The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

10 EDITOR OF TIL y hM -NNkAhM W ~
The most interesting episode Of the
session thus far occurred on the 22d ult.,
and was a most refreshing relief from
the ordinary monotony of that cham
ber. Under an act Of Congress each
State is authorized to place in the old
hall Of Representatives, now called
Memorial Hall, two statues Of its de-
ceased citizens. Maine recently sent
here the statue Of Governor VIM. King,
and Mr. Blaine, in offering the resolu-
tion that it be accepted, made the GUS
tomary eulOgistic remarks of the de-
ceased citizen so honOred by this State.
He, however, went a step beyond the
mere eulogy, and attacked Massachu-
setts upon her past record, and charged
not only disloyalty at various times to
the general government, but held her
responsible for the AshburtOn treaty of
1912, through which Maine lost not only
large slice of her dOmainss but redue-
tion Of power aud prestige which was
assented to at that time by Maine un-
der a moral compulsion that would have
to be physical if tried again. This, Of
course, brought the Massachusetts Sen
ators to their feet in spirited reply, and
for an hour OF two We had an exciting
encounter. The galleries were crowded
with enthusiastic listeners, who ap-
plauded every thrust made by the gladi-
ators, and the skillful attack and de-
fense Of Mr.. Blaine reminded US of some
of his fights in the House when he led
the Republican forces there against the
I Democrats. This is his first tourna-
ment, and it was a gallant one. We
have heretofore regarded him as buried
so deeply by Senatorial etiquette and
/ frigidities that we feared nothing ever
would occur to resurreet him. But on
/ this occasion he showed us his teeth
again, and gave US a refreshing ripple
on the placid stream Of Senate legisla-
tion. In the House such tilts are so
common that we often feel nothing is
/ being done unless some trio of members
are having an intellectual duel in the
rough and tumble fashion of this one in
the Senate, which so disturbed the
chilling Dombeyian proprieties Of that
chamber.
Mr.. Glover, chairman Of the House
investigating committee which is to sifl
the departments, has requested the Pres.
ident to render assistance in reaching
persons and papers. This, Of course
was promised, and the guarantee giver
to employees and clerks that no on,
should be discharged in consequence o
testifying to any fact. We have no ide;
that anything especial will be unearthe'
by the committee, because the fraud
have never become general. Largu
sums Of money have been stolen at vari
Gus times, and such frauds as th'
Witousky, Fort Sugg, and others, hav,
depleted the Treasury in many Thousand
dollars. Yet in each instance one o
two clerks counived with outsiders L
! defraud, just as the servant may will
a burglar in a private bank. One c. II
Moulton, a clerk in the second auditor
Office years ago, colluded with a mem
Der Of Congress, and the governmen
was robbed Of $50, 600 by them through
fraudulent muster roll. This membe
had Congress authorize payment upol
this roll, and then through MOulton h
had his fraud perfected into payment
/ Yet in this and all similar cases the de
partment cannot be justly charged witt
the fraud. Moulton alone could be he'll
! responsible, for corrupt men creep int
' every place Of trust. He was discharge
and, by the way, is reaping his rewar
at last. He figured largely here sine
! then as a real estate agent, and last yea
q ran off with over $4,000 belonging t
7 those who trusted him. Now he is be
ing brought back as a thief from Lon
: don, where he was lately arrested unde
o a reward offered the English detective
I for his apprehension, and we have hope
u he will get his just deserts.
. Miss Bertha Van Hillern lately wake
r eighty-nine miles in twenty-six boul
It without sleep, and taking only abol
! three hours of the twenty-six for re-
: and refreshment. Our Odd Fellow
II Hall was fitted up with a track for he
e aud so short was it, that she had to 8
, around it twenty-four times to compile
It a mile, thus rendering the feat all ii
more difficult We watched it with il
seinterest throughout, as it partoOk
= the impossible to US, for in all our can
Ie paigning Of the past We were proud
IT walking one-third the distance accor
'r plished by her. She has quick, ne
y vous, springy step, which enables b
n to walk mile in from twelve to fifte'
,e minutes quite easily, but it seems i
l. credible to men who have marched
q weeks at a time, and by dint OF harde
r. work got over thirty miles of grOun
es that a slight, spare woman of mediu
ig height should, with less fatigue, plod
- in unyielding, vigorous steps for eight
ct nine miles. She will attempt to wa
IN one hundred miles in twenty-eig
IL hours, and we doubt not will .succet
ot She goes on the streets and attends
lis public gatherings, attracting univeri
re attention. FELIX
=, Washington, d. c., January 25, IS
RS
re "Silence in the court ~ thundere,
oil Kentucky judge, the other day. "Ha
st. a-dozen men have been convicted
ed ready without the court having be
en- able to hear a word Of the testimony