Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-15
Washington Letter.

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 Savan'
nah district of Georgia. His death was
so unexpected that not even all the men,
bers from his own state were aware that
he was ill, and his wife had barely started
from her southern home, when she re-
ceived Il dispatch, on the road, announcing
the death of her husband. Mr.. Hartridge
had been for four years n member OF the
lower house, and could have been re-elect'
ed to the forty-sixth 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 more successful
career. or had reason TO hope for more
brilliant future. lie was respected and
esteemed by both political friends and
opponents. This is the third death 10
congress within tho short space of a
month, the other two being Gen. Williams
of Michigan and Hon. Beverly Douglas 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 capt.
tol, the neglect of which has, no doubt, an
effect upon the health of all who remain.
even for short time, within its walls.
Men die everywhere, i t is true, but to sit
in that colossal oven, breathing malaria.
compounded of a thousand noxious 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 habitation; and when
this air is devitalzed, hot and sickening,
from hugh internal 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 politi-
cal and military circles, will probably be
taken up tomorrow. Its consideration
has been delayed by the Geneva award
bill, but it is believed that IL vote can be
reached on the aware" to day, and the
chairman of the military committee will
call up the army bill Immediately after
wards. The bill is of great length, and
the changes in army organization, some
of which are radical, will be stubbornly
debated on both sides. When a final vote
shall be reached the division of the House
and Senate will not be on party lines.
Many democrats are opposed to important
features of the bill, and many republicans
favor them. 1t is understood that Hon.
Omer d. Congor of Michigan will lead
the opposition in the House, and he 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 us long as Il presidents
message; and this, it is hoped, will create
a very general desire 10 get rid of it.
Many members have their own peculiar
ideas about the army, its legitimate and
uses and management, and
they will have amendments to offer which
will rival in tediousness the original bill.
The objection most frequently heard is
that the new measure confers too much
power on General Sherman, and this will
no doubt cause some democrats to vote
against it. C.