The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-02-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan'y 30, 1876.

defining the rights OF homestead SetI-
lers on lands granted to railroads. The
point in the law is that lands granted
shall not be considered Withdrawn until
the notice of withdrawal has been filed
in the local land Office, where the land
is subject to entry. This Is what
the settlers demanded, aid the roads
have claimed that land was Withdrawn
when notice was filed in the General
Land Office. The roads will fight The
bill in the House, but there is little
doubt of its passage.
FALSE ECONOMY.
In their frantic efforts to go before
the people on the platform of retrench-
ment, and show that they have effected
a great saving in expenditures, the
Democratic Commute on Appropriation,
under the lead of the Salary Grabber,
Randall, are trying to cripple the dipio-
matte and consular service and the West
Point Academy. When the Democratic
party was in power, the system OF consul
lar service was SO arranged that the
consuls, at the ports where large num-
Der of American ships traded, received
immense salaries, the ordinary revenue
of the consuls at Liverpool and Havana,
being over fifty thousand dollars per
nothing. This system was changed by
the Republicans, and the pay of consuls
was limited and made more equal,
while the service was rendered more
effective. The effort is now being made
to cripple the service.
It is notorious that our ministers and
diplomatic agents abroad do not receive
pay more than sufficient to enable them
to live decently, and yet their salaries
are to be reduced. The estimates for
the expenses of West Point were $780,
600, and this has been cut down to $751;
900, Il sum entirely insufficient to carry
on this institution. Is it singular that
the efforts Of the confederate Democracy
through their servile tool, Randall should
be to cripple and discredit and nursery
Of our military officers, the guardians of
cur sailors when abroad, and the diplo-
matte corps whose efforts prevented
their recognition when they were in
arms? These were three of the agencies
that helped materially to crush the re-
beliion, and they are now made to feel
the vengeance OF the rebels. The pen
sion list they did not dare to attack yet,
reserving that for another Congress,
where they hope TO have greater power,
when the crippled soldiers will be made
to feel the power of the triumphant
rebels.
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGERTS
are here in force demanding the right for
women to vote in the District of Column
bia. The arguments used are the old
stereotypcd ones about ''taXation with
out representation, and sthe power
of protection the ballot gives" There
is no question Of the fact that the
idea of woman suffrage is gradually
gaining strength. 1t is the old story Of
tie continual dropping of water, wearing
away the stone. Numbers of promi-
nent men favor the experiment, but not
enough to make it successful, and the
women will have to wait a while longer.
THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COM
MT"rEE
will be reorganized in caucus to day-a
committee having been appointed last
week for that purpose. 1t is said Sen
ator Howe viii be chairman, and,
Mr.. E. p. Brooks, editor of the National
Republican, secretary. Whether this
be so OF not every step is being taken to
make a complete and perfect canvass,
and to secure that harmony and unanimi-
ty in the party that leads to certain
success. The elections last year en-
boldened the Dem ocrats and had they
any fixed principles uniting the great
body Of the party, instead of being an
homogeneous mass. they might have
some hopes of success; as it is they have
none, except inertia of the Republicans.
They will be disappointed as to that, for
the people are being thoroughly aroused
by confederates of the House, and do
not intend to let the country pass under
the rule Of the late rebels. The northern
Democratic Senators became so thorough
ly alarmed By the number of letters that
were sent them in regard to such spec
ches as those of Ben Hill and Tucker,
that they held caucus, and having put
a bride upon the tongue of the Ku Klux
Major General Gordon, and others who
intended replying to Senator Morton's
speech on Mississippi. The Committee
on Privileges and Elections have report
ed against the claim of Mr.. Eustie to a
seat i'll the Senate.
TARIFF TINKERING.
Mr.. Morrison, from the Committee Of
Ways and Means, will on Monday report
a bill levying ten cents per pound on
coffee and three cents per poor mans
luxuries. At the same time he propose
to re-establsh the inquistorial income
tax, the most repuisive Of the necessary
war taxes and one that was repealed at
the almost universal demand OF the
people.
GAGGING THE PRESS.
The Committee on Post Offices and
Post Road made itself unpleasantly con-
spIcuous by presenting bill under the
pretencc of preventing the circulation
of obscene literature which VAS intend
ed to gag the press. Mr.. Hoar, of
Massachusetts,, quickly exposed the
character of legislation intended in the
bill, and the Democratic majority was
forced to recommit it.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION
is one of the grand problems before this
Congress. From every section of the
country, North, East, Sonth, and West
comes the cry from the consumers and
producers, demanding that the Govern
ment she'll inaugIrate some measures
that will cheaper the rates of freight
The railrDad men are here in force to
prevent, If money and work can accom-
pish it, any measure of relief. General
Hurlburt's bill providing for the con-
striction of q great freight rout. from
st. Louis, Council Bluffs, and Chicago
to New York, on the Belgian plan,
meets with some favor Tom SCOTS
prosposai, as presented this year, in re-
gard to building the Texas and Pacific
road, meets with almost universal favor
about the only opposition coming from
Jay Gould's and the Central Pacific
men.
THE FOREIGN NEWS
of most important is that there is good
prospect Of tie settlement of the church |
troubles il Germany, the submission of
tae clergy to the 'tFalk law" The |
Cologne Gazette of the 9th sars s.Nnt- |