Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-02-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

LDlTOR lNTELLlGENCER:-It has been
an interesting week at the national
capital. Congress has settled down
to hard work, and has probably accom-
plished more during the week than
during any preceding week of the ses-
sion. The Fitz John Porter bill occu-
pied much of the time of tee house DUR
ing the early part of the week, and on
Thursday the bill was passed by a vote
of III to lib. Not one democratic vote
was cast in the negative, and but six
teen republican votes were cast in the
affirmative. The house has thus de-
clared that Gen. Porter was free from
blame when, at the second battle of
Bull Run, in 1862, he disobeyed the
orders of a superior officer, and that
the decision of the court martial which
found him guilty was wrong. The at
tendance of members during the debate
was unusually large, and but few seats
were vacant. Although the speeches
were for the most part tiresome, the
interest taken by the general public
in the proceedings, was manifest by
the crowed galleries. The chair plac-
ed little restraint upon the occupants
of the galleries, who frequently gave
vent to applause in appreciation of the
telling points in the arguments of the
several speakers.
The debate in the senate upon the
Blair Educational Bill was continued
during the week. Nearly every sena-
tor has taken part in the discussion of
the bill, and so great a number of
amendments have been offered that it
is probable that when a vote is finally
taken the provisions of the bill will
have been SO changed that it will be
hardly recognized by it's author.
Wa has at last been openly declared
between the republican senator's and
the administration, upon the question
of removals. Senator Edmunds on
Thursday last, having obtained the in
dorsement of his proposed report from
judiciary committee, on the refusal of
the attorney general to transmit GER
tain papers relating to the Duskin case,
submitted the report to the senate, but
il was agreed that it should not be call
ed up for action in the senate until Mon
day next, in order that tho democratic
minority could have time to formulate
their reply. The resolutions are three
in number. The first declares the &C
ton of the attorney general in reins-
ing to furnish Information when called
for by the senate, was reprehensible,
The second declares that where the
senate calls for information is not fur
nished, the senate will not confirm the
appOintee. And the third condemns
the disregard ofthe law which requires
that in selections for Office, preference
be given to h%onOrably discharged Union
soldiers and sailors.
Among the bills introduced in the
senate on Thursday last, Was one by
Mr.. Hoar providing for the erection OF
a suitable monument at Washington to
General U. s. Grant. The bill appro-
PIRATES $4,000 for the purpose and
provides for a commission of three
senator's and three members of the
house of representatives to contract for
the monument. An amendment offer
ed by Mr.. Logan, increasing the
amount appropriated to $25O,O0O, was
afterward adopted.
The eighteenth annual convention of
the National Suffrage Association, was
held in this city during the week. In
the absence of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, the president of the associa-
tion,. the meetings were presided over
by Miss Susan B. Anthony. The meet
ings were well attended, the audience
being composed principally of women,
many OF whom were young and pretty.
Two hundred and ten of the employees
of the Washington navy yard were
suspended on Wednesday, owing to a
lack of appropriation to longer continue
them at work. The suspensions were
made pending action by congress Oh
the deficiency appropriation bill for
the navy.
Among the Indians now in the city,
who have visited Washington to pro-
test against the policy of having lands
in ~severalty forced upon them, is 8
delegation of six Usage Indians. The
wealth of the members of this tribe is
said to be higher, per capita, than the
members of any community in the
world. They have in the U. S. Urea.
sury about 81 900 900. The Indians Oh
Thursday last had aninterview WITHHOLD.
Casey, the superintendent of Indian
schools. They stated that they want
ed female seminary established, and
also said that they wanted Catholic
teachers.
DR.. Thomas Taylor of the depart
ment of agriculture, recently announc-
ed at a meeting of microscopes, that
he had discovered a certain test by
which butter could in all cases be dis
tinguished from oleomargerine and
other limitations. The doctor claimed
that butter placed beneath the micro
scope showed round crystals marked
by a plain cross, which could be found
nowhere else. DR.. Taylor's discovery
was heralded far and wide, and ha:
been generally adopted. 1t is now
announced that Prof. Weber, of the
State University at Columbus, Ohio
has discovered hat by mixing a LITTLE
water and salt with oleomargerine
causes the bogus butter to develop
under the microscope exactly sucl
crystals as are found in the legitimat,
article. This discovery DESTROYS III,
usefulness of DR.. Taylor's discovery
and strengthens the position ofoleomar
gerine manufacturers.
Both houses of congress adjourned
on Friday until after Washington!
birthday. II.