Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-05-30
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON May IL, 1874.

AAf -
WASHINGTON May IL, 1874.
A Peculiar Congress-Eulogies upon Sumner
The Centennial Appropriation-Indian,
n Legislative Appropriation Bills-Alas.
ka Mail Route-Daily Mail on the Sound
Salt Lake. M Northern Pacific Railroad
Bills-Adjournment.
This is u peculiar Congress in many
respects. Some call it the transitional
Congress, some the regulating Congress,
some the investigating Congress, some
the cropping Congress, some the econo-
mic Congress, and SO on. 1t has now
been in session five months, and passed
two measures Of Importance: one, sur
rendering the salary grab, and the
other, a measure designed to initiate the
currency, but whetherit would or would
not do that, neither it's friends or ene-
mics exactly knew. Morton and Conk-
ling, II for and the other against,
thought it would infate-Box and Cox
we beg pardon, Cox and Knox thought
it would contract, but it makes no diff
ference now, for Grant came the Apo
ma-tOx on it, and that ends it.
%EULoGIsTIC.
Monday was the day assigned for the
eulogies upon Sumner in both houses.
AS l could not be in both places, I Sc
lected the Senate as likely to be of
most interest, and by going early, Sc
cured a comfortable seat on one of the
steps of the gallery, and stayed through
tho proceedings. There was consider
able sameness of thought in the several
discourses, but the tributes while just
and complimentary, and eulogistic, were
wanting in warmth, and depth Of feel
ing. They sounded too much like a sort
of owning up to Summers greatness,
with mental reservations of considera-
BILE size. Thurman and Anthony deliv-
cred the most symmetrical orations, and
the most sympathetic, except in the lat
ter quality, perhaps Mr.. Pratt was
equal. Thurman endeavored to be just
to Summers opinions, but evidently re-
garded him as a very unsound constitu-
tional lawyer, and an unsafe guide in law
or politics. For ability, purity, tenac-
ity, kindness, and all gentlemanly quail
tiles, he was generous in praise, candid
in statement, and did himself honor, as
he usually does.
Boutwell, was sepulchral, and some
what bitter on the enemies of the dead
Senator. Morrill, of Vermont was Or
nate, lengthy, aud tiresome, Sargent
was poetical, Spencer very good. The
new Senator from New Hampshire,
Wadleigh, made a brief speech, but he
is by no means to be compared to the
late Senator Patterson in oratorical
ability. Anthony of Rhode Island,
was the only Senator who spoke with
out notes.
There were present on the floor Min
lister Schneck, Ben Wade, and Vice
President Wilson, and in the mem
bers' families gallery, was the Senate
rial form, and dignifed presence of
Fred. Douglass, as Senatorial in bear
ing, rs the best of them, and more truly
an orator, than any man who brought
his %eloquence to trial on this occasion.
The liberal party which received such
an impetus at the hands of Mr.. Sum-
ner, did not take a part in the exer
cises. Schurz had gone to Boston, and
Fenton and Upton sat and listened.
Conklin and Morton were not present.
On the whole the scene was not so
grandly impressive as it would have, had
the Senate still retained two or three
men of the Sumner pattern, or had
Schurz and Conklin been there to do
their part, in what was intended to be
IN august occasion. During the exer-
else, the marble bust of Sumner stood
on a pedestal near the door to the right
of the chair, drapped in mourning. 1t
is an excellent representation of the
features of Charles Sumner.
In the House, the principal speech
was made by Z. A. Hoar, and was a
finer effort thar any madein the Senate
tits said, due party no doubt to the fact
that Mr.. Hoar was more nearly and
more persistently in sympathy with the
ideas of the dead statement. Mr.. Mes
NTH of Oregon, and Mr.. Lamar of
Miss, spoke of Mr.. Sumner as could
hardly have been expected from such
intense opponents, giving him credit for
courage, and moral principle of the
highest order. The House speeches
seem to be better as q whole than the
Senate.
APPROPRIATIONS.
On Saturday last the House consid-
cred and passed the Indian A%ppropria-
ton Bill. Your Delegate succeeded in
obtaining an additional agent and the
sum of $4,000 for schools on the Che
halls and Colville reservations. The
deficiency bill provides for the payment
among other deficiencies of the sum of
81 1896 80 to the members of your last
Assembly, and the Sundry Civil Appro-
priation Bill appropriates 81, 271 for the
Washington Territory ~Penitentiary, but
its consideration has not yet been
reached.
In the River and Harbor Bill, which
passed the House yesterday, are several
items of interest to your Territory.
Among these are: An appropriation of