Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-03-15

tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.)
The Upper House of Congress
talked less than usual during the
week but acted more. Quite a
number of bills were passed, most
of which, however, were rather I'M
important in character. The House
of Representatives talked difiusely
and reached but few conclusions.
1t passed but two notable bills one
to pension the Mexican veterans,
and another providing ordinance
for the completion OF the four steel
cruisers ordered by Congress in 'S3.
The latter measure occasioned the
longest debate of the week. Hon.
s. s. Cox criticised the construction
of these vessels. and said the DEM
ocrats were opposed to the ideas of
prodigality prevailing on the other
side of the House. They did not
want to keep up Naval establish
ment, Only one half of which was
at sea-though sometimes the
whole thing seemed to be sat sea-"
He represented the Navy as an
amphibious arrangement, one half
of the officers on land, some at sea,
and others between the two, wait
ing orders. He did not like to be
asked to keep up the pay roll OF
such a Navy, and build vessels for
it, which could not protect our
ports and harbors. Mr.. Caldwell
SAID that Navy-yards were not used
now to equip men-of-war to defend
the national honor, but to employ
voters to maintain the Republican
party in power. Another member
wanted such guns made for the
new cruisers as those used recently
by the British vessels when they
succeeded in demolishing the
Egyptian city of Alexandria at a
distance of eight miles. Mr.. Dorsh-
elmer also favored the use of the
most efficient guns, and hoped no
more "mute, inglorious" frigates
would be produced to go to sea.
A well worn subject has been re-
vived in Mr.. Springer's committee.
and some CHASTITY secrets are being
revealed. The star route investiga-
ton, through all its various stages
has been prolific of surprises but
the stock is not yet exhausted.
Ex-Attorney General McVeagh,
Ex-Postmaster General James, and
Ex-senator Spencer have each been
asked to testify as to what they
knew about the star routes, and it
has come to light that the late Pres
ident Garfield, while member OF
the House of Representatives knew
all about the star route frauds and
used the money of the arch star
route conspirator Dorsey, for cam
paign purposes knowing well
whence it came. Spencer's testi-
mony overturns all theories that
had been previously formed touch
ing his relations with the defend
ants. and puts him in position di-
rectly opposed to the one to which
common rumor had assigned him.
He says he helped Postmaster
James to get into Garfields cabinet,
and gave him advice and informa-
ton about star routes. How man
who had it in his power to bring
the malefactors to confusion should
have remained silent so long is a
mystery. Messrs Brewster and
Bliss told the public they wanted to
convict Brady and Dorsey, but hav-
ing to choose in what case against
them trial should be had, they Sc
lected case in which conviction
was uncertain and improbable,
when there were other cases in
which conviction was inevitable.
The Morrison tariff bill was re-
ported to the House on Monday,
and it is probable 1t will be called
up for consideration very soon, as it
will stand at the head of all reve-
nue. bills on the House calendar and
will take precedence in committee
of the whole over all other meas
ures except appropriation bills. AT
least one hundred members have
prepared speeches for the coming
debate, which will present the
question from every possible stand
point. The visitors in the galleries
will herr tariff to their utter bewil-
derment. The ''local industry" of
Louisiaa is beset on every side. The
Senate threatens sugar by the Mex
lean treaty, and the House threat
ems it by the tariff bill. Through
one or the other it looks as if the
country would get what Senator
Vance calls "free Sweetnin."
The Democratic Congressional
campaign committee met at the
Arlington hotel this week, and or
ganized for active operations, cleo
ting Senator Gnran chairman of
both tie executive, and Congress
ional committees.
The majority of the gay world
of fashion are disposed to abide by
the restrictions of the Lenten seas
on, thereby gaining the rest requis-
lite to enable them to indulge in fes-
tivities again after Easter. Even
at houses where ladies had declared
their intention to continue regular
receptions, few visitors disturb the
solitary grandeur of the hostess.
Public Schools.
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