St. Landry democrat., 1884-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
MARCH nth, 1884.

@dCL6u luOE6. NSuhCo mum D6E OF DlIIt
were passed, most of which, however
were rather unimportant in character
The House of Representative talked
-diffusely and reached but few conclu.
sions. 1t passed but two notable bills
one to pension the Mexican veterans
and another providing ordinance FOL
the completion of the four steel cruisers
ordered by Congress in 1888. The latter
measure occasioned the longest debate
of the week. Hon. S. S.5Cox criticised
the construction of these vessels, and
said the Democrats we're opposed to the
ideas of prodigali5y prevailing on the
other side of the House. They did not
want to keep up Naval establishment,
only one half of which was at sea-
though sometimes the whole thing
seemed to be Eat sea-" He represented
the Navy as an amphibious arrange
meut, one-half of the officers on land,
some at sea, and others between the
two, waiting 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 en-
ploy 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 Alex
:andria at distance ofeight miles. Mr..
Dorsheimer also favored the use Of the
most eficientguns, and hoped no more
mute, inglorious" frigates would be
produced to go to sea.
A well worn subject has been revived
in Mr.. Springer's committee, and some
ghastly secrets are being revealed.
The star route investigation, through
all its various stages has been prolific
of surprises but the stock is not yet ex-
ilausted. Ex-AttorDey General Nc
Veagh, Ex-P 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 President Garfield,
while a Member of the House'of Repre-
knew all about the star route
frauds and used the money of the arch
star route conspirator Dorsey, for cam
paign purposes knowing well from
whence it come. Spencer's testimony
overturns all theories that had been pre-
Viously formed touching his relations
with the defendants, and puts him in a
position directly opposed to the one to
which common rumor had assigned |
him. He says he helped Postmaster
James to get into Garfelds cabinet,
and gave him advice and information
about star routes. How man who had
it in his power to bring the malefactors
TO confusion should have remained ST.
,ent SO long is a mystery. Messrs.
Brewster and Bliss told the public they
wanted to convict Brady and Dorsey,
lut having to choose in what case
against them trial should he had, they
Jelected case in which conviction was
uncertain and improbable, when there
we're other cases in which conviction
vas inevitable.
The Morrison tariff bill was reported
0 the House on Monday, and it is prob
.ble it will be called up for considera-
ion very soon, as it will stand at the
lead of all revenue bills on the House
alendar and will take precedence in
ommittee of the whole over all other
measures except appropriation bills.
1t least one hundred Members have
speeches for the coming de- ]
ate, which will present the great cues s
ion from every possible stand point. ,
The visitors in the galleries will hear
grif to their utter bewilderment. {
Nhe "local industry of Louisiana ia /
eset on every side. The Senate tEreat- c
MS sugar by the Mexican treaty, and a
he House threatens it by the tariff bill.
through one or the other it looks as il c
he country would get what Senator a
'anee calls 'free sweetnin.p +
The Democratic Congressional cam a
aign committee met at the Arlington r
otel this week, and organized for ac- a
We operations, electiDg Senator Cor
ian chairman of both the executive, b
nd Congressional committees.
The majority of the gay world of is
lshion are disposed to abide by the t
of the Lenten season, there p
Y gaining the rest requisite to enable b
lem to indulge in festivities again af- {
II Easter. Even at houses where la j,
les had declared their intention to o
Dntinue regular receptions. few visit t