The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

after his tour among the New England
ers. He and his family, upon their re-
turn, Immediately removed their resi-
dence to the Soldiers Home. The
White House is therefore unused, ex-
cept for business purposes, and it is
closed to the visitor, excepting the East
Room, but which, like as when General
Grant was absent at Long Branch, has
had its furniture removed, and presents
merely its mirrors and an occasional
covered chair to the caller, as evidences
of the splendOr when the busy season of
receptions fills it with fashion and
metropolitan magnifcence. Mr.. Hayes
is much gratified with the attentions
recently paid him. 1t is hopeful sign
when politicians, without regard to
party lines, can unite in extending well
come and hospitalities to our President
such as Mr.. Hayes met everywhere dur
ing his trip. The time may yet come
when our Chief Magistrate can go
among the people without being under
the especial protection of party hacks,
who use the occasion as a cheap means
of bringing themselves into public no.
tice. We were particularly struck by
the presence of Mr.. Adams at the Bos-
ton receptions of Mr.. Hayes. 1t has
been only few months since Mr..
Adams penned letter wholly unworthy
statesman, in which he characterized
Mr.. Hayes occupancy of the Presidential
chair as an act of grossest fraud. But
time seems to have mellowed down his
parfisanship, and permitted him to ap-
preciate that individual views may be
sadly at fault, and do rankest injustice
to that which the whole people may
pronounce right. Mr.. Adams may have
concluded, as many others DO, that it is
merely waste of breath to call Mr..
Hayes names, when the error, if there
be error, lies in our defective election
| laws, which should receive immediate
amendment, so as to avoid forever such
contingencies as would have proved dis
astrous to the country last winter and
spring but for the prudent conservation
of many of our Legislators.
Mr.. Adams can cease playing the role
of common scold by seeing that good
laws are enacted by the coming Con-
gress, which will avoid our recent Pres
idential dilemma and take away all
doubt and uncertainty from close elec-
tions, and we trust his presence at Mr..
Hayes receptions may be preliminary
to the use of his undOubted brains in Sc
curing such constitutional and legal
changes as are needed to attain the de-
sired end. Let him come here and So
journ few days with Mr.. Hayes in his
beautiful country residence, the Sol
dier's Home, and join him in wise
counsels for the future.
The Treasury during the past week
has assumed some of the wide-awakt
and "plenty of work" air that was nat.
ural to it during the earlier part of Gen.
eral Grants administration. 1t is al
agreeable change, for it's lonesomenes:
in the absence of so many of its former
employees is particularly noticeable
The economical policy so rigidly en-
| forced during the past few years has haC
its disadvantages felt more by the Treas
ury than by any other of the executiv,
+ departments. The long corridors, one,
] filled with messengers and smart-look
: ing young clerks leisurely strollin!
, along, but on very important publi
, business, of course, are now almost de
. serted, except occasionally an employe
/ hastens through them, afraid the echoe
reused by his own football may form
pretext for his removal.
/ The force now employed in the burea
: of engraving and printing reminds US G
regiments which, in the late war, starte
8 for the battle-fields of the South wit
2 ranks full to overflowing, but which, o
e its return, presented hardly a scant
cOrporaps guard to the anxious friend
n at home. The bureau of engraving an
e printing went into the great battle {
e reduction under Mr.. Sherman, wit
: 1000 names on the rolls, and now, !
h the closing hours of the struggle, 4C
! only remain to tell what has become
: the rest. A few appointments wei
+ made recently, but enough to bring OF
t a regular army of office-seekers, wh
d swarmed for days through the Treas
q ury. Few met with success, as most {
: the vacancies were promised befol
e hand. 1t must be understood that civ
b service does not apply directly to tt
appointing or of discharging of clerk
1t only keeps them in office until til
IS powers that be choose to remove then
t, Many people think that the hor
E. ors bestowed upon General Graz
+, - in England are the highest thi
/, have ever been paid to an Amer
,r can citizen. Commander Hartsen
}! United States navy, in 1854 or
" was sent to England by our goverumel
,r to return one of her vessels which ha
ID been abandoned, and brought to th
ir country and refitted. The Command
entertained the Queen on board IL
ii vessel, and afterwards dined with h.
De and spent night at the palace.
a American beef and English air pro-
~ a powerful stimulant to the speecI
- liz. ,biIifi.S Of Our nv procidant