Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-13
WASHINGTON Letter.

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(FRoM Our REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. }
December 18th, 1888.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy comes into port several days after
the Presidents Message and the other
departmental returns have been pub
lished. There is fitness in this delay.
perhaps, as it is significant of the de-
biliated condition of the Marine estab-
tishment. In looking it over one Is
forced to the conclusion that the best
thing to do with the American war
navy is to sink it, and either do with
out any or build an entirely new line
of ships. Our American Navy Yards
are mere "reminiscences. At Washing.
ton there are several Monitors lying in
the stream they run them up to fresh
water to avoid the barnacles-but
though they are manned by as brave a
set of sailorsoldiers as ever walked a
deck, they are of no use, and never will
be, for modern artillery would pound
them to splinters in no time. But
they lie on the peaceful waters of the
Potomac, resting after their brief lives
of fiery activity, and reminding one of
old Sea Captains. Their bronzed and
battered appearance inspires reverence
rather than fear.
I was talking with sensible woman
the other day, about naval affairs. 1t
is little out of the order of things for
woman to be posted about the Navy.
But this lady, whose husband is con.
frmed invalid, is his agent in securing
the adoption, by the Government Of his
inventions, which relate to DETECTING
steel armor for war ships. She said
that the idea of ever building land de-
lenses for our immense coast is absurd.
The Government, in her opinion, ought
to rely on sea going armored ships, for
defense to harbors. These are portable
Notifications. The invader can be met
at the entrance to our harbors, and the
defense offered would be equal, or bet
ter, than any land constructions could
give. 1t seems to me she is right.
The lady Irefer to is generally demon
mated a lobbyist. She goes before the
Naval Committees and argues the alb
struse problems of warfare with the
knowledge of a veteran, and the zeal of
woman. Her husband is man Of
great talent, but he has not been out of
bed for ten long years. He passes his
time inventing, his special study being
in the direction of naval Inventions
His devoted wife is his able assistant
outside, working together they have
acquired wealth.
An old neighbor of Hon. Tom Ochil-
tree of Texas, complains that honors
bestowed upon the red haired 70
mancist of the Rio Grande, have spoil
ed him. Ochiltree is very ordinary
man to tell the plain fact, but he &C
quired a national reputation as an ex-
pert triher with truth, and some Tex
ans, who like vigorous exaggerators,
sent him to Congress in a sort of broad
joke, as a reward for his talents.
otis an onery looking crowd whis-
pered half intoxicated habitue of the
gallery to your Correspondent, as they
sat looking down on the new House.
Some of the gallery tribe are fixtures.
They come to their places almost as
regular as the Speaker himself. They
pretend 70 know what is going on and
have the same sort of ownership as 81.
las Wegg possessed of the Mansion OPP
posite his book stall. This old relic of
life has seen many Con-
crosses in session, but he impaired the
that this crowd didn't seem
to belong here. ats tidal wave Con-
gress" he murmured but here the onion
lunch which the old vagabond had
about him overpowered me and l NOV.
ed,
1t is evident that Congress will not
be fully organized and get to work un-
til long after the holidays. Then the
next thing we shall hear of will be that
the approach of hot weather demands
a hasty passage of the appropriation
bills and an adjournment. Next SEES
sion there will be no task of organiza-
ton, it is true, but Christmas will be
an excuse for an adjournment soon af-
ter meeting, so that there will be scarce
ly two months work done. The neces-
sity for each new Congress to come to-
gether on the 9Th of March, if only to
the prelimiuaries Of electing
officers, settling disputed elections, and
getting the Committees in operation,
becomes more and more urgent as the
country enlarges, and the subjects de-
legislation become more num-