South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-02-07
Letter from WASHINGTON.

WAsr'NcroS. y. e. Feb. ?. 1879.
ME. BAsrsg - iio,h the 4 .,ninistra-
ton aHa senator ccakling lave ba.s all
the delay they wished Tor before iie
Senate should VOTE on the New York
Custom House nominations. and today
will decide the question in the Senate
Such extraordinary pressure has been
brought TO bear on Democrat and Re-
publican Senators by both, Alessrs
Hayes and Sherman or one side and
MIR. Conklins on the other, that IL is i'm
possible 10 say what the result may be.
IL has not. however escaped attention
that Tor seyers, days there have been
new Indications OF confdence on the
part Of Secretary Sherman. Il is no,
believed either side will have mote thsn
one or two votes 10 spare.
The heirs OF Geo. r. f. Lee say now
that they Go not wish actual possession
of the Arlington estate, TO Which The
Federal Court AZ Alexandria lately de.
clared them entitled. but will be con-
tent With The money value Of the prop
le-ty.
On Saturday in the Senate the debate
on Edmunds' resolutions was continued,
Senator Morgan concluding his speech,
and Senator Edmunds briefly explaining
his position. May other Senators win
nafr 10 h In 10 4 l,,
day was spent in speeches on The gen
cral subject OF Southern or war claims.
In the past week the two Houses have
made no progress in legislation, beyond
increasing. prior TO tinal passage. the
several appropriation bills reported by
the House Committee.
We ought TO be able TO learn from the
confession OF oar enemies, but we do
not seem able TO do SO. Here is Sena-
tor Blaine, certainly good Republican
authority, who SAYS NC waste millions
Of money on the navy. 50 We doom the
army. SO on thousands OF officers in
the Departments here, who may have
hceo necessary from 1861 to 1866, but
who have since then been simply in the
way CT public business. So OF coGa:
less officers, whose mission is unooustj-
rational and undemocralic. AMI who
have been scattered over the South for
years 20 interfere with S.z.e an,l local
elections. There IS not an intelligent
Democrat in Congress Who does not he
licvc all these abuses exist. or who
could not make himself, by investigation,
certain or it. Yet during this session
no thorough reduction has been pro-
posed, and such rs the Democratic mem
bers OF the House Appropriations Com
miticc have been able 10 agree on have
been promptly killed in a Democratic
House. ii the people OF the country
could well stan,, the present rates OF
taxation. anil those rates woull meet
the increasing liabilities OF she Govern
ment there might be excuse for CHS
course. But everybody now knows that
Is impossible. and that new sources OIL
income mast DC sought out, and unlor
tuaateiy for the Democratic party, it.
and not the radical party, must, through
control OF tho AGth Congress, impose
the new burdens For the remaining
three weeks OF The session The Democ-
racy should act with this important fact
before them.
Tie social season is at it. height, and
the nights ate { az with dinner parties,
hops and various other entertainments. /
Hard times even have littlc adverse CT.
feet upon Washington sociai life.
MEMO.