The Russellville Democrat., 1879-02-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. II, 1879.

w ASHiNGT0N, U. Ni., f 20. X, T iCfS Both thesgreat parties have recent ly held caucuses in relation to tn, order of business for the remainde of the session. There does not seen to have been entire unanimity in tn, Democratic caucus, the House mem f bers generally favoring more az gressive party policy than the Sena tors.
 The Potter Committee closed its labors Tn New York last Saturday, but will examine. few witnesses here as to the cipher dispatches. Mir, Tilden, Manton Marble, Col. Pelton and others testified in New York. The evidence taken may be summed up as follows: That certain demo crats believed that the Canvassing Boards of Sou. Carolina and Florida were willing to give the votes of those Statest to Tilden for money, and that those Democrats agreed to furnish the money, but that neither MT. Tilden or the Democratic Ma tional Committee would consent to the agreement.
 The politlcals questions which threatened to bless Washington and plague the rest of the country by an extra session of Congress are in the way of settlement. It IS understood that the Republicans will consent to repeal the portion of the Revised Statutes" which imposes sstest oath" on the U. s. jurors, and that the Democrats will not insist on a l repeal of the law authorizing the ap pointment of U. s. Supervisors. There will be debate on both sub. jects, but they will not be permitted to interfere with the passage of the irregular appropriation bills. These have all been acted on by both Houses, except the legislative, exec utive aud judicial, the sundry civil and the deficiency bills. The first named has been under discussion for several days in the House.
 l The Senate yesterday discussed the House anti Chinese immigration bill, and will probably pass it.
 Sec'y Sherman. yesterday sent to the House letter stating that he expected the government expendl- lures of the next fiscal year to ex ceed the receipts by about $27. .000,- 900. He recommends the issue of 4 per cent bonds, which can be sold at par, to cover the deficiency. In his estimate he says $41 100000 will be required for expenses under the arrears of pension act. It is not be lieved, however, that the Pension Office can dispose in year of more than half the claims for arrears under that act and this disposes at once of some $2o,000,0o0 of the predicted deficit.
 Senator Windom's proposition to extend facilities for colonization of colored men in the West is daily at tracing more and more attention. It will shortly be considered by a convention of colored men at Nash vile, Tenn. The Senator suggests the granting of land by government. on such conditions as will enable colored men, if they choose, to settle in colonies of any size, but does not propose any regulation which will prevent other citizens from going with them. There is no doubt that considerable mum bers of colored citi- zens in the South and North are dissatisfied with their present sur, rounding, and would gladly try the experiment proposed. The Senator will ask for no cid from government, but expects and is assured that char. itable organizations in the East will furnish the money necessary. While negroes are dying off in all our cities twice as fast as the whites, and com. paratively few of the younger ones are learning any trade or following any useful employment, the question which Senator Windom attempts to solve will have deep interest for all right minded persons.
 Capt. Eads again asks Congress for payment, in advance of the time named by law, of some of the money he has so thoroughly earned by his jetty labors at the mouth of the Mis-. sissippi. His work was suspended for several months last season be- cause of the yellow fever. He claims to have done three ,fourths of the