The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-26
By Our Special Correspondent
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


TIE CENTENNIAL BILL. THE FUNNY
MAN OF THE HOUSE. DEGRADING
THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC SER
VICE. MoRToN's ASPIRATIONS AND
HOPES. Tue FIGHT IN THE DEMO
CRATIC CAMP. HENDRICKS AND
TILDEN. CURTIN AS A TAIL TO THE
HENDRICKS KITE. BAYARD AND
KERR. DoCToRED SPEECHES. RE-
DUCTIoN OF SALARIES.
WASHINGTON, d. C. Jan. %, 1876.
The ierce debate upon the Amnes-
ty Bill Of which | wrote YOU last
week has been succeeded by a long
discussion upon the Centennial Ap-
preparation Bill. Many able speech
es have been made for and against
the bill, its opponents taking the
ground that it is unconstitutional.
As yet no n has advanced any
other argument against the proposed
appropriation. The indications are
that the vote upon it will he closed,
but as it will probably be settled one
way or the other by the time this let
ter reaches you, speeulations as to
result are useless.
A portly, gray haired and sedste
looking old gentleman from the l7tb
district of New York, named Tovnd-
send astonished the House last week
by appearing in the role of a humor-
list. Judging from appearances be
was about the last man in the House
that would be suspected of having
any fun in him, and the calm owl
like dignity with which be was daily
wont TO survey the younger and
more active members around him
was even suggestive of stupidity, but
when reused to action be was a strik-
ing example of the truth of the old
saring that appearances are often
deceitful. He made a speech which
kept the floor and the galleries 10 an
almost continual roar Of laughter.
He went for the strict construction
lists" as he termed those gentlemen
who were disposed to use the Con-
stitution as a cover for their opposi
ton to any bill that did not suit
them, in a very lively manner and
made some most excellent hits. Every
thing was said in such q gooj-humur-
ed sort of a way that even the vic
tins whom be was s~cslping could
not help joining in the loud and up
rearious laughter that greeted his
numerous sallies of wit. Some of
the younger bumorists had better
look to their laurels or the old gen.
tleman will carry off the palm as the
funny man of the House. When be
finished his speech the members
crowded around bis desk and almost
overwhelmed him W th their congrat-
ulatiuns.
The neutrality-suspicious. poll
cy seems to have taken complete pos
session of the House Committee on
appropriations, and if all their rec
concentrations are adopted by Con-
gress there is great danger that the
efficiency of some Of the departments
of the Government will be seriously
crippled. The latest freak is the cut
ting down of the estimates of the
Consular and Diplomatic Bill, de-
.creasing the salaries of foreign Min
listers, consolidating some Foreign
Missions, a~bolishing others and de-
grading the diplomatic service gener-
ally. They also threaten to reduce
the salaries in The military establish
ment of Government to a 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 ofthe rules of the House adopt
ed last week. Rule l20 gave the
committee on appropriations power
to report bill to increase, but not to
decrease salaries, and upon motion of
Mr.. Cox of New York it was amend
ed so as to give it also the power to
report bills decreasing salaries. This
action of the House gives vast addi-
tional powers to the committee and
enables it to act upon almost as wide
a range of subjects as the committee
of ways and means and indeed much
of its increased importance is gained
at the expense of the latter commit.
tee. By reason Of its newly acquired
powers it a reach and to q certain
degree regulate almost every branch
of the government. That this power
will be exercised in the most relent-
less manner there is little doubt, as
the object sought to be attained was
fully exposed in the debate which
preceded the adoption of the above
amendment.
Senator Morton is squarely in the
field as q Presidential candidate.
He expects to gain much strength by
bis resolution calling for an investi-
cation into the alleged frauds per-
petrated in the late Mississippi cleo
ton which is now before the Senate.
Contrary to his usual custom Mr..