The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-01
ouR WASHINGTON LETTBR.

tion mournful with tales Of injustice
and complaints, ceased on last Monday
as dream of hope in the formal in
stallment of the new District commits
siOners, and to-day we are moving
along serene and smiling, without the
slightest disposition at fault-fnding OF
discomfort, or whatsoever has the slight
est tendency 10 mar the sense of the
rich possession. And every one seems
to think il duty and privilege to feel
It as such just now, and leave all the
quarreling and dissatisfaction and harsh
words for a later day, when the unfold
ing Of the new scheme shall develop
real or imagined defects There is
much cause in our changed government
for rejoicing, though we eoncede high
est merit to our departed commission
ers. They did their best for US, but the
laws under which they acted were not
broad aud liberal enough to admit that
improvement Of our streets, and in the
workings generally Of our municipal af-
fairs which the times demand. Now
we have much additional legislation,
under which the United States contrib
utes its quota, and if we can't better our
condition through the sweeping i'm
provements Of new men and new blood,
financially speaking, we certainly shall
be surprised.
The Secret Service Department made
a haul Of new counterfeit silver coin re-
Gently, and accompany the fact with a
statement that this branch of the nefa-
farious art is becoming alarming in its
magnitude. Any expert with a five
dollar outfit is amply equipped for the
business. To make the matter worse,
so perfect is the work now done, that it
is difficult to detect the spurious from
the genuine. The sound, appearance,
hardness, and acid test are the same,
/ leaving that Of weight alone by which
to detect them. With this knowledge,
there are but few persons who will not
cling closer to the inimitable money de-
vices of our world-renOwned bureau of
engraving and printing. Without ex-
travagant expectation, Americans can
look forward for a recall at no distant
day of all the old issue of national bank
notes and greenbacks to be replaced by
a series far superior. The new building
for printing our money is fast assuming
an identity, for active steps are beinl
.aEau 20 oorr,r,.ro, ,-o-i- ,,r,,,, - no I;
is the intention Of the Secretary of th,
Treasury to get it ready for occupation
at the earliest moment practicable.
Madam Gossip has run riot here ai
well as elsewhere, and she apparently
never suffers for lack of material t
work upon. There was great scanda
set afiOat some days ago rejecting upor
the fair name Of "A Louisiana Congress
man. The report made him guilty of s
grave indignity 10 a lady of high ranB
at the most fashionable restaurant in
the city, where they had gone to dine
The peculiarity of the case was in the
full particulars, giving a real dime
novel in the most extravagant cOlors
the heroes being Congressman, gener.
ais, walters with "friends to the same"
while for the heroine a solitary lady
sister-in-law OF New York Con-
gresham, beautiful in the extreme, and
done up in the most approved style O
art. There was to be a duel The last
affairs of the participants were in tn,
Of II oil
were rapidly ripening for a grand finale
then, to everybody's disappointment, i
all ended up in a fat denial of all tn,
, circumstances by all the parties con
! cerned. The injured Congressman il
p here with the ostensible purpose Of fer
reting out the perpetrator Of this mali
cious practical joke" and his wonde
, as to who the joker is, is shared by
= large population of indignant and curl
GUS people. And there is no doubt
: little summary vengeance in store
the proper person eau be fixed upon.
5 1t will not be out Of place perhaps t
refer to the Potter investigation com
mittee. 1t still retains its baptisma
i name of Potter, though it seems that
n has slipped from his grasp into yer.
- medley Of ownership, something afte
the manner Of Ginx's baby. Ben But
g Ter took a mastery hold of the banl
n ling, but has beaten a retreat, an
d seems as nicely "bottled up' as whe
4 he was a big general at Bermud
. Hundred In 1854, and as unable to M ct
Y the enemy now as then. Mrs. Jenb
o has conquered the whole host Of con
:, mittee men, and nothing remains fc
5 which seemingly anybody cares ro'
IS of pins The grave and serious charg
d with which this Congressional arm Sc
- out, and the weigbty consequence
? which seem to hinge on its action, hay
1f all taken wings. That which remain
II Is but a farce, grinding out each da
:, some new ludicrous scene, an apolog
E. for its continued existence, or q polit
rs cal intrigue in the interest Of him WI
% would make this his stage. FELIX.
q Washington, ID. C., July y, 1878.
Il
IS 1t is an old and true saying that ms
. should not marry unless he can support
y wife, and, from some examples that '