, 1878-03-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON. ID. c.. March |, 1873.
OfcourSe the reception ofthe Presidents 5
veto of the silver bill was the great feature
| in Thursdays Congressional proceedings,
! Although expected. its arrival at the house
oCcasioncd no little excitement, and from
/ that time about 80 o'clock until its
reading had been completed by the Clerk,
an ominous silence prevailed among the
members. Mr. Stephens at once de-
manded the previous question. The pas
sage of the bill over the veto was an
inounced by the Speaker by Il vote Of 1876
to % which was received by noisy demon
StrationS on the floor and in the galleries.
| At $40 O'Clock +. NJ. the veto message
was brought to the Senate with notitica-
tion of the action of the House. 1t was
Immediately taken up and the was
passed by yeas IS nays 10. Chris.iancy
ana Sharon were the only impaired alb
! 'entees. 1t is said that the President has
tor the past week been overwhel med by
messages from every section of the coun-
try imploring him to waive his objections
to the bill, ii possible, the dread of con-
tinucd agitation OF the subject OF national :
finances, should the bill tail, seeming to
animate business men everywhere. Bills
hnve already been introduced that will,
itadopted, substantially restore the emas-
cuated features. and render imitation a
possibility. That is now frankly admit
ted to have been the purpose of many of
the original advocates of the Bland bill.
At reported interview OF Secretary
that while he believed the passage Of the
silver bill will react dsastrously, he would
cOnScientiou>y carry cut its every pro-
vision. He said the funding Of the debt
in the / , per cent. bonds had practically
ceased rs one Of the first results; and he
predicted that lfthe foreign holders of our
bonds sell or send them back in large
quantities Is now appears more than pro-
bable, the effect could nOt be but diSaS-
trouS. He believed many Senators voted
for the silver bill as concession to the
popular clamor and to avoid the more
sweeping legislation that would likely have
followed its d'teat at the next session; but
he did not believe it possible to pass any
measure looking to the issue of silver bu,-
lion certificates, IL is contemplated by one
or more bills that have been introduced by
the inllationiStS since the House concurred
in tile Senate amendments of the bill that
has now become law.
The Washington "Natonal Union" >"
this date, gives the following information:
Several weeks ago a letter was received
by President Hayes, asserting. that colored
people Of the South, freed by the emanui-
patton proclamation were being Kidnapped
from their homes, carried to Cuba and
there sold into slavery. The evidence to
subSAntiate the statement was deemed
sufficiently specific to warrant sending
confidential agent to CuDa to ascertain
the truth or talsity of what seemed Il SELL
satiOnGl yarn. Judge Leonard, Repubi-
eau member Of Congress from Louisiana
was requested to undertake the mission.
He obtained an indefinite leave OF absence
from the House aud sailed from New York
Wednesday last for Cuba. carrying letters
from the President and the Spanish Min |
lister to the aptan-General OF Cuba.
Another heavy discharge of Interior De-
partmental emp'oye took place Thursday /
which reduced the force now there to its
minimum and must operate to delay the
transactions Ofmuch important business.
This is NOT economy in any sense. It is |
a beautiful illustration Of saving at the !
spigot while the cXlauSing drain from the
bnng-hOle is stoIidly ignored; and there is |
another consideration which may have
escaped the attention of our legislators.
This city was already full Of discharged
government employees; those ordinarily
finding employment with business firms:
mechanics, artiZans and ahOrrrs who are
now enforced idIers; and gOOlIy Sprink-
ling OF tramps who depend in part orr
wholly upon the good offices of the char
liable and benevolent for what they have
to eat and wear; and the addition of a .
large proportion Of those discharged
EhurSillV mIISt pprtlinlv pyn ltuntn IA, !