Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-03-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From onr regular correspondence

From onr regular correspondent.
MARCH 10, 1884.
Congress spent the greater part of
the week debating two important
bills, the outcome of which was that
the Senate voted to improve the navy
by ordering seven new vessels, and
the House discharged its duty to
cattle by passing the pleuro-pneu-
monia bill. The Senate also snub-
bed the Southern cyclone victims
who had asked for federal aid; and
passed the House bill repeating the
test oath, with the stipulation that
no person who had first served in the
United States army and afterwards
in the Confederate, could bring
claims against the government. The
House passed number of private
pension bills, pronounced eulogies
on the late Representative Haskell,
of Kansas, and devoted another day
to debate on the naval appropria-
ton bill. Before passing the latter
bill the Senate had much rambling
talk and some good speeches on the
navy. The discussion wandered
through all the navIes of the globe,
through all our government navy
yards, and even invaded the private
ship-yards on the Delaware, espec-
tally the notorious establishment of
Mr.. Roach, who is building the four
steel cruisers ordered by Congress
in 1882 namely, the Atlanta, Bos-
ton, Chicago and Dolphin. Senator
Beck wanted to see if these vessels
would be able to swim before order
ing more similar to them. In an
swer to the allegation that the money
had been misapplied IN the govern
ment navy-yards, Senator Miller
made the startling announcement
that somebody would have to be
trusted. He deplored the condition
of the American navy, and said it
was not worthsthe name, except in
It's personnel. Another Senator did
not expect these vessels to attack
great iron clads that could defend
themselves against thousand-pound
shot, but from such he thought these
cruisers could easily run away.
Others opposed the bill on the gen.
eral ground that the United States
was not anxious to fight anybody,
and nobody desired to fight her.
Senator Bayard, in an able speech,
said that after waiting eighteen
years, and spending $3.50, 100000
for that purpose, the country was
without navy. He thought there
had been fearful amount of inca
paclty and maladministration within
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 6
great deal of distrust in the head OF
the navy department. He was glat
of the fierce light of public opinion
that heats on executive business, anC
thought public criticism could not b'
too sharp or severe upon questions
of corruption in public transactions
/, He wanted every official in the lanC
to feel that he was closely scanned
by an intelligent people. While ia
woring the bill, he wanted the money
te be expended subject to every wis
: guard that legislation could decree
Congressional funerals have form
;, ed the material for an interesting In
Y vestigation upon which the HOus
o Committee on Accounts have jus
i been engaged. The city undertak
e ers have doubled their regula
e prices for Congressional subjects
T. For instance, embalming is increases
h from S25 to SIS, when the decease
Is is a member or Senator. Then con
ventional sash for the door knob
the casket and all items of expens
attending interment have been in
E. creased in like proportion. The bill
/ under consideration will be an ever
y case cut down to common prices fo
- first-class funerals.
~ The woman's suffrage cOnventio
r, has already come, and opened o
Tuesday morning at Lincoln Hal
ALI the shining lights OF the sistel
hood are here. ready TO tell agai
= the old, old story of thraidom an
y freedom, wrongs and rights.
ca- ~, 81
oss he iOIlR QeldyeQ ueuatc UH VI
wool tariff will take place in Il