The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-12-25
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S.4TURD.a lF:,.s DEC. rs
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!, WAsn1xeroS. Dec. %. 1850.

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Editor Demoer@.
In a comparatively small mat
ter, Mr.. Phillips, Of Missouri, will
to.day!do one Of the most sugges-
tive things possible in Congress.
He will introduce bill to restore
West Point Academy to the status
!. it had twenty years ago. It's not
very important to the country ut
large that West Point is now "run"
by Major General with a large
staff, instead Of = quie, school un-
der charge Of the Engineer Corps,
with Il Colonel for Superintendent,
but there is much 10 think Of and
to regret in the fact that neS.tly
every branch Of the government
has been stuffed and padded gor-
geously and ornamepfed in the
same manner. Republicans and
even some Democrats find fault
with Speaker %lsandall and other
Democrats because they cry out for
retrenchpicnt and economy, yet, l
venture the assertion and make it
aite: almost II generation Of obser-
Walton, that in several departments
Of the Government in this city the
practical sinecures are almost as
numerous ms the really necessary
places. When f. B. Wasl,burn
and II. Z. Dawes demanded ref
ormation and ecunomyin the public
expenditure they were not needed
by their Republican associates in
the House, and nearly every abuse
they denounced exists to-day.
Holmes and Randall among Dem.
ocrats accomplished something
but more was left undonc.
How much money the Govern
nent shall spend, if any, for inter
nalimprovements, for educational
purposes, for subsidies to Ameri-
can shipping, or for other interests,
is a fair question for discussion,
and | don't mean in this letter to
reflect upon any Democrat for yot.
ing on either side, but when it is
once'settled that a dollar shall be
used for any pupose there is M
doubt but it is every legislators
duty, not only tosee that the mon
ey is properlyused, but that anoth.
er dollar is not spent in distribut.
ingit. The proposed hill of Mr..
Phillips is, therefore, admirable,
and ! llopeit will have a=good ei-
feet in affairs far more important
and enormously more cxlen.
siyc than West Point. Prolligatv
legislation, whether it comes from
the profusion Of war times or from
any other source, ought to BIZ
swept away"
The House passed last week
three appropriation bills, and at
tempted OH Saturday TO vote on !,
fourth, but no quorum was present.
To-day, probably, the requisite 'l47
Democratic members will be go,
together and the bill passed, but
! do not anticipate any further
legislation before the holiday re.
cess. The. rerunding bill will Ger.
tainly go over until the rc-assenl-
bling Of Congress in January.
The Senate last week, by non.
partisan vote, passed i bill turn.
ing over to the Secretary Of the
! Treasury us an educational fund
the proceeds Of the public lands
and, the profits derived BY Govern
ment from the operations Of the
Patent Office. For ten years the
interest on the fund will be used
in those States and Territories
having the greatest number Of per.
sons over ten years OF aye who can
not read and write. Thereafter in
proportion 10 the school popula-
ton. Government pays interest
at four per cent on the fund.
MEMO.
Va