment against it was made that the vote Of 90 yea
| to 125 nays is not very significant of an earnes
opposition to a return to the old system. Th
grounds Of its repeal is admitted to be stricken
from under the feet of the repealers, inasmuch
the cost of postage to the government is create
than the saving by the repeal, and instead Of ih
Postoffice deficit being reduced, as propheSed b.
the late Postmaster General Creswell, it has beef
thereby largely increased. 1t is about time tina
the actual, and not the theoretical interest of to
government be adhered to in this regard.
Illiteracy in this country as shown by the las
census has increased very largely since the Rebel
lion, especially in the South, where the onl,
remedy for approaching anarchy, such as pre-
walls in the South American Republics, is the ed
ueation of the masses, both black and white
The only feasible plan to secure this seems to u
to pass the bill apprspriating the proceeds of pub
lie lands to common school education in proper
ton to illteracy in different parts of the country
On the men of the rising generation must depend
the future of the South, and upon these being ell
evated and purified by increased education aat
general intelligence. Congress should moi hest
tate to apply the remedy which is for the benefit
if not the safety, Of the entire country.
Hon. VIM. D. Kelly cannot see any defcienc
in the national income, and opposes all taxation
holding that the cancelled bonds are an equiva
lent for this payment into the sinking fund, ant
that the debt is reduced to a greater extent thai
the sinking fund requires. This is the most de
cided stand against the recommendation of tn
Secretary of the Treasury that has yet been take
by protested Republican LIFE.