Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-22
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. March II, Is

the latter class in particular, whose only
encouragement for success centered in the
hope that the bill would be defeated. Gen.
Sherman remained on the floor through
the entire debate, and seemed exceedingly
we'll pleased with the unanimity of the
members on the subject The bill as it
passed the House, provides for board
consisting of one Major General, two Brig
adler Generals, and two Colonies, whose
duties shall be to examine fully into the
military records, qualifications and general
fitness of all officers of the army below the
rank of Brigadier, and to recommend for
appointment, transfer or retention, such as
may be found best fitted for the positions
required of them.
Indian affairs: We seem to be gravitat-
ing by the logic of events toward better
understanding of this grave question. Just
now the public mind is shocked by the
horrid massacre of sick women and chill
dren by Col Baker, in Montana. Sheri-
dams effort to parry the force of Colyer's
letter, has only aggravated the case. Con
gress seems to be alarmed and very sensi-
tive. As yet their ideas are without form.
But motion in the House calling for a
bill from the committee, will bring out all
they know. What they lack can be
readily Supplied by practical men who are
here, and willing to render all possible aid.
We have just learned that the President
and Gen. Sherman, both refuse their sane
ton to the Powder River Exploring Com
pany; and the Secretary of the Interior
refuses to appoint commissioners to nego-
tiate for the removal of the Soshone and
other Indians from the entire river country.
alleging that he has no place to put them,
that they will not be liable to thesame OBJ
jectiOns. \ bill is already prepared by a
man of large personal experiences, and will
be introduced next week. The bill deals
with the whole Indian question, from Alas
ka to Leayenworth. 1t proposes to make
and maintain peace-to make the most Of
the Indians self-supporting within ten
years-to save 500 lives, and 50 600, 00an-
nually over the present method. Itremains
to be seen whether Congress is ready and
willing to deal with the whole subject. and
adopt policy of the highest interest to
white and red men, and forever settle this
vexed question.
Gen. Quesada, the ministerof the Cuban
insurgents is actively engaged in pressing
upon the attention of Congress theproprie-
ty Of at once helping his people out of
their present difficulty. The General says
that his people now have bona tide gov
eminent, with executive, legislative and
judicia! branches properly organized, and
that it has abolished slavery, and in actual
possession of two-thirds of the Island, with
a splendid army in the field. His report
seems almost incredible, but is having the
desired effect Of Fastening a report from
the committee in the House, Of which Gen.
Banks is chairman. The committee, it Is
thought, will in a day or two report in IA
yor of the resolution to declare neutrality
between Spain and Cuba.
The investigation by the military com
mittee Of the sale Of cadetships, is making
quite a stir among class Of fellows hang
ing about Washington, who make it their
business to get acquainted with each new
Member Of Congress As soon as he arrives
in town. When once introduced they aim
to, and very often succeed in, ingratiating
themselves in ths Members favor. The
object of this introduction is to get con-
gressional influence to aid them in lobby
ing bills through Congress; obtaining
clerkships in the departments, influencing
domestic and foreign Presidential appoint
ments; securing government contracts
If the Investigation committee continue
their labors, they will soon find that the
sale Of cadetships is one of the lesser evils
as compared with others where congress
sionaI influence is bartered for money.
A question which is Of great interest to
the inventors and manufacturers of the
country, will be decided in few days by
the Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court OF
the District of Columbia This is the
question of the abandonment of invention.
1t has always been held BY the Patent o.
fee, that an inventor abandoned his inven-
ton if he allowed it to remain for several
years in the Patent Office after rejection
without making any effort to procure a pa
tent Judge Fisher of the District Court
| made decision some months ago, upset
ting the old established practice of the OF
fee, and decided in the Cochran case viz.
tuajly, that an inventor after once filing
an application in the Patent Office never
| abandoned it. Commissioner Fisher of til,
Patent Office has rebelled against this de
cision. In speaking of this subject he says
| Whenever a new machine comes into sue
cessful operation, search is forthwith mad,
by some enterprising Spectator for tn,
earliest and taintest CLEAN Of the principl,
embodied in it, which the shelves of ID,
Patent Office can furnish. fit is a reject
ed application, it is bought for a song, ant
brought forward and pushed for issue. |
| it is patent, it is purchased, and imme
diately surrendered for reissue, with claim
| broad enough to cover the new art, or sue
| cesstul machine In this manner, man
| successful inventors are made tributary t
crude inventions which were made year
ago and never perfected. Manufacturer
are crippled and hampered by exhorbitan
demands for royalty, and the whole paten
system is unsettled. 1t is earnestly hope,
that the decision Of Judge Carter will sci
tie this matter definitely.
The result of the late election in Ne
Hampshire is received with more than OF
binary interest, and IS con ,idered as anotE
er assurance that Grants administratio
is popular.
Lent has for a time practically close
the gay season, and each day may be see
many of those who have engaged and bee
thoroughly engrOssed for the past thre
months in all the frivolities and extravs
gance Washington society, vending the
way to church with prayer book in nan
to ask forgiveness for the past, and ft
grace to do better next winter. Fashion;
BILE people have fashionable places of reso
, according to the season of the year. Sun
: mer time brings the sea shore with its C,
quoting winter time, the city with i
opera, and its elaborate entertainment
and receptions; spring time brings len
: and the church with its long faces, its COZ
trite hearts, and its spirit of DEVOTION
These places Of resort are very necessal
each in its way. The sea shore to bring
health, and build up the constitution, whiC
has been pulled down by dissipation; tt
;, city to parade beauty, accomplishment
e and wealth, to make political combination
. and to aggregate power; the church
: atone for the short comings of the pasta
to ask for better success in the future.
The season here just ended, has been +
: markable for one feature, perfect m
: nomania ofthe people to have their nam
i paraded before the public in the newsp
pers. Every entertainment had to
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