Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-01-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WAsnINGToN, Jan. .. 1885,


ington | have never known a time
when there was so little OF general
interest to write about. There
absolutely no news, ana aside from
the visit OF Gen. Grant, which was
not a public affair, we have had
nothing more interesting than a
few quiet weddings, and the usual
Dumher Of funerals. Even the old
timers, who spend their days talk
ing politics over their toddy, have
nothing in particular TO discuss,
except the situation in Maine
and there don't appear to be much
room for argument over that
They do say, however, that we
have the smallpox among Us, and
that may succeed in making ii
lively for some of Us if it b comes
epidemic. There are eighteen ca
ses reported now, but the Board
of Health is adopting vigorous
measures to prevent the further
spread of the disease. The whole
town Is running to the doctors Of
fees to be vaccinated, and perhaps
il would not be a bad idea for the
Congressman to have a little virus
poked into them before they come
back here.
Upon the Resembling of Con-
gress. Representative Manning, Of
Mississippi, will introduce a bill
providing for a complete reorgan-
iZation of the Supreme Court. MFR.
Mauhing says That in deciding to
bring forward his measure be has
been actuated by no7partisan mo-
tive. He thinks. however, that
the members of the present Court,
by conserving to serve on the Elec-
toral Commission and taking part
in the decision Of purely political
question, have impaired the digni-
tyand 10 thatextent detracted from
the usefulness ofFthat tribunal by
lowering it in public esteem. The
amount of business before the
Courts already so great that he
thinks il resultsain practical de-
NAL of justice to many suitors.
The main features of the bill which
Mr.. Manning will introduce are.
first: The Court to be composed
of a Chief Justice and eighteen AS
sociate Justices f; classification of
work and its division into three
branches; the assignment of six
Associate Justices lone of whom
shall be designated to preside) to
each branch and all constitution
al questions, and all cases involv-
ing 100000 or more, to be decided
by the full Court of eighteen JUS
tices, presided over by the Chief
Justice. Mr.. Manning says that
he has received number of let
ters from lawyers in different parts
of the country approving a reor-
ganiZation of the Court, and asking
for the details or plan.for that Oh
ject.
d. The Commissioner of Agricut-
Sure is hard at work organizing a
strictly American tea-table. Our
independence of the Heather
Chinee, in the matter of tea, was
declared some years since, and we
have formally asserted our right,
as free and independent States, to
raise tea which we would rather
have some other fellow drink.
And now the Commissioner pro-
claims new dispensation in SUI
gar-making. Experiments by the
Department prove, so Mr.. lie Due
says, that good sugar can be made
from sorghum and corn stalks, and
he brings into court. as cOnvinc-
ing testimony, $4,000 pounds of
sorghum sugar porduced by one
establishment in Illinois. Finally,
the Commissioner predicts that
before many years this country
will raise sugar to export. Let us
hope this may be true, and also
thst the Commissioner, in his de-
light over the sorghum sugar
"boom," will not forget the tea
"boom," which shows signs of be-
ing neglected.
Latest advices from the front up
set all previous hopes ola peacea-
BILE settlement of the difficulties
with the Ute Indians, and create
serious apprehersions for the safe
tyof Gen. Hatch and his command.
Ouray's efforts to deliver up for
trial the Indians who murdered
Agent Meeker have failed utterly,
and his own influence with his
tribe appears alta discount. Secre-
tary Schurz believes, as does Gen
eral Hatch, that Ouray has done
his hest and that he has not NAV
ed double game. And now that
war is inevitable it is not unlikely
that he will cast his lot with the
whites. Not much can be done
at present, as deep snow and other
conditions render vigorous war