St. Landry democrat., 1884-05-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
MAY, goth 1884.

Although large number of Congress
men attended the horse races held here
during the past week, and many others
went on an excursion to the battle-felds
of Virginia, the House transacted good
deal of business in a quiet way. This
District received some friendly legisla-
ation the revenue bills of Messrs. Hew-
lit, Tucker, and O'Neill were introduce
ed, and the bill providing civil gov
ernment for Alaska was passed. Work
was completed on three regular appro-
priation bills, namely the Consular
and Diplomatic, the Army and the Dis
Erict of Columbia. On Saturday the
most important business was the pas
sage of the bill extending the term of
the Alabama claims commission to Dec
3rd 1885. The Senate 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 McKin-
ley his greatest opponent 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 bet
ter pretectionist than Mr.. Mckinley.
Some Of the Tariff Teformers say they
prefer Republican protectionist to in
creasing the element in their own party.
The chairman of the committee on
Coinage was asked if any legislation
would be proposed to meet the threat
eued financial panic. He replied, jocu-
aarly, 81 don't know what can be done.
It seems panic will come no matter
what we do. If we reduce taxation, we
are told that impairs protection, upsets
manufacturing interests, and a panic
follows. five devote the surplus in the
Treasury to paying off the National
debt, we are told that destroys the ma
tional banks, contracts the currency,
snd produces panic. We seem to be
IN fix that legislation can't help us"
When the Diplomatic appropriation
sEas up, and the proposed reduction of
Ghe salaries of our foreign representa-
Gives was being discussed, Congressman
Curtin made sarcastic speech. 1t was
suggested by a remark from a Member
TO the effect that only rich men could
afford to accept these missions. The
poor man had no chance abroad. Mr.
Curtin, said the House was no place to
speak well Of wealth, but an admirable
place to defend poverty. He was afraid
TO say anything 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. If you had
not that affection for the poor man
dnany of you might not be here. Yet, J"
he," l think there are times
when we could use the time of the Re-
sDublic and attend to the public interests
suite as we'll as when we exhaust our
,0ratory, rhetoric and eloquence in de-
Tending the poor man although we are
9lis friend.n
The old fogy idea, that, as long as the
Legislative branch of the Government
is in operation the Executive should
keep it company, has given place to a
more free and easy sort of etiquette,
tander this Administration. The Head
0f the War department is off to Lake
Erie on a fishing frolic, and the Head of
she Navy will probably start soon on a
shooting excursion It is little early
for junketing to begin, but there is no
law at present by which any Depart
ment can be detained, if it takes a no.
zion to co.
This city Of Monuments is about to
have another colossal figure added to
its memorial statutes. Its thatof Mar
Gin Luther, the great reformer. Since
he lived before this nation was born, it
liz not strange that this should be the
first statue of his ON this side of the At
Rautic. It will stand, among the many
and other military monu-
Enents in the Capital city, as the memo
rial of the Lutherans, bearing testimo
ny TO the power of moral character.
The bronze figure in fowings clerical
drapery, stands on pedestal of granite,
and Martin Luther is the only inscrip-
Gi0n about the monument. The stars
and stripes are now wound around the
statue, which will be unveiled on
w Eednesday. Many of the clergy and
members of that denomination have