The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-10
QUE WASHINGTON LETTER.

the former incumbent, was unceremO-
niously laid on the shelf on Monday
last, and General Field is the wearer of
the official honors Of the position. We
have seen nothing more entertaining
this session than the fight over Folks
successor. Ben Butler moved to elect
General Shields, Of Illinois, and then
argued in his peculiar manner that the
gallant war record of Shields gave him
precedence under the law, and by right
over Field, who had peuured himself
by going with the confederacy after q
West Point education. Tbis onslaught
ON Field OF course invoked hitterest per-
sonal discussion, in which there was a.
much elOquence, sarcasm, wit, and re-
tort As we have ever beard i'm the ball
in one afternoon. Butler, Of course, had
10 bear the brunt. But his mastery OF
tuunt aud satire renders him a match
I for any one in the House in ability to
give "a Roland for an Oliver, aud we
we're gratified with the spectacle of
battle Of the intellects. These contests
T are oases in the desert of legislation, for
they are the only means of relief given
I to the dull monotony Of ordinary bust
ness. Mr.. Polk is Of course exceedingly
sore over this misfortune, and he has
gone into our papers with some crisp
cutting letters, in which he deals quite
freely with such Of his pol.tica breth-
rem as are responsible for his humiiiat-
ing downfall. But he is au "out," aud
that sutlices in Washington TO bury a
politician as eGec+ually as six feet of
earth.
Improvements and embellish of
the grounds and buildings are constantly
made at the Soldiers Home. These,
united with the natural beauty of the
place, render it the most beautiful of all
our resorts. It, Of course, attracts little
public notice because II does not call
upon Congress for its support, being
sustained wholly 10y the assessments
made upon the pay OF all regular army
soldiers Of l2l cents per month. Yet,
were our economical Legislators asked
TO appropriate a few thousands annually
for its repair or Improvement, the howl
Of protest would be alarming, and il
would become at once the subject OF
constant investigation. As il is, "a pres
ident can leave the miasmatic White
House and reside at the Home as quietly,
yet as grandiy, as Queen Victoria at
Windsor Castle. Mrs. Hayes is having
the cottage that she occupied last sea-
son out at Soldiers Home relitted and
frightened up ia very pretty style for
another summers residence, aud will.
as soon as Lent is over aud our warm
May sunshine has put the grounds ami
gardens into their brightest trim, re-
move there with all her family. OF
course she will take Mr. Hayes with
her, for she undoubtedly thinks he is
like the ancient woman's man-a good
thing in the family, even if his political
brethren are somewhat inclined iowa ri
excluding him from their fold The
Soldiers Home is a grand place for d
presidential residence, aud it is fitting
indeed that Mr. Hayes makes it his
home during our summer heats, rather
than some ocean resort with its aceu-
mutation Of evils which curse all So
, called fashionable resorts.
Our school authorities have been
, greatly excited over the strong prospect
{ before them Of having to close all our
= public schools at the end Of April, and
J have been busy devisiug ways and
e means for their continuance. Cougres.
- has drawn a check on the disbursement
e of moneys by our commissioners thai
! acts somewhat similar to that Law
b which bars Chicago authorities from
. expeuding beyond a stated amount
e and the consequence is, 10 provision il
T. made forexigencies. Owing to the gen
= eral delinquency in payment Of taxe
e our treasury has become depleted, an,
q our school board find themselves neces
i sarily short. We have one peculia
i feature here which does not obtain else
a where. One-half the pupils of our pub
- lie schools are children Of nonresident
e who are in government employ, an,
few Of them pay any taxes. The burdel
b Of their support falls, necessarily, on tn
= oue-half Of our community, and yet
}, the most intense grumbler over an,
e failure to build costly school-houses
s. furnish constant teachers, etc, is b
n who is here temporarily, and who boast
y that he votes and owns property else
u where.
d The Senate judiciary committed
funding bill was passed by the Senat
on Tuesday evening, after prolonge
and able discussion, and by decisiv
4 vote Of forty to nineteen. Some seven
e teen Senators were absent, but had eacl
is one been present and voted no, the re
" suit would have been the same, mas
% much as the forty voters were master
q Of the situation. The lobby gave u
a their fight after a test vote on Nj
" Blaine's proposed amendment, thong
- it had prepared dozen others all look
ing to the same end-the protection
the Union Pacific interests, rather tha
= those Of the government The bill
a now before the House, which, we pr,
a diet, will make short work Of 1t, as thel
: is undoubtedly strong feeling anon
" the members adverse to the Union Pi
cific schemes and its prince Of lobby
ID lists, Jay Gould. Party lines were il
u nored in this important debate and vot
= . f.f lre- ~.