The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-29
The National Capital.
FROM OUR owy vAsmNorev connEsrosprNr


WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1876
The fierce debate upon the Amnesty
bill of which ] wrote you last week has
been succeeded by n long discussion
npon the Centennial Appropriation bill.
Many able speeches have been made
for and against the bill, its opponents
taking the ground thnt 1t is unc0nstitn-
tional. AS yet no one has advanced
any other argument against the pro-
posed appropriation. The indications
are that the vote upon it will be close,
but as it will probably be settled one
way or the other by the time this letter
reaches you, spcculatlOns as to the re-
suit are useless.
A portly, gray haired and sedate
looking old gentleman trCm the 18th
District of New York, named Town
send astOnishcd Che House last week
by appearing in the role Of humorist.
Judging from appearances he was
about the last man in the IIouce that
would be suspected of having any fun
in him, and the calm owl like dignity
with which he was daily wont to sur
yey the younger and more active mem.
bers around him was even suggestive
EFF stupidity, but when reused to action
he was striking example of the truth
of the old saying that appearances are
often deceitful. lie made speech
which kept the floor and the galleries in
an almost continual roar of laughter.
lie went for the strict construction
lists" as lie termed those gentlemen who
were disposed TO use the Constitution
as a covers for their opposition to any
bill that did not sui them, in very
lively manner and made some most ex-
cellent hits. Everything was said in
such a gOOd.natured sort of way, that
eventhe viCtimswhCm he was scGlping
could not help joining in the loud and
uproarous laughter that greeted bis nu.
merous salles of wit. Some OF the
younger humorsts had better look to
their laurels or the old gentleman will
carry off the palm as the Funny Man
of the House. When he finished his
speech the members crowded around
his desk ard almost overwhelmed him
with their congratulations.
The penny wise pound-fooish policy
seems to have taken complete posses
sion of the House Committee on Ap,
propriations, and if all their recommen-
dations are adopted by Congress there
is great danger that the efficiency Of
some of the departments Of the Govern
ment will be seriously crippled The
latest freak is the cutting down of the
estimates of the Consular and Diploma.
tic bill, decreasing the salaries of For
eigh Ministers, consolidating some For
eign Missions, abolishing others and
degrading the Diplomatic service gen.
orally. They also threaten to reduce
the salaries in the Military establish
ment of the Government to large ex-
tent. The power to act upon and re.
port bills of this kind was conferred on
this committee by an amendment to one
of the Rules of the House adopted last
week. Rule 1870. gave the Committee
on appropriations power to report bills
to increase, but not to decrease salaries,
and upon motion of Mr.. Cox, of New
York, it was amended 50 as to give it
also the power to report bills decreasing
salaries. This action of the House gives
vast additional powersto this committee
and enables it to act upon almost as
wide range of subjects as the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means. And iu-
deed much of its increased Importance
is gained at The expense Of the latter
committee. By reason of its newly ac-
quired powers it can reach and to GER
tain degree regulate almost every
branch of the Government. That this
power will be exercised in The most re.
lentess manner there is little doabt. as
the object sought to be attained was
fully exposed in the debate which pre-
ceded the adoption of the above amend
ment.
Senator Morton, is squarely in the
field as Presidential candidate. lie
expects to gain much strength by hi:
resolution calling for an investigation
into the alleged frauds perpetrated il
the late Mississippi election which i,
now before the Senate. Contrary tC
his usual cnstom Mr.. Morton stood M
when addressing the Senate on thi,
subject, supporting himself on crutch
like arrangement which is attached tC
his desk, He became very much fati-
gued and exhausted by the effort anC
only spoke for a short time each day
Some ill-natuTed persons have been un
kind enough to say that lie only stand: