The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A DISTINGUISHED
REPRESENTATIVE FROM GEoRGIA-soME
CAUSES OF THE REMARKABLE MORTALITY
IN CONGREss--A COIIlOsAL PEST HOUSE OF
| COMPOUND MALARlA-GDssIP ABOUT THE
| PROPOSED ARMY BILL-CoNGER TO LEAD
THE OPPOSITION -RARLIAMENTARY STRAIT.
EGY AND DILATORy TACTICS.
WASHINGTON, January II, 1870.
The session in both houses of Congress
was cut short yesterday by adjournment on
account of the death Of Hon. Julien Hart
ridge, representative from the Savannah
district of Georgia. Hi death was so
unexpected that not evfn all the mem
bcrs from his own state were aware
that he was ILL., and his wife had barely
started from her southern home, when she
received dispatch, on the road, ANNOUNCE
ing the death other husband. Mr.. liartridgc
had been for four years a member Of the
lower house. and could have been reelected
to the 46th congress had he not declined the
nomination, preferring to return to his
profession, which was that Of lawyer, Few
young men Che was only forty years of age
have had more successful career, or had
reason to hope for 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 beng Gen. Williams
of Michigan, and Hon, Beverly Douglas of
Virginia So far the mortality has been al
together 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 effect
upon the health Of all who remain, even for
a short time, within its walls. Men die
everywhere, 1t is true, but to sit in that col
losal oven, breathing malaria, compounded
of thousand noyious gases, is peculiarly
fatal to many, and hurtiul to all. No pile
of buildings consisting of chambers within
chambers, having no communication with
the pure air without, can be fit for
human habitation; and when this air is de-
vitalized, hot, and sickening, from huge in
fernal furnace, hundreds of gas Jets, with
emanations from restaurants and sewers, it
is altogether different from the pure ether
that the Creator prepared for the lungs of
man.
The army reorganization bill, which is the
subject Of most interest, In both political
and military circles, will probably be taken
up tomorrow. Its consideration has been
delayed by the Geneva award bill, but it is
believed that vote can be reached on the
award today and the chairman Of the mil
tary committee will call up the army
bill Immediately afterwards. The bill isof !
great length, and the changes in army or
ganization, some of which are radical will |
be stubbornly debated on both sides. When
final vote shall be reached the division in
the house and senate will not be on party
lines Many Democrats are opposed to i'm
portant features of the BILL and many Re
publicans favor them. 1t is understood
that Hon. Omer d. Congor Of Michigan,
will lead the opposition, and has expressed
his intention to fight it by every means
OF warfare known to parliamentary
strategy and tactics. He will harass the
enemy at every point, and will frequently
demand the reading Of the bill which is
about three times as long as presidents
message, and this it is hoped, will create
very general desire to get rid Of it. Many
members have their own peculiar ideas
about the army, its legitimate and illcgit
mate uses and management, and they will
have amendments to offer which will rival
in length and tediousness the Original
bill. The objection most frequently heard
is that the new measure conters too much
power on Gen, Sherman, and this will no
doubt cause some Democrats to vote against
it.