The Russellville Democrat., 1882-02-23


 Congress is finally doing some thing in the way Of business. The three per cent. bond measure, which has been under discussion in the Senate, now stands fair chance of defeat. The democratic Senators are, with two or three exceptions against it. So, also, are Senators Plumb, WIndom, and one or two others on the Republican side. The Democrats favor three per cent. bond with the provisions of the Vest amendment, but the Sherman bill does not reach the banks and is a measure of but little consequence. The House is very slow in getting at the new apportionment, but it IS ap- parent that the membership of that body will be increased. The ma jority of the Census Committee ia vor 320 as the number of members. and on this basis the representation of twenty one states will be increas- ed and that of five states decreased. The present number of Representa-, tives is 293 and it is very much to be regretted that no plan for a re- duction finds favor among the mem bers. Outsiders who know any thing about it all agree that the best interests ef the country would be served by decrease, The House as now constituted is often little better than mob. To add 27 members is to add to the inefficiency confusion and -productivcness of the body which holds the purse. strings of the Nation. Nobody knows this better than the members themselves, but they are 10th to de crease their own chances of re. cleo, tion hy reducing the number of dls tricts in their States. They hope rather to increase them by adding on a district or two.
 Pension matters have attracted some attention lately. The Prcsi- dent sent to Congress this week q communication the for Commissioner relative to the amount of appropria- tion required annually for the next twenty five years. Upon this basis assumed, Mir. Dudley estimates the amount for that period, ending with 1906, at $I, ,347, 7,65l, ,593, the annual appropriation, gradually less, from $62, 100000 this year to $23,000,0O0 at the end of the twenty five years. Congressman Farwell, of Illinois, proposes plan for the detection oi frauds upon the Pension Bureau which consists of publishing the names of pensioners and posting them in some conspicuous place in each district. The Commissioner of Pensions proposes to ferret out in another way those who may be fraudulently on the rolls. His idea is to employ tour or five hundred clerks for tive or three years, and set them to work investigating into the history of each pensioner. It Is possible that Congress may adopt this suggestion. It possesses the great merit of calling for q big ap. propriation of $S00,000 per year, and of providing places for a good many more political favontes. Mir Far wells method, howevor, is cheaper and better in every way. The bogus pensioners are pretty certain to be detected as soon as their names are printed. Publication would have the effect of enlisting every citizen in the service of the Government as detective to ascertain who are drawing money illegally from the Treasury.
 Ono of the largest enterprises asking the attention of Congress is Capt. Eads' inter oceanic ship rail way across the Isthmus. have not examined into the merits of his plan but if is practicable 1t would possess one advantage over the DeLesseps' scheme in that it contemplates pla- cling tue enterprise wholly under American control. Speaking about big things; l saw yesterday one ol the brass medals gotten up for the famous 306 who stood by Grant al Chicago. It weighs about pound