St. Landry democrat., 1884-03-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Cur Regular CORRESPONDENT.
MARCH 4th, 1884.

SEl6 week debatng Two important bills
the outcome of which was that the Sen.
ate voted to improve the Navy by or.
dering seven new vessels, and the
House discharged its duty to cattle by
passing the pleuro- pneumonia bill
The Senate also snubbed the Southern
cyclone victims who had asked for Fed
eFal aid and passed the House bill re
pealing the test oath, with the stipula-
tion that no person who had first served
in the United States Army, and after
wards in the Confederate, could bring
claims against the Government. The
House passed a number of private pen
sion bills, pronounced eulogies on the
late Representative Haskell of Kansas,
and devoted day to debate on the
naval appropriation bill. Before pass
ing the latter bill the Senate had much
rambling talk and some good speeches
on the Navy. The discussion wander
ed through all the Nayies of the globe
through all our Government Navy
yards, and even invaded the private
ship yards on the Delaware, especially
the notorious establishment of Mr..
Roach, who is building the four steel
cruisers ordered by Congress in 1882,
namely: the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
and Dolphin. Senator Beck wanted to
see If these vessels would be able to
swim before ordering more similar to
them. In answer to the allegation that
money had been mis-applied in the
Government Navy yards, Senator Mil
Ter made the startling announcement
that somebody would have to be trust
ed. He deplored the condition of the
American Navy, and said it was not
worth the name except in its personnel.
Another Senator did not expect these
vessels to attack great iron clads that
could defend themselves against thou
sand pound shot, but from such, thought
these cruisers could easily run away.
Others opposed the bill ON the general
ground that tile United States was not
anxious to fight anybody and nobody
desired to fight her. Senator Bayard
in an able speech said after waiting
eighteen years, and spending 1886 5,00O,-
600, for that purpose the country was
without Navy. He thought there had
been a fearful amount of incaracity
and maladministration oniWithin the term
mentioned. He regretted to say what
was unpleasant, and made no charge of
his own, but said the fact could not be
ignored that throughout the country
there was great deal of distrust in the
head of the Navy Department He was
glad Of the fierce light Of public opinion
that heats on executive business, and
thought public criticism could not be
TOO sharp or severe upon questions Of
corruption in public transactions. He
wanted every official in the land to feel
that he was closely scanned by an in
felligent people. While favoring the
bill he wanted the money to be expend-
ed subject to every wise guard that leg
islation could decree.
Congressional funerals have formed :
The material for an interesting investi-
cation upon which the House commits
tee on Accounts have just been engag-
I'd. The city undertakes have doubled
sheir regular prices for Congressional
subjects. For instance embalming is !
increased from $95 to $75, when the {
iecendent is a Member or Senator. !
The conventional sash for the door !
knob, the casket and all items of ex-
oense attending interment have been \
increased in like proportion. The bills I
lnder consideration will be in every !
,ase cut down to common prices for t
irst class funerals. o
The WOmans Suffrageconventio ha. 8
llready come and will open on Tuesday :
morning at Lincoln Hall. All the shin &
ng lights Of the ssisterhood are here, tt
eady to tell again the old, old story Of y
and freedom, wrongs and f
lights. il
The long delayed debate on the wool r
arif will take place in the House to- Il Il
az, and there will be an effort made to il
ave the Senate bill for the erection OF W
Congressional library added to the q q
st Of special orders, also the bill pro- -
ding an annual appropriation for ten "
ears to aid common school education. tr
he special orders already made give is n'
first to the Mexican Yeter- !,
as' Pension bill secondly, to that re- W
owing burdens on the merchant ma &c
3 nd - II. n