Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-06-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
JUNE IL, 1884.

Ii congress SnOulu aOJOurn Oh lne
last day of this month, as the House
of Representatives has signifed de-
sire to do, only eleven more working
days would remain of the present
session. But the record of the past
week does not indicate an early ad-
journment. In view of the immense
amount of business that remains to
be transacted, the thought of an ear
ly departure is out of the question.
Important measures were advanced
verv little in either House. The
Senate cannot get along with the
Mexican Pension bill. After spend
ing three days debate upon it in open
session, and two days in secret ses-
sion, the Republican side of the cham
Der making campaign speeches on
amendments which they proposed,
they then went into caucus, and tried
to get plank or two of the Chicago
platform into it. OF course their
aim is to defeat the bill, but they
would have it appear that they are
so very friendly to the soldiers Of
the late war that they cannot sup
port it unless it is so amended as to
include all ex-union soldiers in its
benefioient provisins. Senator Sauls-
bury does not approve Of the meas
ure as a whole, but from far differ
ent standpoint. One objection urged
by HIM was that 1T proposes to pen
sion men who are holding seats in
the two Houses of Congress with the
money wruDg from the poor toiler as
taxes. The Senator from Delaware
does not speak often, but he talks
very plainly when once melted. He
| informed his associates that they
fattered themselves that they were
great men, Senators of the United
States who made lawsfor the people
but behind them was another power
greater than themselves that controll-
ed their action if not their judge
ment. He alluded to the pension
agents who sit around the Capitol
and issue their circulars and DEGREES
and send up petitions for pensions.
The great and mighty statesmen
bowed to these behests for fear of
losing political status at home. He
thought if Senators were not human
beings, controlled by motives of self
interest, and if the soldiers. had no
votes, there would be no such bills
pending before the National legisla-
ture. He respected as much as any
man the claims of the war marked
veteran, but did not approve OF
squandering money, which people
who were suffering for the necessa-
ries of life paid into the public Treas
ury, to, pension able bodied men.
He said he knew the man who ven
lures opposition to any bill that pro-
poses to pension any body, takes the
risk of being censured and denOunc-
ed for it. He was willing to take
each mans censure and reserve his
judgement. He wanted a consist
ent record and would vote for the
reduction of taxation whenever he
could, but would not vote to increase
the expenses of the Government and
thereby keep up taxes.
The Senate added $500, 900, to the
House Consular and Diplomatic bill,
thus protracting the session with an
other deadlock contest. 1t has also
debated claim of Georgia for mon
ey expended by that State for the
common defense 1777, but the Re-
publican Senators are not willing to
do justice of any kind to a Southern
State. Senator Morgan in advocat-
ing the claim said, they ought to be
able to consider this question aside
from all "reminiscences of the war,
and as lawyers, as construers and
expounders of the Constitution, say
that this debt is, or is not legal.
F"Can the Senate of the United
States asked he twenty years af'
ter the war, permit itself to be IN.
fuenced by acrimonious feeling sc
as to blind its judgment upon pure,
dry question of law"
Afterfou days argument the House
passed the River and HarbOr bill
the Uennepin canal scheme being
stricken out, and then discussed th'
Senates amendment to the Post-offic'
appropriation.
The necessity for dislodging flon
power a party which, according t.
no less an authority than the lat
Chairman of the Republican Nationa
Committee, has long outliyed and
abused its mission, is imperative
And the Democratic party seems t.
be in the face of an opportunity
which it cannot be doubted 1t vii
use wisely.
Now that Mr.. Tllden's noble docu
ment of declination has simpIIfie'
the situation, by removing all doubt
as to his position, greater activit,,
will be shown in pushing the variou
candidates aud in scrutinizing tn
merits of possible ones.
1t is not generally known tina
money was freely used at the recen
Chicago convention, nor that Blain
: was in constant communication, b,