The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-17
nnR WASHINGTON LETTER.


To THE EDITOR or rHE NEW NORTHWEST;
There is some Doubt as to whether any
general legislation will be attempted at
,baax,r, session. The Democratic joint
caucus committees have been unable to
agree upon any definite plan, and 50 re-
mort 10 each House. Speaker Randall is
holding hack his committee appoint
ments 10 rrevent any attack upon gen.
eral business. But if the proposed COM
pron,ise repealing measures are not sue
cessfuI, it is likely that the gates will be
opened and long session entered upon.
The Republicans don't seem to think
that the compromise proposed by the
Democrats is any compromise at all.
II repeals the test oath, prohibits the
presence Of troops at polling places on
election DAYS, and does away with dep
uty supervisors and marshals, merely
leaving il in the power of United states
courts to appoint supervisors for each
pollipg place-one Of each political party
who are shorn ofall power, and simply
to watch the election inspect
ors This. the Democrats think, Is
enough to insure fair vote and a fair
count. but it don't give one party lot
of paid tools 70 control elections. II
this is not accepted 10y the Republicans
I am inclined TO believe the session will
be long. as a deadlock l. almos: certain
TO ensue. But If il is agreed to, the ap-
propriation bills will be speedily passed,
and the session brought to close by
the first Of May, in spite Of the efforts
Of the Greenbackers to have some finan-
ciaI measures brought forward.
Upon a pedestal 10 the lower hall Of
the Smithsonian Institute stands a
model Of the new National Museum, for
the erection Of which Congress recently
appropriated $3.50. 600. The item was
stricken out Of the bill once aud sup
posed to be lost, hut it was restored at
the last moment hy the action Of a con
ference committee. The money is not
available until the let OF July, but the
certainty OF it, forthcoming has inspired
some preparations for commencing the
work. The idea Of National Museum
was proposed many years ago 10y the
late Professor Henry, who, in his annual
reports, continually laid before Con-
gress the necessity for such a building.
When the Centennial Exposition closed,
and the various foreign governments
donated to the Smithsonian Institute
their exhibits, the want Of room in which
10 place them revived The museum ques-
tion, so that now tine erection Of build
ing, which shall be worthy Of the Oh
iect, is only matter Of very little
time. The model mentioned is the one
which viii doubtless be adopted 10y the
committee which has the affair 10
charge General sherman, Mr.. Petel
Parker aud Professor Baird. This com
mittee Is now engaged in making th,
final arrangements regarding the build
ing. As now proposed, the museum
a will be situated on the southeast cnrne
Of the Smithsonian grounds, aud b,
three hundred feet long by three hund
rel feet wide, covering an area Of tw'
and oue-quarter acres. The style fol
lowed is the B1mauesIue, 20 make j
harmonize, a. mueh as possible, witt
the Smithsonian. The structure is q
be built 90 plate iron and glass, and, be
ing only one story high, will greatly re
semble the buildings of the Centennial
10 is TO contain four halls Of niBety-On
toy fity-two feet, four halls one hundre
and thirty by sixty. five feet, four hall
sixty-hve by fifty-two feet, and one ha
sixty five by zixty-five feet. From th
centre Of the building rises the dome
J ninety ieet high. Ninety thousan
. square feet Of hoor space are to be lit u
8 by over twelve thousand square feet ,
) glass better light than was aflorde
, at the Vienna and Paris Exposition
] There is TO be pavilion at each corn,
uf the bull ling, the side walls Of Whic
q viii be thiriy-ise feet high, while d
walls of the building proper are twenty
. seven feet high. The flat roofs are to [
, covered with metal, instead of a woOde
sheathing, laid upon porous terra cott
D or its equivalent in fire-proof qualit.
The sleeper roofs are to be slated upc
5 iron rafters, plastered on the insid
] II is Intended 10 expend on the buildh
e the whole Of the appropriation, and j
, completion will make a beautiful a.
e dition to the architectural structures
The city.
d DR.. Mary Walker sometimes lool
T. into court-rooms to see how matters a
Il going. For some time past the Doct
Z has been wearing strictly masculil
garments, including hat, but she som
= how seems to forget that mems hats a
seldom worn in c0urt-rooms, especial
6 when the court is in session. The 9th
morning she walked into the coui
room and bailiil walked up and tapp
!, her on the shoulder, at the same tin
called out, Take or your hat, sir
q The Doctor turned hastily around, al
e the bailiff, recognizing her, conelud
that she was entitled to wear her hi
AID said no more about 1t.
DON PEDRO,
Washington, D. c., March -, 1879
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