The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
10 THE EDITOR or tn !, Ew NORTHWEST:
| IL Is some time now since banks here
nave turned from the even tenor Of
Ihelr way, to indulge in the little
amusement OF exciting depositors by
busting up" \ freak Of that kind.
however, has just been performed bv Fl
Z. Ohley & Co., brokers, aud set the
town in quite little ripple OF commo-
ton, and hungry newspaper men were
active indeed after the crumbs Of par
ticulars. The facts reveal no serious
damage to any one but the owners Of
the bank, it not having much of de-
posit business. Business in general is
in no way disturbed, nor does any other
bank suffer. Some few individuals
were unfortunate enough to have their
money in ''safe keeping" in the detunct
vaults, but not to seriously damage any
of them. The immediate cause Of the
failure is attributed to the District 3-65
bonds, in which the deceased had been
dealing largely. Their first invest
ment, when the issue was yet new,
was quite successful, and embOldened to
more extended investment. In the
course of time, complications arising
involving legal points, the bonds began
TO get in i'll repute, depressing their
market value. Against this the bank
fought with an energy approaching
suspicion Of heroism, appealing to the
government authorities to recognizes
them in a manner favorable to restore
public confidence But to no avail,
and, in consequence, martyrdom is
suffered, and corpse is offeIed up for
the mournful rites of creditors.
The temperance man and the moralist
are again supplied with theme, while
wife aud children sit in dreary home,
weeping over the sad misfortune of
their natural protector. Mr.. W. V. :.
Wilson was the principal teller in the
National Bank Redemption Agency,
and had been such for sixteen years.
OF late he had grown very dissipated, so
far disqualifying him for his position
that Treasurer Gifllan was compelled
to discharge him. Up to this time
nothing had ever occurred to reflect
against his integrity, and when his
dismissal took place, no suspicion Of
dishonesty was attached to him. He
appeared in the office the day following,
manifesting much uueasiness, and
finally confessed to having used $3.50 OF
the treasury funds to replace money
which had been stolen from him, and,
in return, To replace which he had sent
home for money. aud was expecting it
when dismissed. The belief seems
general that the man did not intend
dishonesty, although led by bad habits
into serious complications. Much sym
pathy is felt for the young wife aud
family, who are of high standing, and,
for a domestic circle, unusually inter-
esting aud much attached to the un-
fortunate man.
The yellSw fever relief committee, of
this city, is fairly under way, aud doing
a noble work. Their efforts are spread
ing out in almost every direction.
Among them is that Of a mammoth
concert, participated in 10y all the
church choirs and quartette clubs Of the
. city. The grand tournament, to take
place soon, is also under its auspices, to
which may be added pieRics, excuI-
siOns, balls, games, etc. Envelopes
have been delivered TO every house in
; the city, requesting contributions to be
. enclosed aud returned to the committee.
? The thrilling report has reached Us
= from Memphis that children desert
Z their parents, and parents their chill
, dreu; husbands desert their wives, but
q there has not been an instance known
4 yet where wife has deserted her hus-
= band during the terrors of the scourge.
Men go about thinking of this, more
= profoundly impressed than by all
that has ever been written Of the fidelity
h Of women.
1t is a law few attempt to gainsay,
. that fat people have a natural faculty
II for taking on the adipOse, while the
y lean grow more spare at the slightest
n pretense. We have had an illustration
. Of this in the case of our District At
N torney and our faithful police. The
= former held a fat Office. He smiled
/ upon the commissioners, and they, IL
!. return, smiled back, with the sub
=, stautial wrinkle added to it ofincreasing
his salary from $1,000 10 5000 pc
year. For a long time the police hav
:. been struggling manfully against
threatened decrease Of their meage
pay. They got up petition something
less than mile long, enrolling most q
the best citizens of the city, praying
that their pay be not reduced, as it wa.
a, now barely enough to meet the de
lh mands of an economical family. In th,
~ face of this, however, It was clipped
40 and, as it thus appears, was added on {,
en Mr.. District Attorney. The gentleman
RI does not occupy very enviabIe po
i,n in sition just now, while the cIamor lasts
ns for it does howl most vigorously abou
-al both his and the commissioners ears.
d. FELIX.
,e' Washington, D. c., September 20, 1875
'ofI
sh The nation that produces the mos
N marriages is fascination; and the nailol ..ll
nts that produces the most divorces Is sAi'eA
led alton.
~ Vrtst ,,o,,ap would be the nos'