, 1877-10-13
DoINcS At THE CAPITAL.
From our Special Correspondent

TO THB EDITOR Of THE DIsPArCH:
The present session of th, Territorial
Legislature promises to be one of unu :
sual brilliancy. as the memory Of the
Oldest settler runs not to time when
90 much talent w:s assembled in this
capital. 1t is remarked by those who
are upon the inside. that the dominant
party is 30 ably represented that it has
not single member in either house
who does not feel amply qualified to
act as its presiding officer, and it has
even been admitted that several of the
Democrats could. if they would. fill the
chairs in . creditable manner. As or
dinarily not ono in hundred good bu-
siness men is sufficiently vorsed in par
liamentary law to guide tho delibera-
tions of town meeting, tho fact as
stated constitutes the highest encomi-
um that could be passed upon the mates
rial of deliberative body. and shows
with what extraordinary care the pres
snt Legislature has been selected. What
is still more remarkable, these gentle-
men are-if such. . thing is possible
even moro distinguished for modesty
than ability.
1t has leaked out, by putting this and
that together. that several of them have
resortedx to deepl 'strstegy. defending
through months of time, to escape the
honors which they had reason to fear
would be thrust upon them. As an ex-
ample of this-I like to see q writer
support bis assertions with facts, even
if be has to invent them,-I will men.
tion the case Of one of the members
from Thurston county, q gentleman
who having probably bottomed more
chairs than any other man N the Terri-
tory. was looked up to by common con.
sent IS the coming Speaker So averse
was he to receiving the honor. that he
began in earnest months ago to hedge
against it-nOt only assuring every body
that he did not want it. but even going
SO far as to solemnly proclaim himself
80 earnestly in favor of civil service re-
form. SO utterly opposed to ne;,otism,
and the prostitution of their influence
by public mon to the service of them-
selves or their friends; that he should
oppose any man, woman or child who
came up from Thurston county to ask
the Legislature for any of its snbordi-
nate positions. Notwithstanding all of
which he barely escaped by joining in. "a
conspiracy 1t the eleventh hour to
thrust one Of the gentlemen from WalIa
Walla into the chair. who was 80 dis
gu,ed to find himself there, that he
Immediately entered NJ ou q counter
strategy to get out of it. by putting mo-
tions backward and affecting chi)dlike
ignorance upon the E,ost common rules
of parliamentary privileges.
1t must be confessed that he plays bis
part ~ none but Q man of bis ability
and presence of mind would play it,
and it is perhaps even true that he has
succeeded so far that some of tho pre-
JUDGED Bourbons would vote to rotate
him under the foolish notion that he is
not the best man tho House could pro>
duce for the place. But fortunately for
the country. deep ~ he ID, he can not
| conceal his great genius and consnm-
mate legislative experience from the far
seeing statesmen who will be held re-
sponsible for the legislation Of tho pres
ent session. Up TO snuff as they are, it
is dou',tful whether he could now do
anything absurd enough to let him out
Of q position for which he is SO emi-
nently qualified. His friends. the great
men of tho party, which includes all of
the federal officials, feel perfectly se>
cure against his efforts to get himself
removed; yet. as he is but 1lortal, and
subject to all the Ills flesh is heir to,
they tremble to contemplate the possi-
biiity that he NAV in an untoward mos
ment be suddenly afflicted like Job of
old. Then who would fill his place.
The extraordinary care which the peo>
pie seem to have taken in the selection
of their representatives is not the only
evidence We have that President Hayes
great policy of civil service reform has
taken deep root in this Territory. The
masses. evidently determined that the
rev olution shall be sweeping and thor
ough; that all offices, from the high
est to the lowest, shall be ably filled,
have devoted Themselves to this busi-
ness with an unanimity. yea! and spirit
of patriotism unparalleled in our his
tory; as consequence of which the
capital, during the week of organiza-
ton. WAS tLronged with a mass of ma>
| terial from all parts of the Territory
such as Rome never buasted of. even in
her paimiest days.
Should any mind entertain the un-
worthy thought that this uprising hes
any spring other than pure, disinter>
ested and undefled public spirit. the
simplest computation in figures will at
once demonstrate the absurdity Of the
suspicion; for. if the facts, as have
gathered them from the best sources, be
half true. the paItry per diem and miles
age of all the positions within the gift
of the Legislature would not pay ones
fifth Of the actual expenses incurred by
those who have generously given their
time and labor solely with the purpose
Of having them worthily filled.
Our people. who are as poor as they
are virtuods and patriotic, were they
aetuated by sordid desires, certainly
seen enough to know that it would have
been easier and more profitable to have
remained at home attending to their
own business.
The organization of the two hoh@es
having finally been completed from his
abundant material, the third house has
gone its way satisfied that the prayers
will be said. the roll called, tho doors
opened and closed, the fires kindled, the
rooms swept and the spittoons emptied
in manner worthy of the great central
idea Of Reform. rejoicing on their way
like ancient. that the country has 80