The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-05

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

| 10 NlAE EnAlUk Nr III - Nv -NNtlAA " 81
This has been a dull week in Congress.
/ The Senate has been favored with Sena-
| tor Sargents views on the Chinese
question, in which he took strongest
grounds against their introduction into
/ this country in any menial capacity,
/ because Of their contaminating intlu-
ences upon society. His structures upon
those who uphold the Chinese were Sc
we're, and he made the fur fly in several
quarters. This Chinese problem is an
/ interesting one TO us, and its discussion
7 in Congress, and our inquiries made of
those who have had dealings with these
peculiar people, serve TO make US rather
skeptical as to Mr.. Sargents sweeping
denunciation, as well as to rouse up the
inquiry, why his intense opposition.
The Senate adjourned yesterday, as
usual, as it seems unable to endure la
bors Of more than three days duration.
The House has had quiet times, and,
beyond a tilt between Messrs. Garfield
and Kelly on the financial question,
nothing of special interest has trans
pired Mr.. Kelly is full of his green
back theories, yet he rarely attacks any
opposition personally. In this instance,
however, he devoted his speech to criti-
cising Mr.. Garfield, who, in return,
gave as "good as he got" and we fancy
rather more than Mr. Kelly desired, for
he would not remain in the hall to listen
to Mr.. Garfeld's review, aud the great
laughter which many of the latter's
home thrusts invoked.
The passage Of the bill giving PEN
sions to the soldiers Of the 1872 war aud
their widows, by nearly unanimous
votes in both Houses, has tended to
lessen the enthusiasm Of our Mexican
war veterans, and they are not nearly
so happy this week as last. The fact
that the 1872 war bill ELECTED no debate
or filibustering, and went through the
House under an undisputed move of the
previous question, only tends to render
the Mexican war bill more uncertain
as to its passage, and the opinion begins
TO prevail that it cannot become law
this Congress, hence the veterans must
necessarily exercise patience for another
year or two before Uncle Sam will give
them a pull at the public teat. 1t is
surprising the pressure that is brought
I TO bear upon Congress to secure pensions
l for all kinds Of beneficiaries. Take this
session, here is the 1872 bill just passed !;
next the Mexican war bill, which is the
| recipient Of some very acrimonious de-
bate; then the arrears bill, which gives
pension back to date of discharge, by
wiping out the statute of limitations
which bars pension prior to the date of
the allowance by the pension Office, un-
less the claim was filed within five years
Of discharge from the army; and finally
two or three bills Of minor nature, CIV
ing and Increasing pensions to some
other classes. Over $50, 900, 900 are now
required TO pay pensions, and should all
the pending bills become laws, at least
Sl5,OOO,OOO additional would annually
be required. II is claimed that in no
other way can public moneys be so ju-
diciously aud generally distributed as
through pensions, and IL is on this
ground that so many Congressman unite
upon passage OF pension laws. II is not
our province to discuss the merits OF
this claim, but the fact remains that
few Of these persisiently urged meas
ures fail to become laws. They over
ride statute after statute Of Limitation
enacted to prevent payment, aud, sooner
or later, public moneys through them
are poured out upon the country. The
House is getting down to its work on
private bills, and though its commit
tees load down its calendar with favor
able reports, principally pension thus
far, yet on Friday, the day on which
private bills have the preference, it will
pass a score Of them without dissent
ing voice. and thus avert too great an
accumulation. We have frequently
urged the absolute necessity of compell'
ing vote upon every measure involv'
ing an appropriation, in order to guard
our Treasury against many an insiduou'
, steal, which an apparently harmless
! bill involves, and the correctness Of thii
view may be appreciated when one seei
thirty bills accepted in a batch as correct
simply because Of a favorable rePor
from a committee, and then taken anC
passed without single vote. No ont
! objecting is equivalent to unanimity