Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence OF the HERALD.l
NUMBER |.


public. The assembling OF Congress
is looked forward to with great anx-
iety, and they set their houses in order
and elevate prices accordingly. In
one session they make enough to last
them through the Summer months
until the next, and they are looked
forward to with that degree of jubi-
lancy that small boy exercises on
the near approach of Christmas. 1t is
their harvest time, and they leave no
greenback unturned. In view of the
prevailing high tariffs Congressman
naturally object to the proposed re-
ductien of salary from S., 900 to $4,000
year, with no mileage or franking
prerogative. After seven or eight
months session there is not much of
that So, 900 left, especially if the men,
Der be married man, with a large
family. Some members who have
left their wives at home find it even
more expensive than otherwise. 1t
costs money to sustain dignity, and a
Congressman is nothing if not digni-
fled. There are other and larger fields
for economic legislation than the re-
duction of members salaries-such as
the army, navy, Indian rings, crooked
whisky barrels, etc., etc.
OUR "EFFICIENT ARMY
Our standing army consists of %, ,00O
rank and file, and costs the people
about S20,00O,000 year. There are
$500 line officers, who cost $3,2l2, 100.
The GA staff officers and generals cost
S3,57l, 1857 year. This army occupies
two hundred and nine forts, or bar
racks. With reduction of the ell
listed men to $1,000, the retiring of a
few hundred line officers, who are
haunting the hotels of our principal
cities, and u few bloated Brgadiers,
the annual expenses could be reduced
by at least S5,OOO,00O.
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The National Democratic Executive
Committee held meeting the other
evening. Hon. Augustus Schell, OF
New York, President. Senator Ran
dali, of New Jersey, was chosen Vice
Chairman, Congressman Barnam, OF
Connecticut, Treasurer, and Banks, OF
Mississippi, resident Secretary. On
motion of Senator Randolph it was re-
| solved to organize early anl at once
begin the champaign of 1876.
"BLooDY sHIRTn CONVENTION.
A futile effort was made last week
by few Southern carpet-baggers and
the vagrant negroes of this city to gel
up " bloody shirt" convention, OF
mass meeting, to assist Senator Nor
ton in his war on Mississippi, and also
to increase Pinchback's chances fol
the vacant seat in the Senate fol-
Louisiana. But it was POSTPONED
either on account of the good wealth
or else to afford Morton sufficient time
to get another batch of "Southerr
outrages," manufactured to order, and
fresh cargo of bloody shirts.
| A PARABLE-WlTH A MORAL.
Meek and lowly ministers tell II:
that there are several ways for whip
ping our Satanic friend around {
stump; other authority informs us
that here are more ways for killing 8
dog than by choking him with tainted
butter and he who attemps to carry
water On both shoulders will surely
| slop over, thereby taking the starch
| out of his own shirt collar. Consider
| able comment is made among the an
ti-subsidy members as to the sudden
conversion Of Representative LuttreIl
to the interests of the Central Pacific.
Last session he was the great cham
pion of the people against this
blooded monopoly" In the Cali
fornia Legislature of 1872, he exhort-
ed the House Oh the reduction
of fares and freights almost daily, and
for three or four hours at sitting. He
was one of the leaders of the. enti-sub-
sidy, anti-mOnopoly movement, upon
which tidal wave he was waited to
Washington. In fact, he was every
where regarded dangerous bull with
hay on his horns. The members of
the last Congress who breathlessly be-
held the bloviator of the West unload
ing bills annihilating the Central Pa
cific, naturally wonder why is all this
thus, and whether the railroad has
made concessions to the public or to
Mr.. Luttrell. Probably Mr.. Luttrell
can explain this to his anti-monopoly
constituency. He is the only old
Democratic member from the Pacific
coast, and probably but for this sud-
den change he would have gotten the
championship Of the Committee on
Naval Affairs. for which he was so
anxious and labored so industriously.
And this is the reason why the Pact
fic coast was sighted in the matter of
Craftsmanship. Notwithstanding
this disappointed ambition Mr.. Lut-
trell has declared war against the Ma
Wy in general, and the Mare Island
portion of it in particular. Let prep
arations be made for the killed and
wounded, and the non-combatants be
sent to the rear.
AFTER THE SAINTS.
A bill is pending before the Senate
excluding Utah polygamists from ju-
ry duty in trials where brother Nor
mon is a party, or the interests o f the
Mormon Church are involved. Under
the present mode of selecting jurors in
that Territory, 1t is so arranged that
the panel is about equally composed
of Mormon and Gentle, and in cases
as above mentioned, the verdict is un-