The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-15
From Our Regnlar corresponden!.l

From Our Regular Correspondent
The session in both houses Of congress
was cut short yesterday by adjournment
on account of the death Of Hon. Julian
Hartridge, representative from the Sa-
vauuah district of Georgia. His death
was so unexpected that not even all the
members from his own state were aware
that he was i'll, and his wife had barely
started from her southern home, when she
received dispatch, on the road, announc-
ing the death of her husband. Mr.. Har-
fridge had been for four years a member OF
the lower house, and could have been re-
elected 20 the 46th congress had he not
declined nomination, preferring to return
to his profession which was that Of law
yer. Few young men Che was only forty
years Of age) have had a more successful
career, or had reason to hope for q more
brilliant future. He was respected and
esteemed by both political friends and
opponents. This is the third death in
congress within the short space of a
month; the other two being Gen. Will
ans of Michigan, aud Hon. Beverly Dou-
glas of Virginia. So far the mortality has
been altogether on the democratic side Of
the house.
Congress must soon see the necessity of
sanitary measures in and about the capital
the neglect Of which has no doubt an Of
feet upon the health Of all who remain,
WIf
Men die everywhere, it is true, but to sit
10 that colossal oven, breathing malaria,
compounded of Thousand noxous gases,
is peculiarly fatal to many, and hurtful to
all. No pile Of buildings, consisting Of
chambers within chambers, having no
communication with the pure air without,
can be fit for human hsbitation and when
this dir is devitalized, hot, and sickeDiDg,
from huge internal furnace. hundreds Of
gas Jets, with emanatious from restaurants
and sewers, it is altogether different from
the pure ether that the creator prepared
for the lungs Of man.
The army organization bill which is the
subject Of much interest, in both political
and military circles, will probably be taken
up tomorrow It's consideration has been
delayed by the Geneva award bill, but it is
believed that vote can be reached oc the
Award" to day, and the chairman Of the
military committee will call up the army
bill Immediately afterwards. The bill is
of great length and the charges 10 army
organization, some of which are radical,
will be stubborny debated on both sides.
When final vote shall be rea .hed the di-
vision IN the house aud senate will not be
on party lines. Many democrats are opposed
toimportant features fthe bill, and many re-
publicaps favor them. 1t is understood that
Hon. Oner d. Conger of Michigan
will lead the opposition 10 the house and
he has expressed his intention to fight il
by every means of warfare known to par,
liamentary strategy and tactics He will
harrass the enemy at every point, and will
frequently demand the reading Of the bill,
which Is about three times as long as a
presidents message, and this, it is hoped,
will create a very general desire to get rid
of it, Many members have their peculiar
ideas about the army, its legitimate and
illegiilmate uses and management, and
they will have amendments to offer which
will rival in length and tediousness the
original bill. The objection most fire..
quently heard is that the new measure
conters too much power on Gen. Sherman
and this will no doubt cause some demo
Gratis to vote against it, &. A. S.