The Russellville Democrat., 1877-11-22
Our Washington Letter.
 Novemb Der 22, 1877.

November 22, 1877.
 The consideration of the army apa propriation bill, for which the spe- cial session was called, has occupied the attention of Congress on and of since the organization. The delay in reaching final action has been caused by g disposition in some quarters to increase the army; in others to diminish it; the item of transportation was unusually large for the past year; there was dis crepancy in the reported strength of forces actually in the service; then the old question of restricting the power of the President in sending the army into States to quell disor- ders came up and created quite q furry at one time, and questions of economy were constantly arising, so that great amount of time has been consumed, and at period too, when the country is impatient for legisla- tion on matters of the gravest i'm port. Happily this bill is now about out of the way. Although not yet law, it has passed the House and the work is substantially done. However, the precious time of our law makers has not been entirely wasted over the army bill. The financial question has received a large share of attention and has now taken shape in the two ~directions of remonetization of silver and raising our circulating medium up to gold basis with as little delay and expense to the country as practicable. Quite a large number of bills have been in- troduced looking to the accomplish
 ment of these objects. Indeed so handsomely have our representative men responded to the public press ure on the vexed financial question that we are reminded of the enthu- siast, who in attempting to describe the magniflcence of the timber in g western territory, said that 1t took a man and boy to see to the top of the trees, and that they were so straight that they leaned little backward. The only danger now seems to be that we are likely to get too much resumption, too much re- monetization and too much specie.
 The annual report of the Commis- sloncr of Agriculture is out It looks like m improvement on those issued in former years both in the size and convenience. of the single volume and in the practical way in which subjects are treated. A Sue cEssFUL INSECT DESTROYER is one of the topics alluded to. The annual destruction of crops of fruit, cotton, corn, tobacco and vegetables by tue curculio, cotton boil, army, cut and tobacco worms amounts to millions of dollars. Many remedies have been tried but without success. The "Little Turk" as the culculio i3 called, has almost drlven plumb cul- ture from the country while the revages of the other species named are immense. These worms are all matched from dggs laid by miller and beetle insects that fly at night and are easily caught by properly arranged light. Patton x Duke of Norristown, Arkansas, have con structed and patented simple and inexpensive device that does it's work most effectually. It consists of peculiarly constructed lighted lamp set on pan flied with water or other fluid, in the bottom of which q socket receives 8 stick or otEer support so as to raise 1t to the desir- ed night for the crop or tree to be protected. The Commissioner of Agriculture says in his late report: "The moths being attracted by the light dart against it and fall into the pan and are destroyed before depos
 iting their eggs upon the tender leaves of the growing plants" etc.
 I Senator Conover of Florida has in 'troduced a measure looking to the opening of water course from the St. Mary's river, which forms the eastern boundary between Georgia and Florida, and the Mississippi river by way of St. Marks and Pen sacola. The sum of $35, 900 is asked for the purpose of examining the practicability of such route.
 Late reports placing Senator Conk- ling in hostility to the President turn out to be a New York Herald sensation. There has been some difference between them, but it ap- pears to have related to the subject of appointments merely. It is a most gratifying feature that political feeling does not run high in. either of the great parties, nor is the hos tility great between them; so that we shall probably be spared the pain and expense of protracted po- litical discussion during the present session. There IS strongly mani fest disposition to dispose of the business which has been delayed and crowded out for so many years, and to meet promptly the future wants of the people by such consid- crate and wise legislation as the | uooooc;fiao nf tho tfvuao eooun fn do