The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-28
WASulNGT0N LETTER.

WAsHINdroN, ID. G July 25, 1876.
Several OF the appropriation bills which
have been bone Of contention between the
House and Senate have been agreed to dur.
ing the week, and five still remain TO be
compromised. -Four of these are before con-
ference committees and the other. the river
and harbor bill, is yet being discussed by
the senate. II WAS understood on Friday
that partial agreement upon the toughest
and most hopeless one of the lot-the legis.
lative executive and udioia-has been par
tally compromised, and it is confidently ex-
pected that it may to-day be entirely disposed
of, rendering those remaining comparatively
easy of adjustment. The Senate committee
to which was referred the river and harbor
bill made a little cheap reputation by cut.
ting oil many of the appropriations granted
by the House; but if the House committee
and the House were obnoxious to the charge
OF jobbery and log-rolling in reporting and
passing such bill, the Senate has incurred
greater weight of odium in restoring all
the jobs eliminated by its committee and
adding Others of its own. One substitute
and many amendments have been inconti-
nently voted down in that body, and the
bill still remains, a monument of folly and
extravaganza. There appears to be grow
ing sentiment among the members of both
parties to take the matter of river and bar
Dor Improvement out of the hands of COM
mittecs and turn it over to the decision of
competent engineers.
The Belknap case hangs fire on account
of the indisposlion of one of the managers
and of Carpenter of the defense. The testi-
mony of Evans, which was deemed of so
much consequence that the trial was adjourn
ed to await his coming, did not really change
the bearings Of the case in any particular.
1t only went to confirm Marsh, and might
have been dispensed with without detriment
to justice. The evidence is all in and il was
voted TO resume the consideration of the case
on Wednesday. Mr. Blair has already made
portion of his opening argument, and it
does not seem that it will occupy more than
a very few days more, although it is general
ly supposed that the defendants counsel will
make elaborate and protracted pleas. What
those Senators who voted against their iuris-
diction are going to do when final vote is
reached is conundrum not easy to solve
The telief is: :unh, s;tatingly expressed in
Democratic circles that the evidence against
Robson, mountains high, warrants his inn
peachment, and it was supposed that imme-
diate steps in that direction would have been
taken. But prompted by judicial fairness,
the testimony as taken may be submitted to
the Judiciary committee for the opinion of
the eminent lawyers partly composing it as
to that officials amenability to that method
of punishment for violation of law Two
members of the Cabinet on trial at the same
time would be refreshing spectacle to the
members of the party of "moral ideas"
The matter of making silver legal tender
is being warmly discussed here at the capi-
tai and the disposition to restore it to its old
place is widespread.
The House committee on mines and min
ing has reported bill providing for the is
sue of coin notes for $50 and the multiples
thereof up to $4,000, to be redeemed by the
various mints and assay offices by the silver
and gold bullion on deposit there. Section
4 of the act provides THAT the coin notes
issued under the provisions of this act shall
be legal tender for all debts of the United
States, public and private, not specified to
be paid in coin" The prospects for re.
peal of the resumption act are Frightening
with the discussion it provokes. One of the
members of the committee on banking, ,lrere-
tofore opposed to its repeal, is now counted
among those in favor of the measure. Should
this prove true it is believed the currency
reformers have sufficient strength in the
committee to report bill fer its repeal This
will put the party representatives in Con-
gress in harmony with the declarations of
the ST. Louis convention and compromise
the only real differences between members of
the party in different sections Of the coun-
try.
Much CONSERVATION ha' been created
among the Republican leaders by the many
rumors that Grant had parloned Avery and
contemplated the same friendly action to-
ward others OF the whisky ring. He has
been labored with, but he is rather an ugly
customer when he gets his back up, and
tkere can he no doubt that it has assumed a
very defiant curve since Hayes letter of ac-
cepLance came out. The impression is pret-
ty general that he and Attorney General
Taft are at loggerheads about it,and nothing
that his highness may now do need surprise
any one. RENO.
Notes.