The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-02-07
Our Washington Letter.

the Grant Boom-An Obnoxious Pen.
sion Bill-Another Puff for Mr.. Haw.
ley-Senator Bayard and the Green.
backs, etc.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. Feb. 9, 1890.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The month Of January just passed
will be long remembered by the
dwellers at the Capital as the most
pleasant winter month that has been
seen for years. Balmy, bright days
with cool nights inspired every body,
old and young, grave and gay, with a
disposition to make the most of the
social features of life at the Capital.
With receptions, levees, weddings,
calling and calls, every body has been
on dress parade and every thing has
gone merry as a marriage bell"
Our sister city of Baltimore is be-
coming very important export cen
tire and now ranks as second in i'm
portance of the seaboard cities. Her
exports last year exceeded those OF
1873 by more than s13,OO0,O 600, while
they were greater than those of 1877
by over $28, ,O0O, 900. Baltimore ship
ped over 100000 bushels more of
wheat in 1879 than the three cities
Philadelphia, Boston and New Or
leans. The Monumental City has un-
equaled railroad facilities, and with
her increasing ocean marine and her
hand on the Southern trade, her
growth is likely to be marvellous in
the future. u.--.
The Grant boom seems a little on
the wane here at the Capital, and it
can not be disguised that there are
outcroppings against the idea of a
third term in many sections that tend
to dampen the zeal Of those most earn
est in advocating Gen. Grants nomi-
nation. Sherman is growing favor
ite with the people. The resunp-
ton Of specie payments carried
through successfully by the Secretary
against the protests Of the most care
ful financiers in the country has given
him strong hold upon leading bust
ness men of the land, and is t1emen-
dous argument in favor of his nomi-
nation as President. He has managed
the finances with marvellous success,
which has resulted in tening up our
credit both at home and abroad. The
funding SO rapidly of our maturing
bonds in four per cents was piece of
financiering the like Of which the
world never witnessed.
Commissioner Bentley has great
job on hand in attempting to force
upon the country his Sixty District
Pension Bill. It was a sore disap-
pointment to sixty friends Of this
worthy who has SO little sympathy
with pensioners when this bill met its
defeat last year. A moe outrageous
insult could not be offered to the
MANNED and crippled soldiers, their
widows and orphans, than this bill
placing present pension
ers and others who are justly entitled,
under the espionage and surveillance
of some one of these paid officers who
are to decide whether new applicants
or old pensioners are entitled to re-
ceiye this miserly pittance from the
III whose service they
have suffered. Every soldier in this
broad land should let himself be heard
against this iniquitous scheme.
Assistant Secretary Hawiey is one
of the most faithful officials connected
With the public service. The position
he occupies is very responsible one,
requiring great executive ability and
a complete knowledge Of law in order
to decide different questions constant
|y arising. Not the least of all his
varied duties is the determination of
questions relating to appointments in
the various bureaus of the Depart
ment. At this point he is brought in
contact with Senator'S, members and
others, each pressing the claims of
friends with great earnestness, vet he
has been able TO discharge these most
delicate duties with such even-handed
Justice as to meet the approval of men
Of all classes. For three terms as a
representative in Congress he had a
conspicuous part in the legislation of
those years aud his vote was always
cast with and his voice was heard
among the true and tried men of those
times. 10 every position he has hon
Dred his noble State, and among her
men Illinois has not a
truer, nobler man than John B. Haw-
ley. . =
Gen. Gordon is the Conservative
leader "f the majority in Congress
and his muzzle business has been very
successful so far during the session.
1t has been matter of surprise that
our Bourbon brethren have become so