Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
iFrom Our Regular Cnrrespondent,)

II
from Our Regular Gorrespondentl
Although a large number Of Con-
gressmen attended The horse races
held here during the past week and
many others went on an excursion |
to the battle, fields of Virginia, the
House transacted a good deal of |
business in quiet way. This Dis
trict received some friendly legisla-
ton; the revenue bills Of Messrs.
Hewett, Tucker, and O'Neill were
introduced, and the bill providing
a civil government for Alaska was
passed. Work was completed on
three regular appropriation bills
namely the Consular and Diplo-
matte; the Army and the District
of Columbia. On Saturday the
most important business was the
passage of the bill extending the
term of the Alabama claims COM
mission to Dec. 3rd 'S5. The Sen
ate passed the bill retiring Gen.
Grant on full pay, the House bill
loaning one million dollars to the
New Orleans exposition, and dis
cussed various other measures.
The Mckinley Wallace contested
election case is to come up in the
House to-day, and it is understood
Hon. Frank Hurd, will defend the
claim of Mckinley his greatest OPP
ponent On the Ways and Means
committee, against the claim of
Wallace, the Democratic contestant.
The reason for this is that Mr..
Wallace declared on the stump that
he was better protectionist than
Mr.. Mckinley. Some of the tariff
reformers say they prefer Repub-
lican protectionist to increasing the
element in their own party.
The chairman of the committee
on Coinage was asked if any legis-
lation would be proposed to meet
the threatened financial panic. He
replied, joculary, 81 don't know
what can be done. 1t seems panic
will come no matter what we do.
If we reduce taxation, we are told
that impairs protection, upsets man.
ufacturing interests, and a panic
follows. If we devote the surplus
in the Treasury to paying off the
National debt, we are told that de-
stroys the national banks, contracts
the currency, and produces panic.
We seem to be in fix that legisla-
ton can't help u.s."
When the Diplomatic appropria.
ton was up, and the proposed re-
duction of the salaries of our foreign
representatives was being discussed,
Congressman Curtain made sar-
castle speech. 1t was suggested by
a remark from a member to the
effect that only rich men could af-
ford to accept these missions. The
poor man had no chance abroad.
Mr.. Curtain, said the House was no
place to speak well of wealth, but
an admirable place to defend pow
erty. He was afraid to say any,
thing about riches here, everybody
was so fond of the poor man. He
never before found three hundred
and twenty-five men together who
were SO uniformly of one mind.
II you had not that affection for the
poor man many of you might not
be here" "Yet," continued he,
81, think there are times when we
could use the time of the Republic
and attend to the public interests
quite as well as when we exhaust
our oratory, rhetoric and eloquence
in defending the poor man although
we are his friend"
The old fogy idea, that, as long as
the legislative branch of the gov
eminent is in operation the Execu-
tive should keep it company, has
given place to more free and easy
sort of etiquette, under this admin
istration. The head of the war de-
partment is off to Lake Erie on
fishing frolic, and the head OF the
navy will probably start soon on a
shooting excursion. 1t IS little
early for junketing to begin, but
there is no law. at present by which
any Department can be detained, if
it takes notion to go.
This city of Monuments is about
to have another colossal figure adj
ded to its memorial statues. 1t is
that of Martin Luther, the great re-
former. Since he lived before this
nation was born, it is not strange
that this should be the first statue
of his on this side of the Atlantic.
1t will stand, among the many
equestrian and other military mon
uments in the Capital city, as the
Lutherans, bearing testimony to the
power of moral character. The
bronze figure in flowing clerical
drapery, stands on a pedestal of
granite, and "Martin Luther" is the
only inscription about the monu-
ment. The stars and stripes are
now wound around the statue,
which will be unveiled on Wednes-
day. Many of the clergy and MEN,
bers of that denomination have |
come from all parts of the country |
to be present, and there will be
among the ceremonies, a procession
of German organizations from Bal
timore, Richmond and other places.
Washington, May Goth, 1884.
A delegation Of twenty-one wealthy
Iowa farmers visited Nashville last
week. They are travelling over the
State looking for homes in Tennessee.
They visited Columbia, and were roy
aIly entertained hv the citizens and