The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-02-12
CORRESPONDENCE,
From the National Capital
FROM Our oWN wAsu1SoToN COMMENCEMENT


THE PRESIDENTIAL TERt-PooR
TACTICs-DIsTRICT BoNDs-PAsTEsT
TIME ON RECORD FALSE ECONOMY
THROWING AWAY MTLL1oNs--ANoTH
BR sTATE-THE CENTENNIAL BILL
CoLORED ooNeREssMEN - PUT HIM
oUT-DEMoRALIzED DEMOCRATS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9. 1870
Among the subjects OF Importance
considered in the Senate and House
since / wrote You last, were the Mill
tary Academy appropriation bill, the
Joint Resolution reported from the Ju
dietary Committee of the House, limit
ing the Presidential term Of Office to
one term and making the President in
eligible for reelection. These matters
excited great deal of interest and were
warmly debated. The Republican mi
nority of the House were most deter
mined in their opposition to the great
reductions made in the appropriations
for the Military Academy and fought
it inch by inch at every stage of its pro-
gress, but as it was one of the series
of the sO-caled reforms determined up
on by the Democratic majority they
were powerless to prevent its passage.
| 1t reduces the pay of the cadets at West
Point from 5000 to $40 per annum and
also largely decreases the salaries OF
the Professors and all others connected
with the institution, the total reduction
amounting to nearly one-half of the
carefully prepared estimates made by
the War Department for the support of
the Academy. Mr.. Hurlbut, of Ill,
characterized the bill as a left-handed,
awkward blow at the Military estab'
lishment OF the country. The bill pass
ed the House by party vote.
The debate upon the resolution limit
ing the Presidential term developed a
wide difference of opinion, and great
want of tact on the part of the Demo
Gratis. There was a disposition shown
by the Republicans to vote for the bill
with some notifications, but with a
stubborn adherance to the one idea
principle, the majority voted down all
amendments that were offered and drove
away nearly all Republican support,
and the bill was consequently defeat
ed. A two-thirds vote being required
to pass it. After it was voted down a
motion was made to reconsider, and the
bill was referred back to the committee,
which will endeavor to present it in a
more acceptable shape at some future
| time.
The question of the liability of the
Government for the interest on the
three sixty-five bonds of the District of
Columbia occasioned a long and ex-
haustive debate in the Senate. Sena.
tor Sargent, of California, spoke for
four hours and half in defense OF the
District Commissioners, who it was al.
legged had issued bonds in excess Of the
limitations provided by Congress. and
that the Government was not therefore
responsible for the interest on these
bonds. The Senate, however, thought
otherwise, and the resolution providing
for the payment of the interest was
passed. This debate was remarkable
as being the most rapid that has ever
taken place in the National Congress,
and it is claimed by the reporters that
il is the fastest on record. The usual
average of days debate in the Senate
is about 140 words q minute, though
during part of the day it may run up
to 200 words. On this occasion it aver
aged 1875 words per minute, and during
q great portion of the debate Mr.. Sar-
gent spoke at the rate of 300 words u
minute. The Senate corps of short
hand reporters is acknowledged to be
the best in the country and their skill
was taxed to the utmost to keep up
with the debate, but they succeeded in
taking it all down. Mr.. d. f, Murphy
who is at the head of the Senate corps
of official reporters is universally &C
knowledged to stand at the head of his
profession. He has been official re-
porter of the Senate for 30 years and
made the Fl rst full report of the debates
in the Senate that ever was made.
The committee on appropriations have
cut down the fortification appropriation
bill from $4,000, 900 to S300,0 sum
not sufficient to keep our forts and har-
Dor defences In decent repairs. In the
event of a war with even second or
third class maritime power there would
be nothing TO prevent the enemy from
battering down our sea board cities
about our ears, If this sort of policy is
going to prevail. We would be COM
pletely at the mercy Of any petty Euro
pean power chat could. muster fleet
Of war ships to ravage our coasts. The
committee seem to have forgotten the
time honored maxim Sin time of peace
prepare for war" The same false
economy is displayed in the consular
and diplomatic bill in consolidating and
abolishing many of our foreign mis-
sions to the great detriment of our com.
mercial relations with some of the rich.
est portions of the globle. For instance
it is proposed to consolidate the South
American Republics of Peru, Ecuador
and Columbia into one mission, with one
minister to look after the interests Of
the United States in this immense eY.
tent of territory, containing a popula-
ton Of 10000, 900 and importing $780,,
600, 900 and exporting $135, 900, ,00C
worth OF goods every year. As in othel
parts OF the world, by her enterprise
liberality and shrewdness, Great BritiaI
is monopolizing nearly all the trade o.
this immense region which is so rapid
ly growing in commercial importance
She sees the importance Of being prop
erly represented in these countries anG
would consider it piece of suicidal fol
ly to call home ministers and leave hel
large interests to take care OF them