, 1878-03-29
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb. 1S, 1878.

simply concludes the long g-winded farce
of debate. Home capital had to be made
by the Senators, and right well have
they exercised their privileges. NO one
doubted the result, as the gold opposition
has been in helpless, hopeless minor
ty, and now there seems a general teel'
ing of relief that the end has come The
House will pass the bill, and as the Pres
dent will not veto, the experiment OF
remonetization is now upon u.s.
The biggest fight of the session oc-
Cured over the West Point Approprla-
tion bill, on Wednesday, for the Demo,
Crat, locked horns with each other, and
gored and butted in a manner worthy
contest between feroCiOus butfaloes.
Hewitt, of n. Y, and Aiken, OF 5. G.,
were the principal warriors, and it is diff
cult to determine which got the worst
scalping from the other. Both insisted the
other wouldn't fight. Mr.. Aiken's con-
duct and manner reminded us OF anti
bellum times when South Carolina char
acterized Northern men as mudsills and
greasy mechanics, but VIC are glad to note
that he is an exception to the rule of
gentlemen representing the South in Con-
gress, as it is the first time in this Con-
gress that offensive epithets have been
sectionally hurled. West Point got
regular hacking in this discussion. 1t is
the first time, we believe, that West Point
has ever been fully and thoroughly ven
tilated. 1t seems from the discussion
that it, like the army, has five officers
where three would suffice, and that in
the future there will be considerable re-
duction made in the number of its pro-
fessors. We were not aware till this de-
bate that the United States requires near
ly double the number of officers for its
army that England, France or Germany
has in theirs, and while we don't agree
with some of the structures upon the
West Point portion of our army, yet there
is no doubt that we have too many Off
GERS in proportion to the number of en-
listed men, and that some pruning pro-
cess should be given.
At last Governor Hendee's bill for the
government of the District has been pre-
sented to the House, and in some respects
is very satisfactory measure. 1t pro-
vides that the government shall deposit
in the Treasury of the United States dol
lar for dollar with that paid in by the
people, thus sharing equally the city ex-
penses. Ithas been generally understood
throughout the country that Washington
has been supported by appropriations
from Congress, and that its people are
mere stipendiaries, contributing little or
nothing whatever for the support of the
city. Yet the facts are that while half
the property of the District belongs to
the Government, it has never contributed
a third of the actual expenses, and now
that it proposes to pay one-half, our peo-
pie are satisfied; yet, to their intense dis
gust, Governor Clafin, of Massachusetts,,
has tackled upon this bill provision
granting universal suffrage. Not one
hundredth part of our tax payers have
asked for this, and they have protested in
every possible way against this extension
Of the ballot to the masses. They are
perfectly satisfied with the government
of the past three years, desiring no
change, and if Congress forces upon US
the provision of Governor Claflin's there
will be an end to all economy in the ad-
ministration of our finances, for there
will be nothing to prevent our roughs
and shoulder -hitters reviving our defunct
Legislature. We don't want to trade our
King Log for King Stork.
MAIL LETTINGS.
There has been so much good ground
for the complaining of the contractors in
regard to the favoritism and frauds of
the Post Office department, in the matter
Of mail lettings, that Mr.. Key has been
compelled to introduce new and extended
precautions against the Irregularities,
with view to put an end to them. In
the past, clerks were entrusted with all
the proposals, and there was absolutely
nothing to prevent suborned persons
from examining the bill in advance and
substituting new ones.
Carpenters celebrated picture Of the
Reading of the Emancipation Procla-
nation" is, at last the property of the
nation, not by direct purchase, but by
gift of Mrs. Thompson of New York
who presented it to Congress, and it
graces, as it should, the walls of the
Capitol. The reception ceremonies of
this memorable picture of Mr.. Lincoln
were impressive, though short. Aside
from its questionable merit as work of
art, it illustrates one of the gravest acts
of craftsmanship in the history of our
country, and will occupy its prominent
niche iu the Capitol as long as the can
vass will endure. The Senate at 9
o'clock entered the House, and was
received by the members standing.
After taking their seats and the
announcement of the Vice President
that the two Houses had met to accept
the picture, Mr.. Garfield made an elo-
quent speech of acceptance and was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Stephens who in his shrill
clear voice gave as an intensely inter
esting speech, in which he took strongest
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