The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-02-05
From Washington.
PRESIDENTIAL TERN

The house spent Tuesday and Wednesdav
of this week in discussing the various nroro
sitions that had been proposed to linn, the
presidential term. The immediate nronos,.
ton before the house was that reported from,
the judiciary committee that no person here.
after holding the office Of president shall he
eligible for reelection to the same office To
this Mr.. Frye offered an amendment TO maka
the presidential term six years, with the
clause against his reelection. After two
days debate the Frye amendment was vot.
ed down yeas 100, nays IA; and then the
bill was voted dOwn-yeas IA. nays 100
Lacking two.thlrds vote, the bill was lost
CENTENNIAL GRAB.
The honse centennial bill was reported
from the appropriation committee to the sen.
ate on Friday, in exactly the same shape as
it passed by the house. Friends of the bill,
and its enemies, too, for that matter, say that,
unless something very unusal is brought IN
in its discussion in the senate, 1t will pass
with safe majority Just who the leadlnp
speakers will be in opposition to the measure
is not known, but the impression has. and
without any direct foundation, got abroad
that Thurman will make a big effort against
il.
TARIFF AMDNDMENT.
Mr. Morrison has introduced his tariff 70
vision bill, the revision having been brought
about, it is said, after consultation with emf.
nent revenue men from all parts of the coun.
try, David A. Wells being the most prominen,
among them. The bill puts long list of or
ticles, which have heretofore ylelted less
than 100000 revenue, upon the free list; re.
duccs the tariff on iron from 81 to SIS per
ton and restores the tax on tea and coffee
The bill has been referred TO the WAYS and
means committee.
DISTRICT ROBBERY
The senate has been daily engaged since
Tuesday in discussing "A joint resolution to
pay the interest on the District of Columbia
debt In making appropriations, several
years ago, to carry out certain projected i'm.
provements in the district, congress limited
the expense to $l00OO,00O, and authorized
the issue of 3G5 government bonds to thai
amount. Boss Shepherd went on expanding
the appropriation and doing no work at q
rate that frightened congress, and the district
territorial government, of which he was the
head, was removed and the management OF
the affairs Of the dlstric: placed in the
hands OF three commissioners Senator Bay
ard, however, charged that the government
had substantially remained unchanged, as
Shepherd, through his known influence with
the president retained his old supremacy
Even when the senate had appointed a com
mlttee to investigate his misconduct, the
lawyers Shepherd employed to conduct his
own case before the committee were paid out
of district funds; and the debt of the district,
which had been limited to $100O0,000, was
already SlS,000000 and still the projected
Improvements unfinished. The joint resolu
ton, which had passed the house, was finally
amended so as to limit the debt to $l5, 100000
and to refuse payment Of interest on any
bonds not issued in accordance TO law, and
in this shape passed.
SCENE.
During the debate on the West Point bill
last Friday, Hale, of Maine, made a violent
speech against the reduction of the pay of the
cadets, and directed his attack especially
against Dir. Cox, whom he accused of making
hypocritical professions of economy on bills
like this, but who would vote for every south
ern claim. Every southerner that had lost
a mule in the war expected pay for it, and
every democrat in the house. Cox included,
would vote to give il, at the behost Of his
was naturally rileG, AMI in reply ridiculed
Hale unmeycliully as hero of the bloody
SHIRT and said in that business he was acting
but the part of tumble.bug to Blaine. The
hit caused screams of laughter, but the speak
er called Cox TO order for the remark, and al
forwards both he and Cox apologized TO the
house for their Incorporate language
PINCHBACK.
Morton, from the Senate committee on
elections, has again reported IN favor CT
Pinchback's right TO "a seat in the Senate
rom Louisiana, and though on two former
occasions the Senate has fatty refused TO ad-
nit his claim, it is now believed that, under
he stress of the rapidly disappearing repub-
lean majority in that body, he will be al
nitted.
WEST.
Bu, while pinch" may thus get in, there
5 a fair prospect that his colleague West
nav be kicked out An investigation in
Louisiana has revealed the fact that he OBJ
aimed his election as senator by open and
shameless bribery, in view Of which the sen
he can with no show of decency avoid eS-
,ellng him.
KING AND sHoEMAKLR.
These two worthless, who were shown oy an
Investigation at the last session Of congress
o have been participatOrs in the racine
~ =, -, 49,, -, ,,,o rarrad edrc The III