Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-05-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,
Correspondence Of the Bulletin.

Correspondence of the Bulletin.
We are still specializing upon the
extra session and the prolonged de-
lay of Its call. The Senators here
are divided in opinion as to its
length, yet all concede its shortness
should general Legislation be avoid
ed. The debate on the army bill
need not necessarily be prolonged,
and yet the proposition to reduce the
army some 10000, will meet with
bitter opposition, much as all propo-
sitions to reduce have in the past.
When we came down to our present
small army we were told in the most
pathetic tones that we would be
swallowed up by somebody,-the
Mexicans. the Indians, the English,
and dear knows who else,-by means
of our immense frontier and coast
lines, putting us at the mercy of ev-
cry attacking party, internal as well
as external. But 1--WE still live" and
our success in that line leads some
of our lawmakers here to say that
the army must still further be reduc-
ed, and especially so since its pres
ence is no longer needed to preserve
the peace in the Southern States.
Again, some of the hot-heads are in
sisting that the Navy Department
must again be Investigated in order
to show where the Philadelphia Ma
Wy Yard sales and other moneys
went to. If these two prop ositions
get drawn into general debate, your
readers may expect session running
into August, as it is an imposslbillty
tor the forthcoming assemblage Of
our nations orators to fully ventilate
the issues inside Of three months.
Investigations accomplished SO little
during the past two years, and prom
Uses so much less this summer, since
there is no important election to be
controlled by exposures of a defunct
administration, that we can conceive
of no reason for mourning the vast
expense of another Navy Department
ventilation, but it will give the ire
pressible politician chance to let
off his buncombe speeches, which he
hires some penny-a-liner to write for
him, and which costs "Uncle Sam"
ten cents line to insert in the Con
gressional Record. We have grown
so impatient over the huge humbug
called congressional speeches" that
really we are somewhat exercised III
mind at the great probability Of hav-
ing TO endure series Of them during
the approaching warm weather, and
we can but hope we may be spared
the affection, say from after July LIST.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Akin to the heavy subject of
speechmaking, is that weighty mat
ter called the Washington Monu-
ment. This unsightly structure has
long been a disgrace to our nation,
that we regret the diversity of opin-
ion among experts as to the unsuita-
bility of the foundation for bearing
the additional weight. The Govern
ment engineers have recently report
ed adversely, Notwithstanding other
army and civil engineers reported
and believe to the contrary, hence
we are as much at sea in regard to
what should be done with the Monu-
ment as we are in mind after listen
ing to three days debate in Con
gress upon some political question.
The President very sensibly believes
that it is a matter which civil engi-
neers can determine much more in
diligently and correctly than these
West Pointers, whose knowledge OF
dirt is about on par with what they
know of concrete poultice pave
ments such as they are laying on our
Pennsylvania Avenue. l concede
that McClelland studied the art OF
handling dirt, its power of resistance,
etc., while digging before an imagln'
airy foe of 10000 muskets, when
there were but 10000. But his thee
ries do not apply to the foundations
of Washington Monument. no more
than they did to the rail fence and
gopher hole bank, behind which the
volunteer soldier had an ugly habit
of hurting somebody. The monu
ment ought to be finished at once
Its plain shaft will be one of thu
most attractive features of the Capt.
tai, and as it is national and not
city duty to finish it, we hope promp
action will be had for its compile
ton.
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER.
John D. Defrees, the new ap
pointee, bears his honors meekly
but already has experienced some OF
the Affections which render his Office
like that of the executive depart
ment, burdensome one indeed
Scores of women call on him daily
pleading with tears in their eyes, ant
most pitiful STORIES of their poyert.
and sufferings, for appointment al