Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-11
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From our regular Correspondent.

Inc House has ceased It's labors upon
its new code Of rules by adopting them
rs finally amended, under the call for
the previous question made by Mr..
Blackburn. or course, they were adopt
ed by party vote, for the Republicans
contested to the last, Mr.. Conger even
compelling yea and nay vote, though
he did not attempt to fillibuster. The
new rules are undoubtedly open to fair
and Independent criticism, notwith.
standing the many improvements made
in pruning them of obsolete and useless
provisions. No appropriation of public
moneys should be permitted save upon
yea and nay vote, and no appropra-
ton bill should contain general legisla-
ton on any pretext whatever-the
specified permission of retrenching ex'
penditures is specious one which will
permit easy evasion. In other, though
minor respects, too much latitude is
given for depletion Of the Treasury by
designing persons, and we predict that
the most pernicious legislation of the
future will, as in the past, be rushed
through Congress by means of the loop
holes afforded by the lack of the safe
guards above. Senator Randolph open.
ed up the ball on the Fitz John Porter
case in the Senate, with an able and in
genious defense, and there is promise
of a prolonged debate. Senator Fogan's
rejoinder occupied several days, and
should other Senators deem the ground
insufliciently covered by him, the end
OF the debate is problematical. This
discussion is not upon the House bill,
which proposed pardon and reinstate-
ment and the payment of $4,000 rs
back pay, but upon substitute offered
by Senator Randolph, which gives only
pardon, with reinstatement on the re-
tired list. 1t is unfortunate for Gen.
Porter that this matter, so vital and i'm.
portant TO him, should have been made
a political issue between the two pare
ties in Congress, for there is much less
likelihood of impartial justice being
done him. We have often urged his
pardon on the ground that he was no
more guilty Of wrong than Gen. Nc.
Clellan, whose disobediehce OF the Pres
idents peremptory orders OF August 10,
II, "a and -, are wholly indefensible.
| Porter was made the scape goat, and
now, owing to the political aspect given
his case, it will be hard for him TO Sc
cure relief.
The pension question is becoming a
most serious one to Congress, and how
to best dispose of it perplexes the
minds of no few of the Solons. Mr..
CofFroth has introduced into the House
bill establishing Pension Court, TO
which shall be referred the many cases
rejected by the Pension Office. This is
most judicious and commendable
measure. The Pension Office cannot,
in the nature of things, be otherwise
than technical, hence the need OF
another tribunal empowered to rule
upon the equities OF case. Congress,
| in view Of the immense national busi.
ness before il, is certainly not the place
to hear and adiudicate upon such small
matters As rejected pension cases, since
it is clearly within the province OF an
ordinary Court or Board of Judges TO
perform such duty, and 1t is to be hoped
Mr.. C.'s bill will soon become a law.
Soldiers will then have 4 proper court
of appeal, instead OF the present most
unsatisfactory course of procedure.
The citizens OF the northeastern por.
ton of the city are intensely excited
over a brutal and murderous assault
and rape committed recently on a
young woman by a negro. She was
knocked senseless by blow which
severed one Of her ears, and then had
her person outraged. Her face and
body were covered with bruises; her
throat bore finger-marks of severe chok-
| ing. and so severely injured was che
that her life is not yet fully assured.
Within the last three years several sim
liar outrages have been committed in
this locality, and paturally its citizens
are aroused TO fever heat, and are de.
manding increased protection. Senator
Harris has taken one step in that di.
rection by introducing q bill making
rape punishable with death. The sup.
posed perpetrator in this case has been
arrested, and, though the girl herself
r 4
the circumstantial evidence against him
is so conclusive that, were he not strong.
ly guarded by the police, he would un.
doubtedly be lynched.
The trial Of the Hirth murderers ter.
minated with q verdict of guilty, but.
as changing is played out" here, of
course, they will luxuriate . year or two
in the penitentiary preparatory to re.
q