Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-03-05
from Our II Rular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March Is,

tFrom Our RulAr correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March LIST, 1884.
The democratic house OF representatives
could not we'll furnish moro satisfactory
campaign capital for the republican party
than by maintaining the even tenor Of its
present idle way. Nor is there any reason
to suppose it will depart from the beaten
path it has followed SO closely for the past
two months. The business of the session
is in a discreditablc state of backwardness.
1t lags-it stands still. There is lack OF
unanimity, want of cohesion, and gen.
eral appearance of hesitating uncertainty
in the ranks of the majority. Time is
wasted in frivolous talk, and digressions
arc made from the legitimate subject on
every possible occasion. This disposition
has been markedly noticeable during the
past few days, which have been devoted to
the discussion of the bill for a "bureau OF
animal industry" to prevent the spread of
contagious diseases among cattle. Mem.
bers have been diverted in various direc-
lions; some, by very circuitous paths into
fields of partisan attack, while others have
INDUCED in personal disccurtesies or an
Interchange of pleasantries.
Ore of the first moves made in the
senate this week was to appropriate
SlOC 900 for the relief of the sufferers by
be recent tornado in the southern states
Senators Ransom, Brown and Pugh
thought it case clearly calling for the
inlerpostion of congress. but Senator
Harris said he would not vote dollar oul
of the treasury for any such purpose, as he
believed he had no constitutional power to
do so, upon which Senator Brown inquired
if there was any distinction between this
case and that of the sufferers by The
western floods. The senate committee on
appropriations is considering the matter
now. The senate passed the Mcpherson
banking bill and has begun the debate on
the proposed reconstruction OF the navy
Inc Dill dulHOlIAoo tuo S~'
of eleven steel cruisers, rams and torpedo
boats The necessity for an Improvement
in the navy WAS ably shown by Senators
Butler and Hale. who presented the int iii
cient character of our naval power when
com pared with the formidable establish
ments of other great nations. Others are
ready TO oppose the bill on the grount
that American commerce needs no protec
lion and that while navy would be al
ornamental attachment to the government
, It would be useless further than 10 float III
stars and stripes in foreign waters ant
give naval off GERS opportunities Tor Euro
pean travel.
j.. Among new measures offered in tn
house this week was one for the establish
ment of preparatory school Mt yves
Point for candidates seeking admission
( TO the military &C ,demy. These are to be
known as provisional cadets, and are tt
he given such instruction and military
raining as will qualify them to fill vacan
cies occurring in the corps OF cadets
: Another bill provides for the relief o
women who gave their services in military
hospitals during the late war. And ON
PROPOSES n constitutional amendmen
making the presidential term six years
and rendering the president ineligible Il
re.lec,ion for the next succeeding term
1t provides for a direct vote for president
in each state, abolshes the electoral
COLLEGE. and fixes the term Of representa-
ives in congress at three years. INT
chairman of the ways and means commit
lee reported resolution which wa
adopted, directing the secretary OF In
treasury TO inform the house how muel
money is now in the treasury Of the Unite
states, under what provisions OF law 1t
retained there, and how much can at thi
Tune be applied TO the liquidation of tina
: TT of the national debt now payable with
out embarrassing the department. Thesen
ate passed the House bill repeating the ties
oath, after modifying it by an amendmen
that no person who held commission il
| the United States army before the war
and was afterwards eng tged in the servic
of the so called confederate states, shall b
appointed to any position in the army Oh
navy of the United States.
The next convention TO be held in thi
, city will be by The lively association o
woman suffraeisls and will begin en- tn
fourth of March. The delegates an
speakers, who have already begun II
make their appearance, say they expect II
10 n little something with congress, ant
think the senate committee on sufirag
will make II report favorable to them
The great leader of the suffragis,s, Susa
B. Anthony, who has spent the winter i
:, Washington, says they expect TO have
: very enthusiastic convention, and will
ea.t accomplish great deal in the wa
= of agitation and education.
OPERATION OF THE CORPORATION Ia.