The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


dent enumerated in his message as
demanding legislation, only the nav
al deficiency bill has been sent him
for his signature at the close of the
4th week of the extra session. The
army dill and finances monopolized
most of the time Of the House, and
no inconsiderable portion of that of
the Senate during the week ending
Saturday 18th. After debates, par
ticipated in by many on both sides
and sufficiently pointed and emphat-
ic to clearly establish the present
attitude of both Of the great parties
striving for national supremacy, the
Texas backsliders were brought to see
the enormity of their offense in yot-
ing with Republicans against reduc-
ton, and have been reclaimed. The
menanced condition of the Indian
and Mexican borders of their State
was, of course, their defence, and
they made some very touching allu-
sions to the "old flag" in their argu-
ments fOvoring an adequate military
force; but their regard for others
outside of their constituents, quite rs
much in need of protection, was
shown in their vote to reduce to 20,-
600, with the proviso Of that number
they should have regiments of
cavalry, 100 men to a company, for
service in their State. In this shape
the bill went to the Senate Commit
tee, majority of whose members
were so bull.headed as to suppose that
the constitutional proviso, investing
the President with command in chief
of the Army and Navy invalidated
the Texas bargain; hence it was ex-
purgated end the limitation as to
number restored to the old figure
5000. Atkins Committee has voted
to non-concur in all the changes
made save the former but inasmuch
as quite a number of Democratic
Senators voted for the amended bill,
it was adopted Saturday by solid
Republican vote reinforced by sew
eral Democrats.
Gen. Garfield has made the speech
of the session against Ewing's anti
resumption bill which has been as.
signed definite time for vote. 1t
was conceded as one of the most able
efforts of the Generals Congressional
career, taking the wind quite out of
the sails of Judge Kelley's craft, in
the opinion of Ewing's opponents.
1t appears to be the prevailing
opinion that should Woods joint
resolution for adjournment on the
22nd be adopted, the Senate Finan-
cial Committee will not report the
Bland silver bill this session !; other
wise, that it will be Invested of some
of it's crudities and with many inn
portant amedments.
The Paris Exposition business has
made very slow progress notwith-
standing its great importance to
many of our industrial interests and
the pressing necessity for immediate
action if our exhibitors or those de-
string to be such, are to be effectively
represented, and if the arrangements
requisite to creditable exhibition as
to be made in the short time remain
ing-so short that the loss of day
even, at this juncture, is very seri-
Gus matter.
Saying nothing Of the very preva-
lent suspicion that Hewitt's bill
which provides for a Commissioner
General at salary of several thous-
and dollars and 20 subordinates at the
starvation rates of $1,000 each and
pay their own expenses, is intended
to recompense Gen. Hawley for his
services at New Orleans on the Com
mission, the feeling is certainly
against providinga fat place for one
favOrite and voting all those having
all the work to perform a rate of
compensation that will not enable
them to live respectfully. And it
appears to be the almost universal
verdict that it would be better to ig-
more the whole matter and attempt
NO representation at all, if the
amount to be devoted to that purpose
is to be limited to the appropriation
$50, OOO-proposed in the substitute
offered by the economical representa-
tive Of Tammany, Mr.. Samuel Sunset
Cox.
There is no end to the bills that
have been introduced this session on
almost every conceivable subject,
relevant and otherwise; but the vast
majority oSthem are destined to give
up the ghost in the rooms of the
Committees to which they have been
respectfully, referred Modest Geor-
gia puts in claim for reimbursement
for an unknown sum OF money spent