The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-03
WAsHrNaroN, March 30, ls74.

to write about. First / thought Of giving
you dose of Congressional investigations;
but as everybody seems specially called
upon to serve them up to long suffering
public, in all sorts of spicy or fat sauces,
l concluded to tell you instead how l spent
last Saturday.
A 'schoolmarm" friend and myself had
determined to make it a day of general
looking around; the first thing we did,
therefore, was to land at the Art Gallery
for look at the new pictures, two in num-
Der, which have been added since our last
visit. One (by Durand, believe repre-
sents "The Edge of the Forest" and is
so true to nature in every particular lex
cept gnats) that one feels tempted to make
dash for the leafy paradise revealed to
ones gaze, and stay there all summer. The
other is by Bierstadt, and is one of his
mountain views, with river, and few
trees overshadowing dark pool in the
foreground. / suppose it is very fine
picture, critics say So but as it awakened
no emotion in particular within either of
us it will never be special object of de-
light to me which fact would, no doubt,
hurt Mr.. Bierstadt's feelings very much
were he aware of it.
After the inspection we went to News
paper Row, for look at the correspon-
dents representing the leading journals of
the day; but as the offices seemed utterly
deserted, we concluded to shed tear or
two over the perfectly reckless manner
with which the fraternity abuse each other
for profit or amusement, as the case
may be.
Not long ago one Of the ilk tried to con-
vert brother-in- pens by making him
swallow his umbrella; and now two more
of the number-Mrs Barnard and Mr..
Hinton-are in disgrace, for preferring
charges against the Commissioner of Pen
sions, Mr. Baker think l mentioned
these charges some time ago, and
will, therefore, not repeat them; but
the defence elected by them from Mr. B.
is so curious that must, perforce, notice
both it and its consequential damages "
Mr.. Baker, in the first place, denies every
charge, IN toto, and then declares that his
accusers are actuated by motives Of re-
venge in thus assailing him He sets
forth that they were in his bureau-the
one for more than year, the other fol-
two years-drawing their pay with beauti
full regularity, without ever performing
the duties of the Office; and that theil
present course is due TO the fact of having
been discharged by him in consequence Of
that neglect Thereupon Mr.. Hinton
made affidavit to the statement that this
sinecure was given him, against his wishes
but with consent Of prominent Republicans
in lieu Of payment for political work done
by him during that time.
That Mr. Barnard was also paid in thai
way for political work, out Of Uncle Sam
pocket has not been sworn to yet bu
these disclosures, as far aS they GO, only
prove the existence of very wrong sys
tenn of providing for party hacks. after all
II Mr.. Baker believed these practices Il
be wrong, why did he not abolish them at
once, instead of waiting years to Top of
branches In my opinion he deserves pun
ishment for upholding the wrong; and
hope that he will be investigated in most
thorough manner But there, I'll have to
stop moralizing or II never get through
the day.
About noon we went 10 the CIpitol for
an hour in the cave of the winds where
on Saturday every born or made orator is
delivered of the speeches he cant get in
edgeways during the other days. Many
members have other fish-in the shape OF
department matters-to fry on that day
but your real devotee sits there, with feet
upon his desk, reading his letters or pa
pers us unconcernedly as you please, while
some oratorical son of thunder flies the
largest size of screaming eagle for his edi
tication and the congressional printer.
Charles A. Eldredge, of Wis, was Civ
ing his views on financial matters while WI
were there, and any unsophisticatedp person
then present must inevitably have though
that every now and then he sounded Xix,
a steam alarm whistle to keep the other
members off his track, he gave such un
common tone to some Of his remarks. q
course the effort of listening to such pro
ceedings is an extremely fatiguing ono
and rows of ",ullud folks can be seen a
any time nodding their approval of tn
speakers sentiments, while sleeping tn
sleep of the just; while others recuperat
by laying in any quantity of lunch at il
tervals.
After duly enjoying the scene there W
started on pilgrimage to the marble viz
tins IN the rotunda, and finally brougE
up before the dying Tecumseh, (no, ne
Shernlan,) whose right arm is Just abor
falling of, and near whom some thougbtfi
genius has placed one of the ugliest, mo.
stomact-trying parodies upon male cleanl
ness, in shape of a spittoon, or box rathe
that ever carpenter nailed together, or ms
used. The reclining figure, which, by Il
way, As perfect specimen of musculi
beauty, is,moreoyer, so frightfully dir
that one unconscicusly longs for the chuck
of soap suds and brush popularity attribr
ted to Gen. Butler while at New Orleau
While bordering on the mysterious wa,
OF our art-less Congressman who spep
thousands uDOn Ruch worES OIL. A. ~