Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-01-09
WASHINGTON.
The Important Measures to be Con-
sidered by Congress.
The Beautiful Weather.--A Com.ao,
Sense Club---The President Writes
Letter to "Puck"

Sense Club---The President Writes
Letter to "Puck"
1t is well that the present session of
Congress is to be long one; for long
as it is, there is enough pressing
public business on hand to consume
every day of it, without any allow
ance for wastage. Not in the last ten
years has the legislation of a session
been awaited with greater interest
and anxiety than that which centers
in the acts of the present session.
The question of the day is, "What is
Congress going to do about it?" These
are some of the graver questions
which await solution and action; the
silver question; the tariff, of course;
the building of a good navy; the con-
struction of adequate coast defense;
the army bill; the decline in Ameri-
can shipping; the fishery question;
commercial treaties with Mexico.
Spain and other nations; the recipro-
city treaty with Canada; the uniform
bankruptcy bill; the labor problem;
the purity of elections; the Indian
question; the international copyright
law, and the scientific bureaus. If
these questions, all of which are of
grave Importance to the public, re-
ceive the attention they should re-
ceive, the average Congressman will
have very little time to spend in do
ing chores for his constituents.
Senator Manderson's army bill is by
many considered highly important
measure, and one which offers prac-
ticable and common sense solution of
a difficult question. Briefly stated,
it proposes to increase the potential
strength" of the army without great
| ly increasing the cost of its mainten-
ance, by creating a number of "skele-
ton battalions," one or more to each
regiment, each of which shall be fully
organized and differed, but without
more than very small complement
of men. In case of need the ranks
could be filled very quickly by volun-
teers and the strength of the army
very greatly increased without the
friction and loss of time attending the
formation ofnew organizations. Each
regiment, as at present constituted,
would then consist of three "battal-
ions" of 400 men each, more or less;
and each of these battalions would
f be commanded by major and full
complement of experienced officers
below that rank. One battalion OF
, each regiment would have its full
complement of men, but the other
, two would remain "in skeleton
ready to be filled out on short notice
in time of war. The plan, if carried
out, will bring about a goodly mum
! Der of promotions, about 400 in all
o but it is thought that its permanent
value is so great, considering the
9 phenOminally small size of our army
t it will readily be accepted as a happy
# solution of puzzling question.
n To the cautious observer nothing il
1 more surprising than the sublime in
n difference of our wealthy Atlantic
e cities to their utterly defenseless con
v dition. Again and again officers @
S the army and navy, and defense ex
l. perts and critics of all sorts hay,
publicly called attention to the dis
n agreeable fact that the ironclads O
: almost any of the great European
|, powers could steam up within cas-,
/, range of Boston, or New York, O
:, Baltimore, or even Washington, ant
]. lombard them with the utmost safe
:, ty, unless they were promptly ran
n somed. Noless a man than Mr.. Tildel
d is the last to sound the alarm no thi
d subject; but his warning will fall OF
n dull ears like all the rest. Leaving tn
e treasure vaults of the Government il
e this cityand New York quiteout of tn
d question, it is passing strange that tn
g, capitalists and property owners G
d the great sea-board cities, who hav
~ so many hundred millions to lose, d
not take measures for self protection
st In other matters they are the YER
E, essence of enterprise; but in this the
Ie ''lie supinely on their backs, and or
:, peace, DeaceIp Well. if they an,