South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-07-21
Letter from Washington.
wAsursaros, D. O.. July Is.

~ WAShiNoAvN, IL Va Juty 40.
The expectation that Congress would
be really to adjourn by the end of this
week was a deIusion, and from pres.
cnt indications il is not unlikely that
the session will be prolonged into Au.
gust. The chief cause OF this proba.
bic extension is the Revenue bill. 1t
10 generally admitted that the Kelley
bill, passed by the House, is a mistake
from every point of view, and many
OF the Republican leaders are convin
ccd that it would be unwisc. If not in
tai, to let this session end without pass.
ing something better. There is, in
the Senate at least, disposition to
pass measure that will effect u sab.
stantial reduction of taxation. But
the great difficulty is to agree upon
the items. There is wide difference
OF opinion rs to the best plnce to begin
and the proper place to leave Off
The amendments 10 the Kelley bill
prepared by the Senate Finance Com
mittee make one step in the right di-
rection, but they simply open the door
far enough for individual Senators to
catch on and attempt to force it wide
open. Propositions are being submit.
ted from every side of the chamber
extending the reduction to nearly ev.
cry taxed article. including tobacco,
whiskey, railroad iron, snuff, cotton
goods, earthen ware. hemp, jute, silks,
wool and WOODEN goods, sugar, spices,
and various kinds of machinery.
Thus the question has drifted from
one OF internal revenue proper to the
tariff and all its kindred issues. What
the end will bo there is now little
chance to make an intelligent guess.
MIR. Kelley is mad because the Senate
won't leave his bill rs lie fixed it, and
especially at the intimation that the
tariff on steel rails is threatened. lie
says that the Republican party in
Pennsylvania is overloaded now with
ditficulties-so called bosses, reform.
ers and other kindred weights, and
interference with the tariff would be
the last straw that would break the
over-burdened back of the suffering
organization. The Louisiana mem.
bers are showing their teeth because
the Senate proposes to reduce tile du.
ty on sugar 25 per cent. and altoge
ther the only unalioyel happiness III
store for our law makers seems TO he
the privilege of driving up among
themselves the Treasury Surplus in
public building and river and harbor
schemes.
Commissioner Marble succeeded in
getting the appropriation to carry on
the Abrldgnent OF Patents, by means
OF Senate amendment, after the
House bad voted il down. 1t wouid
have been a ridiculous thing for Con-
gress to drop this wor', where lis and
throw away the $4,000 already ex.
pended, with the work Of dozen or
more experts for neal " year past.
The thousands of application, for pa
tents that are filed every month form
not one of the least important signs
OF the restless vigor and progress
which the people of America arc dis
playing in science and mechanics.
But willie many of these patents are
Of great practical value, there are
great numbers which would appear
to be visionary, though perhaps in
genIous, TO n practical man. The
'cranks' are almost as numerous as
the sound, practical men in making
applications TO the Patent Office. Not
long ago an inventor, who is now in
Jail on Il charge of fraud connected
with the Peruvian claims, applied for
papers OF protection in connection
with n chemical composition that
| would absorb rs much caloric us might
be required and retain it for twenty
four hours. BY the means of this in.
ventlon lie saw lila way to heat cars
without any chance of danger from
fire, or to allow every man to carry
about his own foot-warmer in his peck.
ct. A more ingenious gentleman has
recently struck upon the idea OF pre-.
serving beef and mutton while the
animals to which these articles belong
are actually i'll life. For instance. he
will inject boric acid into the veins of
Is sheep. The natural circulation Of
the blood will carry the antiscptic
through every part of the body, and
when the unfortunate animal that
thus innocently preserves its own flesh
for future consumption comes under
the care OF the butcher, it will be found
that the mutton will keep perfectly
wholesome for consider able period.
Tho brief speech of ex-senator
Conkling at his home in Utica the o.
Their night, has been the subject OF
considerable interest and comment
here. His criticism Of the lavish ex.
pendituro OF the public moneys is
more marked from the fact that this
expenditure is controlled by the party
with which he has so long been asso :
ciated. Some of the political gossips