Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-02-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence Of the Bulletin.

Correspondence Of the Bulletin
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 8, '79. :
Last Tuesday afternoon Mr.. Francis
Murphy, the temperance evangelist, and
his son, called upon the President and
Mrs. Hayes Mr.. Hayes said that MUIR
ply had struck the keynote in the re-
form line, because he preached the saw
ing grace of God; no reform amounted
to anything unless it increased the roll
of church membership. He also approx
ed Mr.. Murphy's system, because he de-
nOunced no one, not even the rum-seller,
for if men can only be brought by moral
suasion to stop drinking, the rum-sellers
will have to shut up their shops. Our
liquor men have been seriously injured
through the onslaught made by the tenn
perance men since Mr.. Murphy's advent,
and complain bitterly Of dull times
The stall owners of our Norther Market
have rendered their house to Mr. Muir
ply, and he speaks there tonight. 1t is
an immense building, longer than>any
market house in Philadelphia, and will
be crowded
The Senate has devoted the week to
silver. The announcement that Mr..
Blaine was to have the floor yesterday
filled the galleries. Prominent officials,
and scores of members of the House
were on the floor listening to him, and
at the conclusion of the speech the ap-
| plause was so great that the chairman
could not repress it without repeated
raps of the gavel. Mr.. Blaine's speech
is criticised severely by the gold men,
who claim it blows both hot and cold,
and evince strong desire to carry wa
ter on both shoulders. An interesting
feature Of the debate on silver is the
disregard of party The Democrats,
Bayard, Eaton and Herman, are squarely
pitted against Thurman, Beck, and
Withers. All are able men, and though
they stand shoulder to shoulder in fight
ing the Republicans, yet they deal each
other hard blows on silver
Pension matters seem likely to get
some favorable treatment, as the House
committee has at last agreed to report
favorably upon several bills, one of
which is giving arrears Of PENSIONS I'm
der existing laws, soldier who has not
applied for pension within five years
of his discharge, is barred from pension
for all time prior to the date of allow
ance of his claim by the pension office.
This proposed bill puts him on the same
footing with those who applied within
the five years, and if passed will carry
large sums to pensioners. 1t will be
good way for Uncle Sam to spread his
money throughout the country. 1t is
estimated that $3O,0O00O0 will be re-
CURED to adjust these arrears, and as
your correspondent will be profted to
the extent Of several thousand dollars
by this law, it would be, at least, impo-
little for him to urge his individual CON
victions of the improperly of interfer-
ing with statutes Of limitation. In these
days patriotism does not require one to
urge his views to the damage of his ex-
chequer, and while it is best as bust
ness proposition to say that sleeping up
on ones rights should carry loss of
notes, book accounts and such matters,
yet let us waive that rule when Uncle
Sans treasury is the object Of attack.
The Mexican War soldiers will soon
have their bill passed, as it stands num-
Der one on the calendar, and can be call
ed up at any time by it's friends, as soon
as the House shall have found out some
way of conducting West Point, by which
the pay and emoluments Of it's profess
sors will not amount to greater sum
than that paid to and for the cadets in
all other directions 1t seems queer
that the salaries of a few professors
should entail a greater cost to the coun
try than the monthly salaries, etc, of
over $50 cadets. This was charged up
on West Point in the debate and not re-
futed or denied by any friend to the bill,
and as a consequence that institution is
catching fits on all sides.
The Murphy excitement is, at last, be-
ginning to tell injuriously upon the in
terests of our liquor sellers, and in very
many cases their sales have dwindled
down to nothing Should his advent not
prove nine days wonder, and our
whisky soakers return to their cups
when he is gone, the great good accom-
plished by him will be undoubted.
Our penny eating house, which Mrs.
Roberts lately established, is proving
great blessing, as thousands partake
daily of its cheap lunches. A piece of
bread and bowl of good soup is given for
penny, and there seems no necessity
under such circumstances for Congress
to make it's usual appropriation of 500
600 for the poor, of which sum usually
one dollar went to the INDECENT and two
to the distributors. In Mrs Roberts
dispensary there is nothing to steal or
enrich anyone, hence our charitably in
clined people are literally sustaining her
in her most commendable labors.
The immense number of petitions
which the female suffragists are pouring
into Congress have produced an effect
upon the Judiciary Committee, which
has agreed to sport 10th amendment
by an even vote, though Mr. Harris of
Va, the odd absent member, will on his
return vote nay, thus defeating this
measure. Killing it in the committee
means, of course, eternal burial in so
far as the 45th Congress has the power