Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-01-23

hot-bed of American industry, and is
rarely in haste about anything, *
cept an early adjournment.
Death has knocked often of late at
the public door, and each answer to
the resistless summons remind us
that the great as well as the small,
the lofty and lowly, must go ''the
way of all the EARTH" During a
period of little more than a year nine
congressman have died: Senators
Morton and Bogy; Representatives
Leonard, of Louisiana; Quinn, of
New York; Welsh, of Nebraska !;
Williams, of Michigan; Douglas, of
Virginia; Julian Hartridge, of Geor-
gla, and still later, Gustavus Schlei-
cher, of Texas. The Gene in the
House of Representatives on We'd
nesday last, when funeral obsequies
were observed over all that was NOR
tai of one of the brightest members
of the Forty-tifth Congress, added
another black line of mourning to the
page of Congressional history. Mr..
Hartridge, as well as the late General
Williams, had but a few more weeks
to spend in Washington, and both
we're looking forward with Impotence
to the quieter and more congenial
persuits of private life. At the fu-
neral of MI. Hartridge. his desk and
sea- were covered with funeral dra-
perry and a basket of flowers, lilies,
tube-roses and myrtle, we're placed
upon the vestments Of death. The
President and Vice-President, the
justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States and the Senate, entered
the House shortly after three O'Clock,
following the casket containing the
remains of the deceased. The funer-
al services and prayers were offered
by the chaplGins of the House and
Senate, and all that was left on earth
of Julian Hartridge was conveyed to
his home in Savannah for Increment.
Tomorrow the same scene will be
repeated and the last honors paid the
dead member from Texas.
1t seems to be generally conceded
here, tonight, by those whose posi-
tons and sources Of information are
such as to give weight to their judg.
ment, that the Burnside bill for the
reorganization of the army cannot
pass, rs its provisions are very un'
satisfactory to the army officers and
t. fot,JE fn u,,HNr1inafa flfo Mn M
partment, and ever the President
himself to the General of the army,
ana to establish a sort of military
autocracy, which is not in harmony
either with the wishes of the people,
or the spirit of our institutions. Rep,
resentatives Atkins, of Tennessee,
with the counsel and suggestive CO.
operation of some of the ablest officers
of the army, has prepared another as
a substitute, which, although it has the
general object as the Burnside bill,
differ considerably from the latter in
methods and details. Its principal
provisions are as follows:
The army is to be reduced to the
desired strength, not by summary
dismissals or enforced retirements,
but by the slower operation of natur-
al laws. Regiments are to be con-
solidated as their effective strength
decreases, and the whole army, line
and staff alike, allowed to shrink t.
the desired numerical limits. The
retired list, instead of being restricted
now to four hundred men, is to b.
made as large as the necessities o
the service may require, and all Off
GERS, without exception, are to b.
placed on that list as fast as they be
come in~capacitated for active duty OIL
reach the age of siXty-two. In tn
meantime the supply of new officer
from West Point is to be cut of
The bill provides that the member
of the next two classes graduating
from that academy, shall, if they S
desire, receive $3.50 each upon til
completion of their studies, and b
permitted to return to their homes
subject to recall at the expiration c
two years if their services are requil
ed. The army is placed under ST.
preme control of the Secretary {
War, subject only to the higher au
thority Of the President. The hi
provides for the adopting of tn
''batallion system of regimental oil
g%anization. Lieutenants are give
the same eligibility to promotion i
other regiments that the higher Off
GERS enjoy. The interchangeable
of lines and staff officers, which j
much criticised feature of the Burn
side bill, is not included in the sub
stitute.
The American consul at Capenha
gen has sent to the Department {
State an interesting account of til
workings of the courts of reconcile
ton in Denmark in reply to q lette
from the President of the Board {
Trade of Dubuque as to whether sue
courts, somewhat modified, migI
not be advantageously introduce
into the United States.
The consul says thai these courts
as far as Denmark is concerned, al
morally and practically of great in
portance. They not only proven
long and expensive law suits, but i
many cases amicably settle the exist
ing disputes. The efficiency is base
upon the creation of a better feelin
between the disputants. Claims, di:
putes, etc., are settled without th
interference of the judicial court.
1t is only when a court of reconcile,
ton is unable to bring the disputant
to an amicable agreement that case
are referred to a court of justice
: Perfect secrecy is maintained !
courts of reconciliation in regard [
, the evidence and disputes br0ugf
before them, as that in many case
parties prefer settlements there rattle
than undergo the expenses and e,
posture incidental to trials befoi
courts of justice. With the selectio
of disinterested men of the hi,ghe.
r honor and intelligence, rs is alway
| the case in Denmark, to preside owe
: courts of reconciliation, the const
, does not hesitate to say that the