The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-02-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.


Senate has passed some twenty bills,
but the House has accomplished con-
siderably less in this direction. The
several acts repeating the land grants
of certain railroads, the bill for the
relief of Fitz John porter. and a
measure relating to the number and
pay of certain officers and enlisted
men in the volunteer forces, about
Bums up the completed business
There is, however, much work in
prospect. Upon the calender OF the
whole House on the state of the union
there are now pending forty bills,
among which may be numbered the
bill to pension the veterans of the
Mexican war, the measure to elevate
the Department of Agriculture to
the dignity of Cabinet position, the
Dinglcy shipping bill, and the naval
appropriation bill. There are also
about thirty bills upon the calender
of the House, and one hundred and
fifteen on the private calender, to
say nothing of the three or four thou
sand which have been introduced,
are under consideration in Commit
tee, and the myriads of bills now be-
ing perfect in the mental machinery
of our energetic statemen.
There is no lack of bills TO deal with
the financial problems before Con
gress, dut the subject has proved great
in perplexities. Mr.. Potter now mott
fees the committee which has his two
per cent bond bill in hand that he
has decided to modify it SO as to
make the interest rate two and one
half per cent, with a reduction of the
tax on bank circulation to one-half
of one per cent. 1t is thought that
the provisions of this bill would ena-
bic the national banks to continue
business on their present basis for
some years. A number of other
propositions have been made by the
friends of the national banks, and
the opposition to the system has al
most vanished. AS Mr.. Beck said in
the Senate; "The banks are out of
politics; nobody opposed them" and
some judicious and friendly legisla-
ton is expected from Congress on
the matter. 1t seems probable that
bill bearing upon the relation of
funded debt to the national bank
system will pass the Senate. The
peculiar rules of the House render
1t less easy for that body to reach
and pass on the merits of any pro-
position; but strong pressure will be
brought to bear upon the House on
behalf of friendly and sensible bond
bill.
The naval appropriations bill has
at last come up in the House, and
with its consideration Congress be-
gins the session work on the supplies
The appropriations Committee has
been moving very cautiously in its
task of unloading the Treasury of
part of the troublesome surplus rev.
snue, but they have also prepared a
number Of other money bills, and all
show spirit of rigid retrenchment.
The navy bill cuts down the depart
ment estimate more than severn
millions and ignores its recommends
ton foran increase in our fleets. Work
on the monitors is also to be sus-
pended. The debate upon the bill
will probably continue during this
week.
The fight over the forfeiture of
their land grants, which has been
waged so assiduously in Committee
by representatives of the railroads.
has vlslbly subsidized The various
interested corporations seem to have
abandoned any hope of steaming the
adverse tide of sentiment in the
House, and turn their eyes appeal.
ingly towards the senate, where thew
aim to accomplish more favorable
legislation. They flatter the dignity
of the upper house. say it is more
temperate body than the House o.
Representatives, and that it proceed.
more cautiously and judiciously il
disposing of very important matters
1t is evident that the railroads will
wage their great battle in the senate
and if they are defeated there, it i,
animated that the validity of forfeit
ure legislation will be strained to it
utmost tension in the courts.
The somewhat delayed report O
the civil service commission has re
vivsd the question of civil servic,
reform, and there is a GOOD dsal y