Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-05-30
Our Washington Letter.

of reducing the strength of the
Artaay. a vote viii FIRST be la
ken on putting it at 10000. /
If this proposition is defeated,
Aiad at this writing such a re-
suit seems probable, $4,000 will
be fixed upon. Opinions diff
fer on this subject, inside both
parties many Republicans pri-
Natcly stating that an army Of
even less than 10000 is enough,
and some Democrats being ia
Norable to larger number than
5000. But twenty years Of
power and plunder have made
Republicans indifferent as 10
abe extent Of Government ex-
penditures, and the discipline
Of that party in the House is
good, so that they will be found
voting 10 a man for the highest
number Of soldiers that may be
named. Certain Democrats, rep
resenting frontier districts, will
probabiy vote with them, and
she army will not be reduced.
The two Houses have agreed
that what is known as the
"iSoutheln Claims Commission"
shall receive now claims and
evidence up to the 18th day Of
March, 1879, which is an ex-
tension Of year, and that
the Commissioners shall remain
in Office for one year longer for
the purpose of considering the
cases now on hand and to be
presented. So much is being
said upon this Southern Claim
business, that a few words
thereon may be interesting to
your readers. This Commits
sion is one of the channels
through which southern men
whose property was taken by
the Federal Army may seek re-
lief. The Court Of Claims is
another. The Treasury and
War Departments also pass up
on claims Of the kind, and Con
gross has in a very few cases
granted relief. In NO case, il
Congress, Court, Department Oh
CommissiolS has there been any
payment for property destroyed
or damaged, but only for prop
erty taken and used by the ar
my, or captured by the arm,
and sold by the Government
In this Commission and in tn,
departments and in the Court
as rule, proof of absolute 10y
atty during the civil war is re
CARED. 1t is not likely tina
Congress will directly pass up
0n many claims, and the intro
duction Of bills for relief, whic'
has $40 alarmed people VIII
know nothing about the matter
is harmless concession by in
dividual Congress, men to In
wishes Of their constituents
B,*t some means should be pro
,ided by which information
can be reached in demands fo
evidence i'm support Of suc
claims, and Congress sholl
certainly, for that purpose, con
lide the whole subject 10 on
body instead OF three or moro
II is immaieriai whether iha
body be Court, a Comnissio
or one Of the Departments. FC
she protection Of goyernmeH
and ciaimant alike, somcthir
should be done.
Hon. Garter III Harrison il
very member OF Congress AMI a
intelligent man, but he does NJ
fully comprehend the import G
the Potter investigation about
commence. He yesterday trit
40 control that investigation,
advance If the organization c
the Committee. The pariicul'
point on which he was anxiol
was that the title OF Mr. Hay
sbould mol be interfered with. 4
introduced resolution in IL
House 10 that effect. There is !
call for any such resolution.
nothing is discovered affectir
that title the investigation will n
harm it. If any thing is disco
cred affecting the title, or makil
Impeachment of any public Of
Ger necessary, Mr.. Harrison won
he one of the last men in Il
House to finch from the perlcrI
ance Ct bis duty. His resOluti'
will keep.
MIR. Wilson, of ". Va, also
1roduced a resolution bearing
the investigation. lie propos
that the Committee. II IT saw pro
able cause to suspect fraud
ether States, might investlga
matters not specifically men'ion'
in the original resolution. II
was voted down. Mr. Wilson, !,
The way, ranks high among I
new members OF the House. Ii
every other really able and 10
orable member. he will be wor
twice as much in his second as
his f;rst term, to his District al
~ oopnfry. AUSTIN.
NJ The Pennsylvania Dem