The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-18
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. l |, 1880.
The principal topic which ingrossed the
attention of the House of Representatives
during its first week has been the Electoral
bill. As some of your readers may not un-
derstand what the object Of this bill is Twill
briefly state it. AS matters stand at present
the Vice President counts and announces
the number of votes and pronounces who
ever has received the majority of the elect
orial votes as being duly elected President
and Vice President of the United States.
What this new Electoral bill desires 10 ac-
complish is to have the Electoral votes pass
ed upon by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives in joint committee, and to decide
regarding the proprietY of such votes being
this joint committee may elect that the
votes Of any particular State or States have
not been legally cast, and in that event
throw them out and thus declare that the
was not the choice of the people. In such
an event Democratic JOINT committee could
throw out the vote of any State or States
which would have elected a Republican
candidate and a Republican majority in the
joint committee could do the same thing re-
garding an apparently successful Democratic
candidate.
The only points in the Presidents message
| Ia; ;pl, 10 "a
the recommendation to make General Grant
the Captain General of the Army, and the
assertion that there have been extensive
election frauds in the Southern States. As
regards the first there appears to be gener,
al impression that something should be done
above all partisan politics or private ven
lures. This idea however does not seem q
give general satisfaction to the Republican
legislators. The accusation respecting fraud
ulent practices at the South is considered by
many Of the Southern members as matte
of great injustice. The President undoubt
edly in making the statement referred to il
his message feels that he has authentic in
formation upon which to base this charge
There is one thing pretty certain that if tn
Democrats do not ask for the proofs Of hi
information the Republicans certainly will
The Committee on Ways and Means hav
unanimously decided to make the refundin
rate of interest per cent, and directed it
chairman, Mr.. Wood, of New York to NOV
an amendment to the committee bill now be
fore the House, reducing the rate from thre
and one half to three per cent.
The clerk of the weather is in all proba
bility happy now, as the matter of Chic
Signal officer is settled at last, General Haze
has received the appointment while Genera
Mfes was appointed to succeed General ORD
who has been retired.
A delegation of Brewers and Malsters fror
different sections of the country has been be
fore the Finance COMMITTEES of the Senat,
with the view of having the ad valorer
duty of 20 per cent. on Canada Malt altere
to 25 cents per bushel specific duty. Generl
II. E. Fremaine, the legal adyisor of th
delegation, is the Independent candidate f
US, Senator, from New York. He is pr
forward by friends both Democrats and r,
publicans in opposition to whoever may /
Senator Conklings nominee,or Mr.. Chaunoe
e Depew, who is the lobby and railroad car
1 didate.
q The committee Of the Yorktown celebrl
tion has convened for the purpose OF arranl
ing matters regarding that important even
In addition to the joint committee of Coz
. gress, Of which Senator Johnston of Virgini
is Chairman, there is one member fro
each State appointed by the Governor ther
of, and the Governors of the thirteen orig
:, nal States will be present and take part
Il the meeting.
: The new National Museum at Washin
# ton, which has been building for some tin
Q past, is nearly done, and will be ready (
IS use next month. 1t is huge, spider Iii
e structure OF one high story, without mu,
Is outward architectural success, covering /,
r acres Of ground near the Smithsonian bull
n ing. The interior is divided into L gre
l. halls, which will be fitted with galleries
Il storing the large Government collection
is and 1870 small rooms for laboratories, offiC
e. and the general work of scientific investig
l. tion and classification. The geologic
o, chronological, and other specimens illustl
e. ting the national character aud history
or our country already belonging to the &C
Of ernment are enough TO fill the new museu
IN at once, and Il is expected that in time thu
Id more buildings Of similar size will be nee
le ed to supply adequate accommodation
" these rapidly growing collections.
AreusT