The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

-'Ais' 1ayes' Mr.. Hayes said that Mr.
= Murphy had struck the key note in the
reform line, because he preached the
saving grace OfGod; no reform amounted
to anything unless it increased the roll
Of church membership. He also an
proved Mr.. Murphy's system because
he denounced no one, not even the rum
seller; for if men can only be brought
by moral suasion to stop drinking, the
rum-seilers will have to shut up their
shops. Our liquor men have been seri-
ously injured through the onslaught
made by the temperance men since Mr..
Murphy's advent, and complain bitterly
OF dull times The stafi-owneFs- OF cur
Northern Market have rendered their
house to Mr.. Murphy, and he speaks
there tonight. 1t is an immense build
ing, larger than any market-house in
Philadelphia, and will be crowded.
The Senate has devoted the week to
silver. The announcement that Mr..
Blaine was to have the floor yesterday
filed the galleries. Prominent officials
and scores Of members Of the House
were on the floor listening to him, and
at the conclusion of the speech, the ap-
| plause was so great that the chairman
could not repress it without repeated
raps Of his gavel. Mr. Blaine's speech
| is criticised severely by the gold men,
who claim it blows both hot and cold,
and evinces a strong desire to carry
water on both shoulders. An interest
/ ing feature Of the debate on silver is the
disregard Of party. The Democrats,
Bayard, Eaton, and Herman, are squareIy
pitted against Thurman, Beck, and
/ Withers. All are able men, aud though
they stand shoulder to shOulderi in fight
ing the Republicans, yet they deal each
other hard blows on silver.
Pension matters seem likely to get
some favorable treatment, as the House
committee has at last agreed to report
favorably upon several bills, one of
which is giving arrears of pensions.
/ Under existing laws a soldier who has
not applied for pension within five years
of his discharge is barred from pension
for all time prior to the date of allow
ance of bis claim by the pension office.
This proposed bill puts him on the same
footing with those who applied within
the five years, and if passed, will carry
large sums to pensioners. It will be
good way for Uncle sam to spread his
money throughout the country. 1t is
estimated that $50, 100000 will be re-
quired to adjust these arrears, and as
your correspondent will be profted to
the extent Of several thousand dollars
by this law, it would be at least i'm
polite for him to urge his individual
convictions of the improperly of inter-
fering with statutes of limitations. In
these days patriotism does not require
one to urge his views to the damage Of
his exchequer, and while it is best as a
business proposition to say that sleeping
upon ones rights should carry loss of
notes, book accounts, and such matters,
yet let US waive that rule when Uncle
Sans Treasury is the object of attack.
The Mexican war soldiers will soon
have their bill passed, as it stands num-
Der one on the calendar, and can be
called up at any time by its friends as
soon as the House shall have found out
some way of conducting West Point bv
which the pay and emoluments of its
professors will not amount to a greater
sum than that paid to and for the cadets
in all other directions. It seems queer
that the salaries of a few professors
should entail a greater cost to the couu-
try than the monthly salaries, etc, of
over 800 cadets. This was charged upon
West Point in the debate, and not re-
futed or denied by any friend to the bill.
aud, as a consequence, that institution
is catching fits" on all sides.
The Murphy excitement is at last be-
ginning to tell injuriously upon the in
terests of ourliquor-sellers, and, in many
cases, their sales have dwindled down
to nothing. Should his advent not prove
nine days wonder, and our whisky
soakers return to their cups when he is
gone, the great good accomplished by
! him will be undoubted.
Our penny eating-house, which Mrs.
Roberts lately established, is proving a
great blessing, as thousands partake
= daily Of its cheap lunches. 4 piece of
bread aud bowl of good soup is given for
a penny, and there seems no necessity
5 under such circumstances for Congress
to make its usual appropriation of s2O.-
600 for the poor, of which sum, usually.
one dollar went to the INDECENT and two
, to the distributors. In Mrs. Roberts
: dispensary there is nothing to steal OF
enrich any one, hence our eharitably-in.
o elined people are literally sustaining
' her in her most commendable labors.
e The immense number Of petitioner:
e which the female sufFragists are pouring
!. into Congress have produced an effect
4 upon the judiciary committee, whict
j has agreed TO report a Sixteenth Amend
ment by an even vote, though Mr. Har
II ris, of Virginia, the odd absent member
1t will, on his return, vote nay, thus de
feating the measure. Killing it in th'
committee means, of course, eterna
e burial in so far as the forty-ffth Con
gress has the power. FELIX.
Washington, d. c., February s, 1878
sT
Nv reason tells me that men are
scarcely ever responsible for their beliefs