South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-15
Letter from Washington.
loor r.,poud.nee of the Iuslliseoeer..
wAsuINaTos. Feb. 12. Is;

WASHINGTON. Feb. 12, 1873.
Nix. HARPER I'm looking around for
means Of reducing Federal taxation.
which now amounts to $40 per annum
for every household in the country there
are two subjects which Immediately at
tract attention. The first is the sinking
fund. This fund. accommodating at the
rate prescribed by law. will extinguish
the public debt in given number OF
years. But under different Secretaries
more has been added 10 the fund than
Is required by law. Senator Beck pro.
poses that no more money be- set apart
for the fund than Is necessary under the
law. This is not only an unobjectiona.
bic proposition, but it is more strict
compliance with existing law than the
course heretofore pursued. Next ie n
radical reduction Of expenses in every
Department Of the Government. The
country is levying more taxes on the
people than the people can pay. and at
the same time carrying on its busiress
in an extravagant manner. The Army,
tue Navy, the Interior, the Department
of Justice. the Post Office, tue State De-
partment-all of them are conducted
upon scale inaugurated in the flush
times preceding the war and continued
and magnifiei during tue war. 1t is ut
once the duty and the policy of the De.
mocratic party to change all this, and
TO reduce all expenses. Salaries will
have TO he reduced, excreseEces cut off,
and reforms i'm the conduct OF business
instituted, and these things will untloubt-
cdiy produce n clamor ainanG those who
suffer, but , men in every 10 will app
plaud the act. With Senator Bccil's ex.
cellent bill IN force. and rigid economy
in carrying on the Government. together
with the confidence which will be restor-
ell when Congress has given us fixed
currency. we shall have II revival OF bG-
siness ami = return of prosperity. with
out the.c there is almost u certainty that
the present state OF things will continue.
The House Commit G Oh WAYS and
Means is maxim. considerable progress
in examining tue new tariff bill Of Mr..
Wool. So far, greatly to the delight f
That gentleman, the bill meets with the
almost unanimous approval of the Com
mittee. IL is hardly TO he expected,
perhaps, that a single session will he
sufficient time for both Houses to dis
cuss and pass so comprehensive mca.
sure, but it is evident that there Is a
strong disposition to hasten nc ion AS
much as possible. Tie distinguishing
feature Of Mr. Hoods bill is the simpli-
city 1t introduces into q subject hereto.
fore very Tuch complicated. 1t practi.
caily repeals The patch%or, legislation
of the past.
After few more speeches the Senate
will vote on the silver bill. Davis, of
w. Va, Conkline. aud Jones, of Neva-
da, are all those who are now announced
for speeches. Mr.. Hayes causes it To
be announced that he believes in what
tre calls the old wing doctrine" that
veto power should not be exercised ex-
cept TO prevent violation Of the Con-
stitution. If that ''old wLig party" is
responsible for all the twisting and turn.
ing of Dir. Hayes on ti.is aud other sub
Jects the evil that ii does after death is
greater than that it could have done af-
ter death.
In an interview on Saturday Mr.. Hayes
entered into an elaborate discussion of
ms Southern appointments, exercising the
selection he had made Of few Demo
Gratis for Office - the most cretlitable ones
he has made, by the way.
Ii is now we'll understood that here
after no man not Republican will re
ceive Office by appointment from Mr..
Hayes
1t seems that majority OF the House
Committee inyestiga ting Mexican affairs
is in favor Of speedy recognition of Diaz.
The temperance people here are to
have n mammoth procession on the 22d.
They think there will be over 10000
in line.
The House Committee on District of
Columbia has decided that in our new
form of Government suffrage shall have
place. The qualifications of the vo-
ters are not vet fixed MEMO