The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-05-21

lPren our Regular Cerssspondsnt.i
WASHINGTON LETTER. |
WASHINGTON, d. C., May II, 1885.
Some OF the Presidents latest work has
been that Of carefully examining private
pension bills. He was supposed to havel
work enough to do already without al
Stunning any new burdens; but Il seemsI
he feels the necessity Of taking . hand
himself IN the retrenchment campalgnl
which Mr.. Hewitt and some other inhu-
ential Democrats have begun in theI
House Of Representatives. Mr.. Glove
lands predecessors have generally rel
garded life ~ too short TO spend 10 ex-l
amining this class Of legislation With
special care. They have contented
themselves with the assurance that Con-
gress had opportunities for investigating
the claims In the most thorough manner,
and that ii the bills had got through
both Houses there must have been some
merit in them.
A few days since . rumor about the
Capital, to the effect that any further
raids upon the Treasury would be COM
|batted by the Presidents veto, created
sensation. President Cleve-
land 10 the first President, IL is said, who
has undertrken to scrutinize private
bills. But he became alarmed at the
RECKLESS way Congress was rushing the
lpension business. A fortnight ago the
Senate alone. in one day, passed over
$50 such bills, after merely reading their
titles. This hurried and careless way Of
taking money out Of the National Treas
Jury struck the President as eminently
Improper, and be began sending TO the
\ Pension Office for the records in order to
satisfy his mind concerning each Of the
.cases which have thus far come before
him. Ii Ia, perbaps, no more than the
Presidents duty, but II is . duty which
has rarely been performed; and the
question 10, where Mr.. Cleveland is 60
ing to find the time for the pursuit Of bis
excellent policy.
No speech probably has been made du-
ring the present session Of Congress
which has created 80 much of sensa-
tion as the one delivered by Mr.. Hewitt
ON Thurkday, when he protested against
any further raids upon the Treasury un.
der the name OF bounties or other bene-
fits Of that kind TO soldiers of the late
war. Most Of these propositions are Ill
considered, and although for seventy
Eve years to come the South will be
helping to pay pensions to the soldiers
and to the widows Of the soldiers Of The
Il North, q Southern Member cannot raise
IL question as the propriety Of any o.
these grabs, without rendering himeel
liable 10 charges Of disloyalty, fippautly
} and chesply brought.
The reference made by the gentlemen
> from New York to the peculiar position
or Southern Members, who are thus em
2 barrassed when they would like to 0p
! pose these ruinous schemes according 4
their convictions, were especially relc
want and timely. He declared that th'
limit OF endurance on the part Of the tas
paycr had been reached and that the dis
content on account Of excessive taxation
was breaking out ia riots, dynamite, and
: death. "Thoee who wanted to dive
N their hands down into the Treasury,
said he, take advantage Of the delicate
position in which the Southern men arr
} placed, being subject to the charge o
ldisloyalty II they resist the steal" Bu
mo one could make this charge agains
him and he would make the fight.
The great river and harbor gral
which went through the House after |
discussion extending over several weeks
takes from river commissions their pow
, er and gives it TO the Secretary Of War
During the debate an opponent OF tn
! measure severely criticised II. No gran
deur OF place. he said, nor insignidcanc'
of spot was ignored. The bill reaches
T every where. II was not restricted q.
any unpronounceable name, BY any %
security Of situation, or BY any difficult.
: OF access. There was nothing tina
, seemed 10 be too incredible TO be con
taiued in this bill. The disfranchises
; citizens Of the Capital join issue will
: this assertion. however, and a:e indig
naut because an appropriation for th
Potomac Flats was omitted. Because o
. this neglect Of their own fair river the.
! hold the bill 10 too impudent TO 60 un
, rebuked. They contend that its objec
, was not to deepen the channel Of nobl
Istresma, or 10 benefit the property Of th
whole American people. Its real pur
nose was 10 insure the return OF . lot o
. Cougressmen to their seats In the Hous
| ct the coming elections. All that tn
people Of the District Of ColuInbis Or
lallowed 70 do, you know, ts TO pay thei
lshare Of taxes for the improvement
other peoples rivers and harbors, blum
, and hats, creeks and coves. They hav
mo representation in Congress, no votes
They belong to the people Of the Unite'
States, absolutely, and are governed D.
!. them. That 10 why they complain Q
: being ignored when Congress 10 dis
! tributing fifteen millions OF dollars.
G. A. 8.