Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May "a, 1886.
M THE SoIrTu KENTUCKIAN.

To THE SOUTH KENTUCKIAN:
The Court of Claims is soon to pass
upon an important question. 1t in
wolves the right Of all army officer to
hold civil office under the Govern
ment, and it rises in the case of Gen.
eral Badcau; while on the retired list
he was appointed by PrcsidentGrant,
U. S. Consul at London, and when
relieved from the Office, he took his
place again on the retired list, and
has been drawing the pay of a retired
general until recently, when Second
Auditor Ferris questioned his right
and refused him his pay. The Au-
ditor holds that when he accepted
the office of Consul, he thereby re-
signed his place in the army. Gen.
eral Badeau will be represented be-
fore the court by his cOmrade, Gen.
eral Dan. Sickles, the sturdy old war;
rior. General Sickles is also person.
ally interested because lie was at one
time Minister of Spain, and since
his recall has been drawing his pay
of a retired army officer. The case
is exciting great interest among army
and navy people.
A bill has been introduced in the
Senate authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to erect in this city, at the
Navy Yard, a gun factory for max
ing the heaviest guns adapted to
modern warfare, and the manufac-
ture of gun carriages and ordnance
equipments for the naval service. 1t
is proposed TO make contracts with
responsible manufacturers for the
rough-bored, rough-turned and tenn
pered steel TO be used.
Some time ago the House mapped
out a special order of business for
certain days, with the view of expe-
diting its work, but it is found that
the time devoted to one bill and an
other encroaches SO much OIL the
time set apart for considering other
matters that the whole plan is disor-
gained. The effort now seems to be
to cut down the amount asked for in
every bill so as TO leave enough to
60 all around. Many of the members
are growing loud at the heavy ex-
penditures authorized so far, and are
in no mood to vote for any one meas
ure calling for much money. 1t is
feared that many meritorious meas
ures will go by default or be crippled
by the pruning knife that their OBJ
ject cannot be carried out.
The cry is for longer sessions, so
that the increasing business OF our
growing country can be disposed of.
If the present sessions were only long
enough quarter of century ago 10
properly consider and dispose VI pub
lie business, it stands to reason that
they are entirely too brief for this
age. At any rate that is the way it
strikes the average mind of men of
common sense, having business be-
fore Congress.
During the present session the
Senators have each been enjoying the
services of a private secretary, paid
$500 day by our liberal Treasurer,
but the members of the House are
opposed to such extravaganza, unless
they too can indulge in it. That be-
ing impossible because of the heavy
drain on the bank, the Committee on
Appropriations in the House has
stricken the item for pay of Senate.
rial Secretaries from the bill. The
Senators will therefore probably
have to pay out Of their own pockets
for their amanuenses, or dispense
with these adjuncts.
A good piece Of news to the manu-.
facturers of the country is the in
crease of the force in the Patent OF.
flee by the number of thirty men in
the Examining Corps. The work o.
the office in many divisions has beer
as much as nine, and in some, twelv,
months behind. This has proved a Sc
rlous injury to manufacturers who
have been obliged to withhold from
the trade improvements which it wal
not safe for them to introduce unit
the protection of a patent was OBJ
tanned. Commissioner Montgomer,
has worked hard for this increase O
force, and will receive from inventor
and manufacturers unstinted praise
for his efforts in their behalf. Hi
vigorous administration of the Pat
ent Office is giving very general sat
isfaction, and shows the wisdom O
the selection made for that importan
Bureau Of the Government.
The erection of the Catholic Uni
versity here TO cost several millions
OF dollars is an assured fact at large
The necessary money has been raised
and the plans for a magnificent
building in the Romanisque style OF
architect are under consideration
The new institution is not to be 9
college but a university, modelled af.
ter those Of Cambridge and'Oxford
and in this way IL will not interfere
with any of the existing colleges
Many reasons are given out by the
Catholics for selecting Washington
as the site of the university. Father
Chapelle, leading spirit of the ell
terprise, believes that Washington is
10 be what Boston has claimed fol
herself for good many years-thC
Athens of America. ii.