Morris tribune., 1886-01-13
washington, D. c. Jan. 8, 1885.


out any allowance for wastage. Not
In the last ten years has the legisla-
ton of session been awaited with
greater interest and anxiety than that
which centers the acts of the present
session. The question of to day Is,
"What Is Congress- going to do about
it?n These are some of the gravsf
lquestions which await solution ana
action: the silver question; the tarifi,
OF course ;the building ofa good navy;
the construction of adequate coast de-
lenses; the army bill; the decline IN
American shipping; the fishery ques-
ton; commercial treaties with Mexico
Spain and other nations; the reel
procity treaty with Canada; the uni
form bankruptcy bill; the labor prob
lem; the purity of elections; the In
dian question; the international copy
right law. aid the scientific bureaus.
II these questions, all of which are OF
grave Importance to the public, re-
c Give the attention they should re-
ceive, the average Congressman VIII
have very little time to spend in do
ing chores for his constituents.
Senator Manderson's army bill Is
by many considered highly impor-
fant measure and one which offers q
practicable and common sense solu-
ton of difficult question. Briefly
stated, it proposes to increase the "po-
tentlaI strength" of the army, with
out greatly increasing the cost OF its
maintenance, by creating a number
| of skeleton battalions." one or more
to each regiment, each of which shall
be fully organized and differed, but
without more than a very small COM
plement of men. In case of need the
ranks could be filled very quickly by
volunteers, and the strength of the
army very greatly increased without
| the friction and loss of time attending
the formation of new organizations
Each regiment as at present constitu-
ted would then consist of three "bat-
talions" of 400 men each more or less;
and each of these battallions would
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 sin skeleton"
ready to be filled out, will bring about
goodly number of promotions, about
400 in all; but it is thought that its
permanent value is so great, consider
ing the phenominally small size of
our army, 1t will readily be accepted
as happy solution of q puzzling ques-
ton.
To the cautious observer nothing is
more surprising than the sublime in
difference of our wealthy Atlantic
cities to their utterly defensless con-
dition. Again and again officers of
the army and navy, and defense ex-
perts and critics of all sorts have pub
licly called attention to the disagree
able fact that the ironclads of almost |
any of the great European powers
could steam up within easy range of |
Boston, or New York, or Baltimore,
or even Washington, and lombard
them with the utmost safety, unless |
they were promptly ransomed. No
less man than Mr.. Tilden is the last |
to sound the alarm ON this subject;
but his warning will fall on dull ears
like all the the rest. Leaving the |
treasure vaults of the Government in
this city and New York quite out of
the question, it is passing strange that
the capitalists and property owners
of the great sea board cities, who have
so many hundred millions to lose, do
not take measures for self protection.
In other matters they are the very
essence Of enterprise; but in this they
lie supinely on their backs, ana cry
peace, peaceW Well, if they and their
representatives in Congress are salts
fed with the present condition of
things, why should the rest of the
people care? If the day of reckoning
should come this year, and our capt.
tai and our metropolis should be
knocked about the ears of their in
habitants, the weary advocates of the
first class navy and coast defenses
could only say, II told you so. It
serves you right"
The Rev. Mr.. Baker, pastor of st.
Pauls church, has just founded an in
stitution in Georgetown which should
be duplicated about ten thousand
times In the cities and towns of this
country. 1t 10 simply club, formed
for'the purpose of providing whole
some amusement, entertainment and
reading matter for corner loafers, the
habitues of low grog-shops, and other
idlers who are prone to fall into evil
ways and make work for the palice.
The cost of membership is ten cents
per month for men, and three cents
for boys. 1t was organized Nov. 3,
and already has 2l7 members. Nearly |
half the members are there every
night. There are books and periodi-
calls IN plenty, pool table for the
men, hasaEeile table for the boys, |
various other games, &C., lectures
twicela month, but no preaching.
The club has cleared the street corn
ers in the vicinity of those who lately
loafed away their time there, and the
police are having quite an easy time
OF 1t. 1t is doing an incalculable |
amount of good by keeping idle hands
out of mischief, and the philanthropic |
gentlemen who support it have good |
reason to be proud of their work.
Cash subscriptions and donations Of |
books. illustrated papers, magazines, |
&C., may be forwarded to Commander
Allen d. Brown, Secretary and
Treasurer, Georgetown, Dc.