Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-02-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. %. rs.
The most interesting episode of the
session thus far occurred on the 22nd,
and was most refreshing relief from
the ordinary monOtony Of that chamber.
Under an act OF Congress, each State is
authorized to place in the old Hall Of
Representatives called Memorial
Hall-two statues Of it's deceased citi-
zens Maine recently sent here the sta
tue of Gov. VIM. King, and Mr.. Blaine,
in offering the resolution that it be ac-
cepted, made the customary culogistic
remarks of the deceased citizen so hon
ored by his State. He, however, went a
step beyond the mere culogy, and at
tackled Massachusetts, on her past rec
ord, and charged not only disloyalty at
various times to the general government,
but held her responsible for the Ash
burton treaty of 1912, through which
Maine lost not only large slice of her
domains, but reduction of her power
and prestige, which was assented to at
that time by Maine under moral COM
pulsion that would have to be physical
if tried again. This, of course, brought
the Massachusetts, senators to their feet
in spirited reply, and for an hour or two
we had an exciting encounter. The gal
leries were crowded with enthusiastic
listeners, who applauded every thrust
made by the gladiators, and the skillful
attack and defense of Mr.. Blaine re-
minded us of some of his fights in the
House when he led the Republican for
ces there against the Democrats. This
is his first tournament and it was a
gallant one. We have heretofore re-
garded him as buried so deeply by Sena-'
tOrlal etiquette and frigidities that we
feared nothing ever would occur to res
urrect him. But on this occasion he
showed us his teeth again, and gave us a
refreshing ripple on the placid stream
of Senate legislation In the House
such tits are so common that we often
feel nothing is being done unless some
trio Of members are having an intellect
ual duel in the rough and tumble fash
ion of this one in the Senate, which so
disturbed the chilling Dombyian propri-
cites of that chamber
Mr.. Glover, chairman of the House
investigating committee, which is to
slft the departments, has requested the
President to render assistance in reach
ing persons and papers This, Of course,
was promised, and the guaranty given to
employees and clerks that none should
be discharged in consequence of testify
ing to any fact We have no idea that
anything especial will be unearthed by
the committee, because the frauds have
never become general. Large sums Of
money have been stolen at various
times, and such frauds as the Witousky,
Fort Sugg, and others, have depleted
the Treasury in many thousands of dol
lars, yet i'll each instance one or two
clerks connived with outsiders to de-
fraud, just as the servant may with
burglar in private bank One c. II.
Moulton, clerk in the Cd Auditors Of
flee, years ago colluded with member
of Congress, and the government was
robbed of $4,000 by them through a
fraudulent muster roll. This member
had Congress authorize payment upon
this roll and then through Moulton he
had his fraud perfected into payment
Yet in this and all similar cases, the de-
partment cannot be justly charged with
the fraud. Moulton alone could be held
responsible, for corrupt mcn creep into
every place Of trust He was discharg-
ed and, by the way, is reaping his re
ward at last. He figured largely here
since then as a real estate agent, and
last year ran off with over 500, 900 be-
longing to those who trusted him. Now
he is being brought back as thief from
London, where he was lately arrested,
under reward offered the English de-
tectives for his apprehension, and we
have hopes he will get his just des-
serts
Miss Bertha Won IIillern lately walk
ed 80 miles in 26 hours without sleep,
and taking only about 3 hours of the 26
for rest and refreshment Our Odd
Fellows Hall was fitted up with track
for her, and so short was it that she had
to go around it twenty-four times to
complete mile, thus rendering the feat
all the more difficult We watched it
with intent interest throughout, as it
partOok of the impossible to us, for in
all our campaigning Of the past, we were
proud in walking one third the distance
accomplished by her. She has quick,
nervous, springy step, which enables her
to walk mile in from twelve to fifteen
minutes quite easily, but it seems in
credible to men-who have marched for
weeks at a time, and by dint of hard
work got over 30 miles Of ground-that
light, spare woman, of medium height,
should, with less fatigue, plod on in I'M
yielding, vigorous steps for 80 miles.
She will attempt to walk 100 miles in
q hours, and we doubt not will succeed
She goes on the streets and attends all
public gatherings, attracting universal
attention. FELIX.