Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 5, 1886.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 8, 1886.
To THE SOUTH KENTUCKIAN
The Committees in Congress arr
moving slowly and cautiously with
the appropriation bills. Nearly foul
months of the present session have
passed with but three of the appro.
priation bills disposed Of by the
House-the Indian, the Pension and
the Agricultural bills.
The interesting subject of debate in
the house the past week has been the
bill providing for submitting labor
strikes to arbitration. Mr.. 0'Neil, of
Missouri, the chairman ofthe commit
tee had charge of the bill. lie intro
duced the subject with few remarks,
reserving the remainder of his time
and yielding TO other members.
Weaver, of Iowa, spoke strongly in
behalf of the bill. Reid, of Maine,
believed that the laboring men could
and would regulate their difficulties
without the Intervention Of Congress.
Hammond, of Georgia, thought the
question was too serious and impor-
tant to be hurried through without
mature consideration. Daniel, OF
Virginia, thought the bill so crude
in form that its provisions would fail
of the object in view. Reagan, oil
Texas, was in hearty sympathy with
the persons intended TO be benefited
by the bill but believed its provisions
to be unconstitutional. Mr.. Bowman
and Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, ia.
vored the bill and will vote for it, but
the latter believes that it will not
give the relief desired. The DISPOSE.
ton seems to be 10 load the bill down
with amendments so that If it passes
at all it will be very different from
the bill reported by the committee.
The above were the principal speak
ers, and the bill will be further con-
sidered another day.
In the Senate LOgan's Army Bill
was the most discussed subject. The
speeches on it have been many and
heated. Some Senators strongly in.
timated that Logan's Presidential
aspirations induced him to introduce
the bills
But the trouble appears to be moi
envy between the Presidential candi-
dates, as some have been so unkind as
to insinuate, but antagonism to Lo-
gan because of his active canvass fol-
the confirmation of Dement,, which
was successful, notwithstanding the
action of the Committee OH Public
Lands-adverse to the confirmation.
Teller and Logan especially were ex-
tremely personal and severe in their
structures upon each other.
The Republicans just now are any
thing but harmonious in the Senate.
Two caucases have been held, and nc
action yet decided on as TO future
action on the adoption of the Edmunds
resolutions. There is a wide differ
ence of opinion as to what their
adoption meant. A large number OF
the Senators now favor confirmation,
except where the deposed are ex- I'm
ion soldiers removed without cause.
Some decision will doubtless soon be
reached, and supreme harmony will
again exist.
Judging from what is gathered
about the Capitol and Treasury the
bill to create a Commission OH Ar
chitecture is meeting with considers
BILE opposition from the architects OF
the country. The spirit of the bill is
to create commission of three, who
shall be chosen after a competitive ex-
animation, and who are to decide OH
the plans for Government buildings
throughout the whole country. The
chief of the commission is to receive
a salary of 5000 per annum. Two
objections to the bill are, first, that
architects competent to fill the posi-
lions will not give six months of their
time in preparing competitive plans,
unless they are paid for the plans,
and secondly, that the skill and tai
ent of the standard that should be re-
quired cannot be had for less than
from $4,000 to $4,000 salary per an
mum. AT present the selection of the
plans is practically in the hands of
the Secretary and the architect of the
Treasury, only one of whom is spec
tally trained for the duties, and he
usually selected through political in
fuence rather than fitness for the po-
sition.
Speaking of the Treasury reminds
me that numerous removals are be-
Ing made every week. Since Secre-
tary Manning's illness great many
dismissals have been made, and the
clerks are again shaking in their
shoes in anticipation of losing their
places. 1t looks as if the powers
next in authority to the Secretary be-
lleve that Democrats should have
the offices and propose to see that
they get them.
The sick members of the Presidents
Cabinet appear to be slowly recover
ing. 1t is generally conceded that
secretary Manning will not resume
his duties as head of the Trooourv