The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c., June Z, 1878.

Mr.. Potter's Committee made good be-
ginning on Saturday, aud got important evi.
dence from james E. Anderson, supervisor
in one of the disputed Parishes in louisiana
The substance of his testimony was that tn e
returns, as originally sent forward by him
were correct, but that at the solicitation of
men now high in Office under ldr. Hayes, he
subsequently took such action as to preve mt
those returns from being counted as given
in. His testimony is that of man who did
wrong and sought to profit by it, aud must
be taken with such allowances as such testi-
mony usually is,but his appearance impresses
all with the idea that he is telling the truth +,
and he produces letters which seem to show
"guilty knowledge" on the part of Secretary
Sherman and Senator Stanley Matthews.
Secretary Sherman was on the stand, aud
will again testify. As the evidence of An
derson seemed to show that Mr. Hayes was
cognizant of the frauds Anderson says he
committed, it is thought he, too, will be
called as witness. Adjournment has been
agreed upon for the 18th inst, but the Com
mittee went to Florida on Saturday, and
probably one will go to Louisiana during
this week.
The appropriation bill-the most impor.
tant of them-will receive too hasty consid-
Grafton before passage. On the Army ap-
preparation bill and the legislative appro-
priation bill, there is a wide disagreement
between the two Houses. II is not only on
the matter of economy, but principle is in
yolved. The House contends that certain
unnecessary offices shall be abolished, and
that exorbitant salaries shall be cut down.
The Senate refuses to abolish the offices or
reduce the salaries. If the House is firm
now it will find next year that its cause has
not only saved money but has made further
retrenchment easy.
If we had more men in Congress who
could and would work as well as they talk,
the inevitable rush, hurry and confusion in.
cident to the closing hours of every session
would be avoided, and less mischievous leg
slation would be enacted. Among the
models of the three last Congresses is Hon
7. M. Gunter, of Arkansas, as Chairman of
the Committee on Private Land Claims, as
member of other Committees, as a faithful
representative of his people, and as
patriotic Democrat looking to the good of
the whole country, he stands A /.
The proposition to put all the survivi ng
General officers of the Mexican War on the
retired list, meets with favor. There are /
believe, but three of them. Butler, of Ken
tuckey, Gushing, of Massachusetts,, and
Shields, of Missouri. The expense would
be slight, and the recognition of men VIII o
served well in that truly patriotic war would
be worth much. We ought to do all we can
in times like these, to keep alive memories
of the earlier wars, and this seems to be q
proper way of doing so.
This city, which ought TO have the best
Government on earth, is controlled by three
men appointed by President Graut. Their e
is not as much suffrage here as in ST. Peters
burg. All the rights for which the fathers
fought in l776 are denied us by act of Con-
gress The legislation prepared now simply
takes part of the power of appointment
from the President and authorizes each
House of Congress TO select one of our rulers
This is not an improvement, but as Congress
makes of the District kind of experiment
tai garden, we shall have to submit until the
experiment has been tried and has failed.
SEMINOLE.