The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-07-26
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE,
Our letter from washington.

Our Letter from Washington.
Congressional Negligence Of The Agricultural
Department. What the Campaigners are
Doiag.-Free Distribution Of S,mmer Lit
eratwe,-.The We'll and La Abra cases.
Senator Blaiae's Brother in StcW.-The
me'O Secretary Of Wdr.-6c., DC.
wAsHrNoToN, d. O., July 10, 1879.
Probably the most poorly.appolnted of oil
Governmental Department is that pertaining
to agriculture, although It is second to none
in Importance. Its chief object is the intro
duction ofevery useful production Of the earth
that can be grown In any portion Of our own
country; to ascertain the greatest amount OF
profit Of which these various productions can
be made capable Of, and to encourage Home
Industry the only safe foundation of national
wealth - Congress with, its multltudlnous
cares and party conflicts. and the necessity of
keeping a cOncllatory eye constantly upon the
dear constituency, has neglected this Depart
mont in most short-sighted and reprehensible
manner. Were Congressman eligible to but
one election and that on their merits only, re.
gardlcss Of monetary or other influences, and
did their one term extend, as it should over
long series of years, they could then afford to
think more Of the country's interests and less
Of their own, and, having the fear OF 70 coming
campaign In mind would have more time and
energy TO devote to legislation OF broader
scope than that which in these anxious days,
generally engages their attention. Then per.
haps, some Insignificant stream that can never
be Of any possible service except to the few
people residing along its banks, would not Sc.
cure q halEmillon appropriation at the in
stance Of IT'S devoted Representative In Con-
grcss, while the United States laboratory Of
the Agricultural Department lauguishes in n
fifteen by twenty feet apartment with inferior
apparatus and poorly. paid scientists to expert
ment therein. There are In the State Of Penn.
sylvanla alone no less than seven laboratories,
each one far superior to this supported by the
Government, and many private gentlemen
throughout the country have better facilities
for scientific experiments. Yet when Com
missioner lie Rue asked for an appropriation
OF $500, 200 with which TO build one that should
be worthy OF the Government, It was printed
in the bill 0,OOO, and even that insufficient
sum was denied. It has been ascertained that
nearly two hundred and ATTY millions Of dol.
lars are annually paid for importing articles
which could just as well be raised In our own
country. It is these needlessly imported pro-
ducts that absorb the capital and depress the
commercial prosperity Of the United States,
whereas, were home industries properly en-
couraged, idleness, with the accompanying
cry of"hard times, would speedily disappear.
The Democratic Congressional committee
has established Its headquarters IN the rooms
Of the committee on military affairs of the
House of Representatives, and is now actively
engaged sending into Maine and Ohio politi.
cal literature suited to voters Of these States
The two speeches which are being the most
extensively circulated are the constitutional
arguments made by Representative Carlisle,
Of Kentucky, and Representative J, Randolph
Tucker, of Virginia. 1t is noticeable that
while the Republican Congressional commit.
tee do not attach as much importance to the
constitutional arguments delivered on the
army bill as to the political speeches that the
Democrats on the other hand do thus keep
Ing up their repute as a party having the
great instrument in constant awe. The incis-
i've speech delivered by Frank Hurd during
the last days Of the session has been largely
subscribed for by Democrats, and Is being
sent into every section of the country regard.
less Of any impending state campaign. An
other speech which seems to be considered
good campaign document Is that delivered by
Senator Wallace on the army bill. General
Ewlng's speech delivered on the Warner sll.
yer bill is being extensively sent into Maine
and later will be circulated In goodly num-
bers In Ohio. The hery speech Of Mr. Black.
burn, Of Kentucky, wherein he says "he who
dallies is a bastard and he who doubts Is damn.
ed, us not much sought amer, ,butit will be ut
| iliEed later along In the statecampaign In the
/ South. Senator Thurman's speeches, as well
as those Of BayaTd and Beck, are called for
/ by the Maine Democrats and a goodly supply
will 10 of TO that state this week. Senator
Hill's speech defining the psNeEs ofths Presl.
dent and Congress Is also In demand and lead.
ing Democrats say that II is the ablest Of the
series Of speeches on that subject delivered
during he special session. The short speech.
es made by the Greenbackers, who all depre.
Gated the sectional issue and hoped for imam.
cal legislation, have been called out OF the
Record, printed in pamphlet form, and will be
sent into Ohio in large quantities.
II is stated that Secretary Eyarts will be,
fore his departure for the runner decide
the Well and La Abra cases which, Il may
be remembered were referred by Congress to
the President Cor examination. The cases
were among those which the Mexican claims
Commission sustained, and upon them awards
amounting TO over 100000 were granted to
the claimants Subsequently the Mexican
Government alleged that these claims were
obtained upon perjured testimony and request.
cd this Government to suspend payment OF
the award until the charges Of fraud, sc. were
examined. The President r, ferred the mat.
ter whether the disputed cases can be reopen.
ed after awards have been granted.
Among the employees OF the Senate retain,
ed when the Democracy came into power Il
the brother Of Blaine. He Is an assistant Ia
the document room, and is ranked as a ufosl
faithful officer, but since SO much has been
said In condemnation OF the removal OF VII
son, the legless ex-soldlor an effort Is being
made TO have him removed. 1t seems that he
stands between two hres. Some oftho Demo.
Gratis want him removed because he Is a Re
publican, and the Republicans want him out
because his bs0thsT, the Senator, has secured
his retention by having Democrat appolntod