The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-19
nnR WASHINGTON LETTER.

I iOurnmeD has beeu sweeping ana WIN
them has gone much that gave our city
a business appearance. The offices and
reading-rooms Of our hotels have been
crowded for several weeks with visitors
and LOBBYISTS. Huge piles OF trunks
blocked up the passage-ways, street cars
and cbariots were packed with those
passing and re-passing to the Capitol,
and on every hand were indications OF
something to be done aud doing Of in
tense interest aud Importance. Yet to-
day nearly all these have disappeared,
and we are jogging along as quietly as
some rural town in harvest time when
| its only visitors, the adjacent farmers,
are kept at home by the necessities Of
the harvest-field. For days the flag
was continually floating over the Capt.
tol, and during the succeeding nights
the brilliant light of the hOlus or Ian
tern which surmounts the dome, showed
US that the war of words below was go
ing on; but now both flag and beacon
are gone, and We realize that many Of
the disgraeeful scenes flowing out from
disordered brains will not be seen here
again till another approaching adjourn
ment forces prolonged sessions, and per
mits drunken and disorderly members
to exhibit themselves in their maudlin-
imities.
The closing scenes of Congress are al
ways intensely interesting. In the at
tempt to concentrate into the two or
three days preceding the hour Of ad-
|journment the accumulated business Of
months, much excitement necessarily
is aroused, not only among the solons,
but in the crowded Hobbies. Instead of
acting upon the appropriation bill dur
ing the winter and spring, Congress in
variably consumes its time i'm windy
debate npon collateral and unimportant
issues, leaving undone until the last
moment that which should be done at
first. Millions of dollars are voted away
in the press and confusion, without any
one on the floor Of the House or Senate
save some interested member who is
acting for the lobby, having the slight
est idea OF knowledge of the matter or
the interests involved. Every conceiv-
able form Of steal is tackled on to these
appropriation bills, until the riders
amount TO more in amount than the
original bill! called for, and then, under
the objection which is raised to their
consideration, the whole omnibus is re-
ferred TO a conference committee Of six
men, three members from each House,
who are expected to reconcile all the
differences in the space OF two or three
hours, aud determine what monies the
country needs, inasmuch as the two
Houses cannot OF themseles. Such
farcial proceedings never lose their nov
city, to us at least, and, notwithstand-
ing we have for many years watched
Congress as it hurriedly prepared foI
departure from the Capitol, the clash
aud din Of factions in the House are as
interesting now as ever in the past. Or
the night of the 18th, Ben Butler gave
US an exhibition of his pluck and teDac
ity Of purpose. a member moved the
> passage of the fisheries award bill, a
which old Ben bristled up in hi
fiercest style, and wanted to make a fiv'
minutes speech in opposition. But th'
House would not consent to hear him
and for five minutes he stood at tn
desk with his arms folded, eoolly listen
ing to the bowling Of a hundred or NOR
{ men at him, who, with cries of ''si
& down." etc, were drowning the calling
and rappings of the Speaker. No
could quiet be restored until the ser
. geant-at-arms, under the Speaker
{ order, stepped up to Mr.. Butler an
caused him TO take his seat.
d is rarely that the Speaker direct
the sergeant-at-Arms to ''do his duty,
s and only once before this session has
II member declined to heed the command
- "out Of order" Whisky, then, wa
the cause, pure obstinaey in this in
stance. This award matter is a bi
y, thorn in every members side, and
~ will be made only from a sense {
IL honor, for we have seen no one VIII
comedies that we owe England even
million, much less five. Years ago "
~ agreed that the United States shoul
" not arbitrate her differences with Ems
e land, inasmnch as the precedent sh
had herself made would far better sui
serve our interests than arbitration
~ hence, our acquiescence in this awai
partakes of the spirit which led Tol
Corwin years ago to make his famol
. Mexican war speech.
At last our government is establishe
for the Senate has confirmed the Pres
: dents nominations for commissions
). aud justices Of the peace, though muC
opposition was invoked by the disa
:. pointed applicants. We feel sure th
the District of Columbia has the be
municipal government in the Unit
States, and that its real interests a
better consulted and cared for by
government officials than those of al
other city or district More watehfC
a. ness can be exercised here than els
~ ~ where; for every citizen can appeal
.h- once TO Congress for an investigate
ng and for redress-an appeal which b
'rs far more weight than resort to the bi