The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

to consist of five of the Judges of the
Supreme Court, five Senators, and five
members of Congress, is the general
topic of conversation in political circles.
There is much doubt expressed as to the
probability of the agreement being |
adopted by the Senate. But it seems
probable that the House will concur in |
the recommendation and it is possible
that the Senate may do the same, and
thereby means of settling the vexed |
question amieably be obtained. Time |
is passing, and something must be |
agreed upon soon, and those who hope |
to see a peaceful solution of the diff
Guilty would be glad to see this plan
adopted, if it will accomplish the desired
end. Angry and acrimonious debate
will, however, take place in both Houses
upon it.
The attitude of affairs in Louisiana
has caused no little debate here. or
course representatives of the two parties
take opposite views and hold to them
very tenaciously. The Democrats con-
denim President Grant for interfering,
while the Republicans sustain his ac-
tions, and express themselves dissatis-
fed that he did notdirect General Anger
to disperse the Nichols government. Of
course both sides look upon Louisiana
affairs more earnestly than they other
wise would did they not see in their So
luton something which may bear upon
the settlement of the Presidential ques-
ton.
If the two Houses of Congress con-
tinue theirinvestigations,t they will need
to provide themselves with Bastile, in
which to confine their political prison
oners. The House has already confined
Mr. Barnes and Mr.. Orton, and is about
to place Mr.. VIM. E. Chandler in dur
ance vile for declining to answer the
question whether he sent or received
kilograms while in Florida witnessing
the counting of the electoral vote, relat-
ing to money and troops to be forwarded
to secure the State to the Republicans.
Ex-Governor Edison, D. Morgan, Au-
gustus Schell, and others, directors OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company,
are here in attendance upon the Senate
committee, ard if they refuse to surren-
der the political kilograms, there seems
! to be prospect that they will also be-
come prisoners.
, The President has written to the
Grand Duke Alexis, who is at Norfolk
with the Russian fleet, asking when it
will be convenient for him to be enter
tained at the White House. The Grand
D Duke was general favorite in society
. while visiting here five years since, and
E without doubt the young ladies of the
q Capital will lose their heads and hearts
as soon as he arrives. The presence oi
D this feet in our waters at this time is
suggestive of what the Russian bear is
:. thinking about. 1t is probable that the
= Gar expects war to ensue in the East
y before the ice melts in the waters of the
j Russian Empire, and for this reason be
D has placed his feet where he can avail
+ himself of its services in such event.
a The ice in the Potomac broke up las
y evening, doing much damage all along
: the wharves, and threatening the Ions
d bridge, which may yet give way if an
Is other gorge of ice comes down the river
l. The ice, near the chain bridge, is pileC
J. up thirty feet in height, and if the pres
ent temperature remains, it will proba
10 oily come down the river before night.
g The funeral OF Admiral Smith take
d place from st. Johns Episcopal Church
- in this city, to-day. The Admiral wa
about eighty-six years of age, and tn
in oldest officer in the United States navy
le having entered the service in 1909 ant
" remained in it continually until hi
is death, although for the past eight o
y nine years he had been on the retireu
Of list.
= The advocates of the right of womel
20 to vote, hold office, etc., have been il
hi convention here during the week. Ap
IS parently, nothing new has been devel
oped. The usual petitions were agai
=, prepared for submission to Congress
IN where they will probably slumber, wit
rn others of similar import, until anothe
st year rolls round, and they are once NOR
= brought to light by another convention
IN These petitions, which will be presente
Id to Congress to-day, bear about seve
rs thousand signatures. The petition ask
y, for the passage of a Sixteenth Amend
er ment to the Constitution, comforting tn
Id right of suffrage upon women.
u? General MacDougall having decline
- y, the appointment of Commissioner {
ii. Patents, the President has nominate
tn Mr.. Ellis Spear, who was for some year
ly Deputy Commissioner. This appoint
ment, it is believed, will give geners
satisfaction to persons having bushes
D. with the Office, for Mr.. Spear brings t
the position full knowledge of the a
i'll fairs of the Office.
IS The May-Bennett duel is attractin
considerable attention. Mr.. May, hay
re ing formerly resided in Washington an
IN being generally acquainted here, muc
B., interest has been manifested in relatio
er to his affair with Mr.. Bennett. All tt
e. rumors relating to Mr.. Mays being ser
i'll ously wounded were set at rest yeste
p, day by his appearance upon the stre'