Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-08
Letter from Washington.


The proceedings last week in Congress
were of great interest. In the House
the bill reorganizing the army passed af-
ter considerable discussion, The pay of
the higher officers is largely reduced, and
while the number of soldiers is kept the
same, the number of officers is lessened
by making fewer regiments and abolish
ing some of the staff departments, The
saving in expense from the adoption of
this bill viii be immense. a bill author
izing the Secretary of the Treasury to
coin silver money and use it for the r9-
demption of fractional currency also
passed the House. Under its provisions
silver dollars are maae a legal tender for
any sum not oyev.fifty dollars, and small
err silver coins for any sum not over
twenty-five dollars. The executive, Leg
islative and judicial appropriation bill
was discussed, several night sessions be-
ing held for that purpose. Some minor
bills were passed. In the committees the
examination of the Emma mine was con
tinued. General Schenck testified at
great length in his own behalf and if we
take all he says without qualification, tile
distinguished poker player is one of the
most guileless of individuals, only fitted
to reside in some arcadia where such
temptcrs as Tremor w. Parks are never
permitted to enter
The judiciary Commietee reported the
articles of impeachment against Belknap
and the democratic House caucus selected
the managers to conduct the trial. They
are Proctor Knott, of Ky, Lynde, OF Wis
consin, Lord, of n. Y, jerks, of PenL.,
Mediation, of Ohio, Wheeler, of n. Y,
and Hoar, of Mass. The two latter are
republicans, The trial win probably
commence next week.
The Post Office committee have been
examining witnesses in regard to the
Sawyer contracts in Texas. Enough has
been shown from the books of Sawyer to
prove that he had one or two of the
clerks in the Post Office Department in
his pay, Hood. one of his bribed clerks,
is now auditor of the supreme Court of
this district.
Before the Clymer committee man
named c, 5. Bell has sworn that he was
Louis, to act as Il spy upon District Attor-
ney Dyer. Bell says that the President
believed Babcock was innocent aud was
being prosecuted. He wanted Bell to
find out end let him know. When Bah
cock and Lucky found that Bell was in
st, Louis they proposed to him TO steal
any papers he could find in Dyer's office
that would tend to implicate BabcOck or
show his guilt. They paid him $500 for
this service. He says that he discovered
that Babcoek was guilty, and so notified
President Grant, when he was immedi-
ately discharged fLOm his position As
1 secret agent in tina Interior office. Bell
also swOre that Secretary Belknap offered
to sell him 4 post-tradership. Ii is but
justice to say that so far have seen so
far 1 have seen no one who believes
word of what Bell swore TO. On his own
statement he was employed by two sides,
getting pay from both and betraying
both.
1t is thought that the headquarters of
the army will at once be returned to
Washington. 1t is understood that Sec
rotary Taft insists upon this, and should
the House bill become a law, it is iInpera-
tive. General sherman objects, rs he
says his salary is not sufficient for him 10
live on here. Quite number of the
democrats in the House are Directing to
the proposed reduction of the salaries of
the government clerks, and it
is almost impossible for the people in
other towns and cities to realize the ex-
pense of living in Washington. l do
not think the salaries are too high.
though there are without doubt more
than the requisite number of employees
in nearly every department, and great
reductions could be made in that direc-
ton without injury,
The bill equalizing pensions will pro-
badly be voted on in the House this week.
1t has been reported on favorably from
the committee aud passed both houses
last year, only falling TO become a law by
some informality. 1t provides that every
honorably discharged soldier and sailor,
and the heirs of all deceased shall receive
a bounty of eight and two-thirds dollars
per month for all time in the service, and
that in paying this bounty all sums al
ready paid shall be deducted. There is
no question about the justice of this law,
and its passage should DE urged both as
matter of right and as a good political