The Evening critic., 1882-07-12
CAPITOL Notes.

To-day will end tho great attempted rape on
the United States Treasury under tho guiso
Of q River and Harbor bill, so far as tho
Senate is concerned, for few days at least.
The Mississippi River and Its tributaries have
been made tho pack-horses for every little
minnow creek and goose puddle In the United
States, IN order to get few million dollars for
the River Commission to squander to but little
or no purpose other than to enrlchi a few
friends. The River and Harbor bill has been
loaded down with amendments appropriating
money for some mud creek In nearly every
Congressional district In the United States. The
meritorious measures have had to carry the
Jobs. But for the indomitable perseverance,,
energy and Will OF Senator Ransom, one of tho
n ost needed and most meritorlous improve
ments in the country would have boon left or
the bill, and not dollar appropriated to
even make beginning toward the Potomac
flats, for no other reason than that the Dis.
trict OF Columbia is in nobody's Congressional
District. Unborne generations Will point the
finger OF shame back to this River and Harbor
bill and rejoice that they were not In the land
OF the living when 1t was conceived.
There is n member OF tho House who has
made IL point during the entire present ses-
sion 10 be first at his desk each day. He halls
from Southv estern State, dresses In black,
and has figured very iittle as, as Legislator,
business begins, and, dropping into his chair,
props his feet on his desk, draws his slouch hat
over his eyes aud falls asleep, only to be
aroused when the Speakers gavel falls.
Such n steady sleeper has he been, In
deed, that he is dubbed by the House
pages as the GREAT National congressional
Sleeping Beauty. To day, having evidently
been out all night, this drowsy statesman
81 ored to such an extent as to annoy n nelghbor.
ing member, who was writing letter. The
latter. could not restrain himself, and, leaning
across his desk, caught his slumbering brother
by the nose. The sleeper awoko with n start,
and on being informed OF the figure he cut, he
apologized and hurried OF TO a cloak room.
Tho scene was Witnessed by about a dozen
very much amused spectators.
The Senate Appropriations Committee
met this morning for the purpose of receiving
and considering the report OF Messrs Hale,
committee having IN charge the Naval APP
preparation bill. The committee hope to be
able to report the bill TO the Senate to.mor-
row. The subcommittee made very little
change In the House bill In tho Items OF APP
propriations, but several material moditca
tions have been made In matters OF legislation
Affecting the personnel OF the Navy with a view
tho House bill which, In cutting down the
number OF officers, would for many years COM
pletoly block promotions. Tho subcommittee
propose TO accomplish the desired result by
distributing the prospective reductions among
greater number OF grades, and by making
The greater reductions In the lower grades.
The provisions In the House bill In regard TO
con modores and the graduating midshlpmen
are unchanged, as is also the provision for the
completion OF the monitors. II IL thought that
the full committee VIII mako somo further
changes In thar part OF the bill which pro-
poses legislation.
Republican members are generally of the
opinion that the contested election cases Will
be taken up before adjournment. The House
will have picnic on those cases while tho
senate is discussing the tariff.