The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-05-24
Our Ilnshinoton Eetter.

WASHINGTON. u L., MAY SOy 100.
Last week was one of legislative excite
meut, the struggle in the House over the
Potter resolutions being very exciting, and
the indications are that the debate on the
army bill will occupy several days, aud that
it viii be quite interesting.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
After near five months debate and delib-
Grafton. ana several weeks Of cutting and
trimming, the army appropriation bill IS
before the House for its action. IN ali es-
seutial features this bill is practically the
same as the bills got up by Bannings aud
Bragg for the reorganization and pay of
the Amy. The appropriation in the ag
gsegate is about the same as mace by the
blll of last year, bnt various reductions are
provided for. The bill starts out with
provision limiting the army to 90, GOO men
and with il an amendment to allow 500 re-
cruits the signal service Is to be retained
and maintained as now provided for by law.
The BILL as it now stands, dsposes of some
shoulder straps and cuts down pay and
perquisites stops forage for hired horses
aad payment fer rent Of quarters. Here
after no women snail accompany the army
} as laundresses, but any that now with
/ the army, who are wives of soldiers may
remain until the terms of service of such
soldiers expires. The pay of The officers is
J fixed as follows: General, $13. 500 per an
/ nun lieutenant general, Sll, 900 major
general. $500 brigadler general, s., 500;
colonel 50 800 lieutenant colonel, 50 900;
/ major, 81. 500 captain fmounted}, s., 900;
/ not mounted, 81 800; adjutant and regi-
mental quagternasteT, each, 81, 500; first
lieutenant ilnouutedl, 81, 500; not mount
ed, 81, 800; second lieutenant (mouutedl,
$i,500, aud not mounted. 81, 400 chaplain,
81, 400 and ordnance slOrekeepcr 81, 500.
/ THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.
the New York Herald, complain that tue
most important question before the coun-
try, that ofthe prevention of entauglements
in Presidential elections, il not receiving
he attention from our statesmen that it
deserves. Bat this is not the most impor-
tant question al this time. The question
of searching out and punishiHg the perju-
rers, forgers aud knaves generally, high
aud low, who produced the present entan-
clement takes precedence for the time be-
ing. When the present Presidential Steal
is disposed of Congress should attend to
doing something about the manner of
eecting President in the future. The
country wants the bot facts aud will
4 have them. The whole people are unaui-
nous in demanding that all the circum-
stances attending the great fraud by which
/ the election of 1875 was perverted shall be
brought to light aud made a matter Of re-
cord. The issue that must be met is
Shall an uuelected President be permitted
/ to retain the Office for four years? That is
the question, and there can be no question
SURPRISING it in magnitude. The Demo
cratic party asserts that tie Republican
party stole the vote of FlOIjia. That stolen
vote gave the Republicans parry he Presi-
dent, the adminiSti alton ard the power
/ The republican party deny that they stole
the President Either the Democratic
party or the Republican party lies. Now.
if The Democrats do not do thcjr duty and
through an investigation settle this cues
/ tion, they should forever after hold their
. peace. The issue seems clear aud nevita-
bic.
RESUMPTION n FIXED FACT.
Il may be taken for granted that on the
. first Of January next the Government viii
stand ready to redeem its obligations in
coin. Laying aside the many theories oD
. this subject, there are points aud facts
! which give practical conception Of The
/ question of resumption, Although the bill
to repeal the resumption act passed the
. House Of Representatives by very large
majority, the Senate oviucCS no de;eImi-
. nation 10 concur in the action Of the House
aud if the Seuate should pass the bill it will
be vetoed by the President, aud cannot,
like the silver bill, be passed over his veto.
Taking all the facts into consideration, aud
assuming there will not be a European
drain on the American gold market, which
there Is no apparent reason tO believe will
tie the case, It seems clear that practical
resumption by the Government viii take
place On January lSt, 1879. The National
Banks viii also have to resume. The
question of resumption ou The day named
may be considered 4 fixed fact
1.-THE KIDwELL Borrous.''
The loss of life from the dread agency 0f
the malaria arising from the Potomac Flats,
or the ''kidHel Bouums.' has been the
subject OF much iScUSsion aud complaint.
At this season Of the year the rank vege-
tatiun which covers the surface Of these
Hats IS start ing into groUJh and by Sep
tember viii have obtained height of fiv.
TO SIX ieet. No use Is made uf IL, a. IL falls
and decays where it grows, a mass of vege-
taOle poison which Is annually more o. less
dlHused over the city. IL is nOtuI ions that
IN the tall OF tbe year there arises from the
large exposed surface Of these bottoms a
vast exha laiIOu of malaria productive Of
wIdeSl read disease, generally of an inter
militant, yet sometimes of continued aud
very fatal character. Il is considered that
the only way 10 reclaim this useless surface
l. by filling il Np. II would be a wolk Of
magnitude and would Gust u great deal of
money. but the benefit would be immense
aud add vastly TO Iie health aud prosperity
oi the city. by filling it up this great
plague spot TO the beauty and glu,vth of
-
For every acre Of pestileHiial mud they now
have lhey wosld have lie same extent of
dry surface available for streets aud hand
some buildings. BY flliug up on both sides
of he river the channel wua ii be deepened
and IN few years after its completion the
island would bo place of hr siIirsS aud de-
lightful residences. The National LeCis-
ia;nie should grasp ;hiS gigantic evil aud
remove 1t. IL would add vastly TO the
beauty, health aud prosperity OF the CITY if
TINS improvement were made
REPURIIcAN sTNEws or VAR
The voluntary and liberal distribution Of
Mr.. Hayes to The Republican campaign
iund II being followed by othei national
ObIclais with unusual freedom aud vignr.
lhe " a>hIugton managers of the caucus
are working wih vim and vigor The
faithful are giving assurance Of renewed
Strength, concentration Of purpose and a
determination to win the victor Y regardless
of disSeutIuus IN he party Ample funds
are being raised 30 send Republican orators
down South, where it is anticipated theN
viii make large ReBuhlican ,.cfl.s scI;.Iffy