The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-27
nnR WASHINGTON LETTER.

legislation TO enable Congress to CON-
plete its work by March 9Th. 1t is now
the opinion of nearly every one famil-
lar with Congressional business, that
an extra session will be necessary. Mr..
Edmunds has got the Senate into a
lengthy debate over his constitutional
amendment resolutions, and, while il is
evident that a majority Of the Senators
think no further legislation is necessary
that the States are competent to en-
force the law-there is a disposition TO
/ talk about the matter. Icis all politics,
and Mr. Edmunds does not seem to have
accomplished any good, nor even to
have gained any party advantage, by
springing the subject. For some days
Senators were occupied with the con-
sideration of Mr.. Conkling's tilt with
the administration over the New York
Custom-house appointments, and until
il was settled there was a good deal Of
interest, not to say excitement. Up to
within a few hours Of the vote, the Sem
ator thought he had a majority with
him, which was doubtless the case, but
Secretary Sherman entered the ring
with a lot of foreign appointments
at his isposal-influence which even
the Senators can not resist, especially
when their terms are to expire in a few
weeks. So John won the fight and
Conkling is discomfited. But his rela-
tion is secured, so that even If he does
lose control of the machine i'm New
York, as the administration followers
expect, his personal fortune cannot be
materially effected for the present. And
for that matter expect the Senator is a
long ways from dead yet. He will give
that curl on his foretop another shake
some fine day, aud at the same time
shake up the Republican party Of the
Empire State in a manner Hayes, Sher-
man and company will heartily despise
There is time enough for that greatest
effort Of his lifer yet.
The Democratic section OF Congress II
rather in advance Of the Senate end in
the routine business, but il has good
deal on hand that must consume time
before the close. Tue army reorganiza-
ton bill is now under consideration.
The original Burnside bill has been with
drawn aud a new one substituted, which
omits the most objectional features Of
the first and contains all its better
points. But even this may not pass.
The Republicans are mostly against It.,
and a few Democrats also. There is a
probability, however, that General
Harry White has Republican strength
enough with him on the Republican
side to offset the few Democrats who
oppose the measure, and that 1t will
finally go through by a small majority.
Then there are a million or so Of COM
mittee reports to come in before the
eud arrives. The Potter committee now
investigating the cipher dispatches will
have to report their findings in that
I line, aud likewise their conclusions,
touching the fraud investigation with
which they have S1een busted the past
year. These reports may contain rich
ness. Mr.. Finley Is expected to tell
what his committee has found aniss in
the government printing Office, and the
naval committee has got its prod ready
for ex-Secretary Robson. These are
only few specimens. There are Others
I too numerous to mention.
Everybody in Washington is stage
struck. There are not as many big
social events as usual this season, and
receptions at the White House are rather
slimly attended, but private theatricals,
club balls, and that sort of social enter
tainmeuts are the rage. Even General
Sherman has the stage fever. There is
time in the life of most young people
Of the city when a strange fancy for the
stage and its glory and glitter takes full
/ possession Of their being. How grand
the homage Of stage genius seems to US
then. How pretty the tinsel looks from
the front Of the house; how pretty the
actresses, and how many times we have
mistaken dirty cambric for the finest
satin; how brightly shine the glass dia.
monds; how threatening the wooder
swords and tin daggers. How sweet il
would be If this strange fascination, like
all the other illusions Of life, could last
always. But it all changes when W,
see our Desdemona, or Ophelia, or Ju,
Iiet, or Pauline swigging lager behinC
the scenes. To most people, the perioc
when the glory OF theaters aud actors /,
at its zenith is before the twentieth
year is reached. General Sherman
however, is an exception to this rule
The fever has just struck him. I hav,
never seen such simplicity in so old q
man. He is an inveterate theater-goer
and his alteration for actors and act
resses is something sublime. His at
tention to them must be delightful,
refreshing like the breeze from (
meadow. He waits on them, runs afte
them and before them. If / am no
mistaken, General Sherman graduate,
from West Point in 1910, and cannot b,
far from sixty years OF age, yet he file
around one of the humblest Of actors lik,
a dancing master, and is neverso happy
as when he has an actress Of some dis
tinction on his arm. With the ordi
nary mortal, Sherman is as cross an,
surly as be can be, and seems to deligh
In doing ill-natured things, but will
actors and actresses he is as genial as
May morning. How charming it viii