Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-01
OUR WASHINGTON letter.
DOING IN CONGRESS-, 0W-
ING TO THE CONVENTIONS.
Dead Lock on the Appropriations.
The Blaine Ratification Fiasco. .
undiana,s Democratic Granger OBJ
jects TO Furnishing Congress.
men Lemons aud Tea.

Ao o1o1ho &S0tAASoCAOA - AooSS
jects TO Furnishing Congress.
men l.emons and Tea.
Deferred from last week.
WASHINGTON, ID. c, June 18, 1876.
EDITOR INrELLIGENCER: The past |
week has been one of much monotony |
in congress. The senate was scarcely |
in session at all, and the house was only
in session for general debate on the |
army appropriation bill, which will not
be passed before the middle of next
week.
The republican side of the house has
been thinnad out considerably owing to
the Cincinnati convent, IN.
The republicans in the district
were very much mortified over the
defeat of Blaine. They were SO certain
of his nomination that they erected
large stand at the City Hall. and deco
rated it with large quantities of flowers,
the whole to be Illuminated from gas
jets arranged SO as TO spell the name Of
Blaine in large letters Speakers were
also chosen, who were to tell of the
great and mighty battles he had won on
the floor of til e house, how he had been
made martyr to promote the cause of
the democracy and the downfall of re-
publicanism, and how he was the only
man who could lead the cohorts of his
party on to glorious victory. But alas
for him, he had too many enemies with
in the threshold Of his own political
church, so they met in solemn conclave
and determined that if it could not be
either Morton or Conkling, it should not
be Blaine, and his star of destiny sank
forever. Consequently the above named
grand ratification meeting which was
to give utterance to Blaine's battle-cry
did not come off, and has been post
poned until 1880 at least J.
The maine statesman is about we'll
enough to appear in congress again.
and Proctor Knott and Eppa Hunton are
awaiting his appearance for further ex-
plantations of his railroad adventures,
which will no doubt be printed at the
government expense and distributed
gratuitously for the entertainment of the
country at large.
Secretary Bristow sent his resignation
to the president yesterday, which will
nc doubt be accepted, as he has been a
thorn in Grants side ever since the be-
ginning of the dethronement of the
whisky ring. His retirement from the
cabinet will not create as much sur
prise as regret. He has been among the
most marked and honorable of Grant s
advisors, and will carry with him to his
Kentucky home the sincere respect and
admiration of a large portion Of the
American people.
The president yesterday sent a message
to congress, calling attention to the EN-.
barrassed condition of the government
should congress fail to pass the neces.
sary appropriation bills before the first
of July. The message provoked consid'
cradle discussion, and the question of its
propriety was seriously called into ques-
ton. Of course everybody knows that
the house has passed certain appropria'
tion bills, which greatly curtail the ex
penses of the government in all of it.
branches. The senate invariably restore.
these appropriations to the old footing
and calls upon the house to do likewise
This, the house, so far, has refused Il
do; and, in two weeks, the fiscal yea
will expire, and the appropriations bt
exhausted. But the president steps II
with a message, reminding congress o
its duty, and recommends an extension
Of the provisions of all appropriation
bills, covering the present year, to tn
next fiscal year. This the house canno
and never will agree to; for. by so do
ing, it would lese all claim to econom,
and retrenchment that it has gained, ant
the expenses Of the government woul,
run wild, as they have done in the year
gone by. 1t is to be hoped, though, ,ths
some understanding between the senat
and house may be arrived at, SO that tn
necessary appropriations can be mad
and congress adjourn.
The counsel for Belknap desire tn
impeachment trial put off until Novem
ber next. 1t seems that the senate
willing, and on Saturday Mr.. Lor
asked instruction from the b h)use as t,
what course he should pursue. Th'
house has the matter under considera
ton, and in a few days we will kno,
whether the trial will progress at one
or not. 1t is claimed that Belknap ha
1877 witnesses, from all parts of the couu
try, to be examined. II the governmen
foots the bill, they will be sent for bu
if Belknap has to pay the costs, 10 vii
do him as we'll.
Speeches in congress will soon partak
of campaign nature; already the littl
colloquies in the house smell of some
thing that is hidden under the surfac
which requires only heavier ripple t
bring to the light of day.
Blue Jeans Williams, of Indiana, an
probably its next governor, produce
quite laugh yesterday at the expens
of Foster, of Ohio. 1t seems that Foste
got the house to pass resolution few
days ago, just before the house adjourn
ed, and when but few members wer
present. instructins Mr.. Williams, wh
is chairman of the committee on ~
counts, to make an arrangement 50 thu
the house could have its accustome
sumptuous refreshments, to-wit: ice
tea and lemonade. Ever since the resc
luton passed, the members have bee
wondering why the tea and lemonad
did not appear; so yesterday, just aile
Foster had made a five minutes speech
deriding the retrenchment OF the democ
racy of the house, Williams claimed tn
floor, and read, from a report of tn
contingent fund, the expense of this re
freshment. He did it in a comical man
l.: