The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

made many speeches in Congress, but he
is known as one Of the ablest debaters in
either House, aud the announcement
that he was to discuss the Indian ques-
tiou brought out the largest audience Of
the session. The galleries were packed,
and every available space of the floor be-
low occupied by members Of the House,
and others who enjoy the privileges Of
the Senate chamber. The speech was
pointed and exhaustive presentation
of the transfer side Of the controversy.
One Of the hardest hits iu tHe speech
was its reference to the cloak Of the
church so Wickedly used to cover out
RACES and rascalities. The various agen-
cies are supposed to be assigned 10. and
10 "a measure under tie control Of differ
ent denominations, and the agents ap-
pointed are understood 20 represent the
church to which the particular agency
belongs. Church influence is required
to secure an appointment, aud the whole
business is managed in the name of
Christianity. Yet what a burlesque and
what "a disgrace itall is.
While there is so much talk about
Presidential candidates, and so much
doubt as % who is the coming man"
on both sides, it is interesting 10 gather
up the various straws which indicate
how the wind blows. The stands in the
corridors Of the Capitol, where pictures
of prominent men are kept on sale, are
good places To- gather straws. The peo-
pie who buy these pictures are not resi-
dents Of Washington, but visitors 10 the
capital from all parts Of the country, so
that the aggregate sales area tolerably
fair indication Of the popularity Of the
different favori;es. The keeper OF one
Of these stands on the Senate side re-
Gently said to friend Of mine who in
quired about the sales Of engravings Of
the prominent men of to-day; 81 sell
the most Of Thurman, ConkIiug, Ben
Batter, Jim Blaine aud John Sherman.
You would be surprised" he says, "to
know how great a demand there is for
Butlers pictures. Ofthe five have Just
mentioned, 1 think the honors would be
divided between Thurman aud Butler,
next iu the order would be Blaine, then
Coukling, aud then Sherman. / also
have q great many orders for Chief JUS
tice Waite As for Hayes, don't think
1 sell one Of his TO ten Of Speaker Ran
dau. and yet / ann on the Senate side.
There is but little demand tor GtrfeId
but some for sam Cox and Fernando
Wood aud Gen. Banks. but the princi-
pal sales are confined 20 those I have
lust mentioned. OF those who are dead,
the greatest demand is for Andrew Jack
son, Abraham Lincoln, and ChiefJustice
Chase, though there is fair market for
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson.
Daniel Webster, Secretary Seward, Sec
retary stanton and General Thomas.
You would be surprised TO know, also,
the number Of eugravings l sell of JEFF.
Davis and General Lee. The sales Of
these two are not as extensive as those
have heretofore mentioned, but they
I are considerable. Grant for some reason
don't sell well. 10 may be because ev-
cry one has "a likeness of him, but sell
/ three Of Sherman % one Of Grant; yes,
/ General Lee oulsells Grant" From in
quiries at other stands, I learn that
more pictures are sold of Senator Thur
man than any other public man. The
large sales of Buffers physioguomy may
be accounted for from the general curl
osity touching this most peculiar man,
and the uotoriety he enjoys from his &C.
centric public career.
Mr SpoTarj, the librarian, has just
made an important addition to the Con-
gressional library. It is complete file
Of journals published in Philadelphia
from 1913 10 1877, in all, lO7 volumes, and
comprising the Ciaypoole Adrertiser,
P0uisoR's Adrertiser and the North
American. ali well preserved and bound
in calf The bound volumes Of newspa-
pers in the library Of Congress now num-
Der over 5000, aud in this collection is
set Of the London gazette from 1868 to
1879. There is hut one other set in exist
ence-this belonging 20 the British
government The question Of providing
additional room for the immense and
magnificent collection Of books now AN.
der Mr. Spofard's charge is still agitat-
ing the Congressional miud, hut sr
far u is all talk The building of which
so much has been said is still visible iu
the minds eye only.
As the end Of the session approaches,
all the sharks aud lobbyists, who have
little schemes in which they are inter
ested, huddle together and prepare for a
grand final rush. But the indications
> now are that the large raids upon the
public Treasury will fail this session oI
even a respectful hearing. No time ha:
as vet been wasted upon any of them
aud there is little chance Of their getting
show now, though there is usual,
: great danger in the fiual rush. Botl
I Republicans and Democrats, however
are very intent upon various moves upor
the political chess-board, aud neithe
side feels that it can afford to champion
subsidies of any sort. The Democrat
are organizing for a united and deter
. mined effort TO repeal the test oath 70
/ Jurors, and some obnoxious features O
the federal election law. II looks a
though tile appointment OF deputy mar
III. Il 4