Year: 1878

From our Special Correspondent.1
.. WARRINGTON, D. c., Jan. 80, 1878.


It really looks now as If the Democratic
majority In the House would control the
House proceedings. There are indications
tnat en- the questions Of any reduction, re-
form in the civil, military and naval ser
vice, and in the enforcement of economy in
all Government affairs, there will be har-
mouy in the majority. The army will be
reduced to 10000 men and the exorbitant
pay Of the higher grades of military officers
will cut down, Al the same time, and at
a slight total cost, the pay Of non-commis-
stoned officers will probably be increased,
Asthe army is now organized, 1t is machine
for sitting ambition. The places to which
men may aspire who enlist in the regular
army-the positions of non-commissioned
oficers-give little better pay than that of
private, while the commissioned officer, to
whose grade our enlisted man can never
rise though he might do so in Russia or in
any other uurepublicsn country-is paid an
extravagant salary. The result is that, In
time of peace, the respectable citizen shuns
the army as he would the penitentiary.


Anything that is done to correct this evil
will be benefit to the army and the
country, -..------- -...


Though only 4S out of 65 senators voted
for the Matthews silver resolution, lacking
one Of two'thirds vote, and six of the
absentees were paired, and the sentiments
of other Senators absent when the vote was
announced are not positively known, the
friends of reconciliation express no doubt
whatever that reconciliation bill will
pass the Senate, and, If vetoed, receive
two.thirds vote. In the House such
majority is assured, the vote on the resolus
tion yesterday being 1877 for and 70 against


Sincere pleasure will be felt by nearly
every one because of the fact that the
members of the Louisiana Returning Board
are on trial for some of the crimes by which
the vote Of Louisiana was stolen year ago.
There should be ne hesitation in trying to
punish these men. To be sure the people
of Louisiana have secured justice so far as
her own State government is concerned
Mr.. Hayes having graciously given up such
plunder as he did not need-but that does
not excuse the Williams who perpetrated the
robbery. There should be no relenting'
The prosecution should not be dropped, as
has been intimated would be the case, but
a :" necessary witness" has left the State.
The witness can be found, and If he is not
found, the country will be confirmed in
belief that the bargains of which we hear
so much were not the patriotic and unselish
measures taken by honest men for the good
of the country.


In the House yesterday a resolution was
adopted to the effect that this Congress VIII
vote no money for objects OF no national
necessity. This was intended as blow to
the Texas Pacific, but many advocates of
Government aid to that road voted for the
resolution. Their idea Is that the road is
national necessity and that the resolution is
a sort Of negative endorsement of the pro-
J ,ct OF giving It government aid. The same
sort of resolution was passed at several
previous sessions. but has never, 50 far % I
know, saved the government anyway.


Yesterday the Supreme Court rendered
decision of considerable interest. During
war the Confederate Government coniscated
the stock of q chartered company at
Charleston, 8. c., and sold It. The party
owning the stock at the time of its conasca.
tion claims It, on the ground that all acts
done in aid Of the rebellion were illegal and
of no validity. The Supreme Court su..
tains that view Of the case. ..a.


Francis Murphy is speaking here nightly /
to all who can crowd into our largest hall,
and says that his reception Is warmer than
he expected. The temperance revival here
of late has been wonderful, and Murphy |
will find It hard to do better than our own |
workers have done. 0Da HILTON.


The HERALD can be purchased at Joseph
Hart's cigar store, Eighth and Pine streets.