Middletown transcript., 1877-05-05
WashIngfOn Letter.


The extra session of Congress will be
called to vote necessary support for the
army 1t will find in existence an army
Of 80, 900 men, costing directly and in
directly over $40, 100000 per year, or
about three and one half millions per
month. This is more than the aver
age reduction in the public debt and
for economic reasons it is thought by
many that the army ought to be reduc-
ed Congress at its extra session, could
do this, and thus make material re-
duction of current expenses Besides,
the troops should be removed from the
South, and, that being done, and the
country at peace with all the world,
there may be no need Of 50 large an
army. There will be decided effort
to reduce the force.
The troops should be removed from
the South before the House votes any
money for the support of the army
There is no need Of them there. They
are sent into the north freely, and the
time may como when they can be sent
South with equal propriety, but at pres
ent their presence in the South is a
menace to the proper State authorities,
and to all ideas of constitutional gov
ernment The House Of Representa-
tives should force the removal of troops
from every Southern State. 1t may be
that the President would not use the
troops improperly in South Carolina or
Louisiana, but the Democratic House
has no right to assume that be will not
do SO.
The reduction of the public debt
shown to-day is over $4,000, 900, which
is about the amount shown in previous
monthly statements Aside from the
humbug and clap-trap which 90 to
make up the usual monthly reductions,
the Secretary used in his FIRST report
the odds and ends left over by his pre-
decessor. 1t is to be hoped that, in
the not remote future, Secretary will
be appointed who will, as Senator Davis
Of West Virginia said at the last session
Of Congress, state the ,0hole truth
The removal of Isaiah Hanscom from
his place as Chief of Bureau of Con-
structiOn and Repairs, Navy Depart
ment, must be taken as an evidence
that this administration does not ap-
prove Of Secretary Robson. If, as is
said, the Treasury officers who approv-
ed the Secretary's accounts, are to be
removed, it may be put down as certain
that the naval reformation is intended
to be complete Messrs Tabor, 4th
auditor, and carpenter, I'd comptroller
are the Treasury officers who, if there
were any Irregularities in Secretary
Robeson's affairs. must have overlooked
it. This retirement is daily expected.
There is statement aHoat to-day,
seemingly better founded than usual
from that source, that Packard and
such friends as be can control have de-
termined to furnish the bottom facts"
as to the votes in Louisiana at the last
election. While not vouchiug for such
report it is safe to say that Packard has
not been reconciled, and that no offer
the administration can make will be
accepted by him.
Yesterday the Supreme Court rem
dered decision of interest to all the
States, but specially interesting to those
having an extensive seacoast. The de-
cision is as to oysters, but the people
of Maine will properly apply it to
Holsters, and those of other States to
such marine products as they may
specially affect The substance of the
decision is this: "A State can prohibit
the citizens Of other States from plant
ing oysters in the beds of tideWaters
within her jurisdiction, while permit.
ting her own people to do so. In the
ownership of the beds the State repre-
sents the people, and the ownership is
that Of the people in their united sover-
eighty.
This title is subject only to the right
of navigation, which is held to be in
vested in the general government.
Reno