Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-13
litter FT0N WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON d. c., July s, 1876

4
It is matter of doubt if you have sufficient
compassiop for those whose fortune it is to labor
where the scorching sun sends the mercury up
among the nineties each morning in the shade,
or fully appreciate the comfort Of the cool breezes
Of the keunebec valley, where only lew hours
at midday are really uncomfortable, and these
may be escaped by most persons, so near is the
sea- shore and convenient of access. l am sure,
however, had you been here the last week you
would not wonder that Congressman hasten home
as early rs possible when the session is ended.
There are parks here and there and unoccupied
spaces arising from the singular arrangement of
the streets and avenues in the city OF "Masniil-
cent Distances" to say nothing of the spacious
grounds abou: the Capitol and departments but
the intense heat follows the traveller and there is
no escape. The centennial visitors come here
in crowds and the walks and street cars are well
filed with perspiring crowd who, concluding that
they will not be so near as Philadelphia and fail
to see Washington, come here thoroughly heated
a. Tie city of Brotherly Love, to learn by expe-
rience that in the climate, to use an old saw,
they have Jumped out of the frying pan into the
fire." The trip here with its dust and heat well
nigh cured me of sight seeing in the heated term,
but cool breeze few mornings since seemed to
promise cooler day, and | turned my steps
toward Arlington, the home of Robert f.
Lee ard now national cemetery. A few minutes
Tide in the street cars, down Penn. Avenue, pact
the White House, the Treasury and Navy Depart
ments brought me to Aqueduct Bridge, which |
passed along the road southwark toward Alexan-
dria till came to Fort Whpple, now occupied as
school of instruction for the Signal Corps. 1t is
situated on the crest of hill overlooking the Po-
tomac and Washington, and 1t must have been
very Formidable as one of the lines of fertilization
with which the city was protected during the re-
belon. The rear wall of the cemetery is not far
from this across a ravne, and seems from this
point dease forest so ne and close are the great
trees that were so well kept by the former owners
of the estate. Passing across the space and en-
tering the gate, the neat white headstones bearing
the record, number, the name and the State OF
the soldier, thickly set in regular order among
walks and drives well laid out and kept, with here
and there a bed CT flowers set with TASTE and
growi ing finely. The stones are uniform except
where friends or comrades have supplied stone
for some soldier which takes the place Of those
furnished by government. As you approach the
graph and observation, the stand appears, and the
monument under which rest more than two thou
sand unknown soldiers, gathered from the battle
fields in this vicinity.
The Lee mansion is still well preserved. The
stable and servants quarters still remain intact and
the hunting pieces in the porches of the manson
are as in the olden time The carpets and PIC
lures are removed. and in place of these appear
notices and quotations suitably framed and ap-
propriate to a soldiers resting place. The fine
| marble mantles contrast sharply with the pain
| furniture of the business office of the cemetery
| and in front of the fine columns of the Potomac
| front of the mansion, the flagstaff is placed and
the stars and stripes give daily notice that the
place is sacred as resting place of the defenders
| of the country. While | stood at the old well,
| parties fom Charleston, South Carolina, Carson
| CITY, Nevada, and Maine, all drank from the same
| bucket, showing that in this centennial year the
people must by actual contact learn something Of
| each other and doubtless be benefited thereby.
Bat enough of Arlington.
The Congress still drags along slowly, the dead
| lock in appropriations and the impeachment being
the principal matters of interest. Both branches
| agree to 90 on with the trial In the other mat
| ter the great desire of the house to present evil
| dences of economy and reform has induced it to
omit many appropriations that are usual and mnst
be made up when the next Congress after election
| shall meet, and claim such omissions savings and
| reforms, as well as to ignore such matters as Judg
| ments of the Court of Claims payable to citizens
| now due and count these as savings, also to make
| no account Of balances for the past year which
the departments have not expended To these
proposals on the part of the House, the Senate in
| several conferences made great concessions,
| though in their Judgment to manifest damage, as
in case of the Naval Appropriation, where no pro-
vision was made for painting and repairs at Navy
Yards, but finally came to stand on the position
of the House, that in substance it may change the
general law OF the country in bill of appropria-
ton, and, if the Senate object refuse to make APP
preparations altogether, and this position re-
mains at present. Whether the House will accept
some of the propositions of the Senate such as
that of joint committee, two from each branch
to revise the whole civil service and reduce it as
| may be found consistent, which has been steadily
going on for the few past years, or hold its ground
| is to be seen. 1t is very delicate respons Utility
| for any party to act that purpose to triile
with legislation for partzan purposes, shall appear
| to the people who narrowly watch their pro-
ceedings, and are not likely to be deceived by
hollow pretexts or promises without foundation
and there is now great probability that the de-
mocracy in the House will allow their zeal to out
run their discretion and make plain the pur
pose of their action on these and other m alters
where they have voted cash literally, that they
W Il lose the confidence of the people from thu
apparent lack of sincerity in their action, ant
fairness in their propositions.
Senator Morrill, in most able manner discusset
this subject in the Senate, making most marked
impression, not only by the dignifed and courte
Gus manner in which he referred to the difference
of the two branches and the endeavors that haC
been made on the part of the Senate to harmon
ize them but also by the clear and positive show
ing that he made Of the dangerous tendencies o
the House demands, and the vital importance of
wise and firm action by the Senate.
The Senator has had most difficult position a
chairman Of the Appropriation Committee, AM
the confidence in his excellent Judgment and SCUM,