The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

When the vote was taken on the army /
bill, with the repeating amendments at
tached, the Greenback members in the
House voted with the Democrats, with
three exceptions. It has since been said
that their votes were so cast in pursu-
ance Of an agreement on the part Of the
Democrats to vote for Monday session,
TO permit the introduction Of certain
financial measures, which, under the
rules, can only be offered on Mondays.
But the motion to adjourn over from
Saturday to Tuesday was carried, only a
portion of the Democrats voting no with
the Greenbackers, and presume there
wasn't any bargain about it. No doubt
these gentlemen voted according TO their
convictions, though they may have
hoped to make the Democrats feel under
some obligation to assist them after
ward ia getting their measures before
the House. From all can learn, how
ever, concerning the views of members
on the Democratic side, think the ma
jority of them would prefer to avoid en-
tering into any financial legislation this
session. But at the session commencing
in December a regular programme, en-
bracing free coinage of gold or silver,
with a coinage Of the latter to the full
capacity of the mints, and abolition Of
the national banks, will be adopted.
Mr.. Atkins, OF the Appropriation Com
mittee, recently said that this would be
about the position of his party, though
there will be a wide difference Of opinion
as to whether greenbacks or treasury
notes would be substituted for the ma
tional bank note. AS the House now
stands, there is a decided majority, in
cluding both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, opposed to any legislation on this
subject at present, and l am satisfied
none will be accomplished at the extra
session, though the Democratic caucus
has decided TO hold Monday sessions
hereafter to permit bills to be intro
duced.
The idea Of authorizing by law the
formation Of corps Of parliamentary
attorneys has again been brought tor
ward. But, as usual, it is made to illus
trate the all-grasping disposition Of the
legal profession, aud in that respect
needs watching. As proposed, the
members Of the corps authorized to reg
lister for practice before the committees
Of Congress must be members Of the
bar. This restriction is grossly unfair
and improper. The examination by
committee Of a subject upon which leg
islatiOn is asked or proposed is, in no
sense, judicial process. On the con-
trary, it is distinctly not lawyers ar
gument which, in a great majority Of
cases, a Congressional committee needs
or ought to listen to. Suppose il 10 be
the Ways and Means Committee en-
gagged in revising tue tariff would not
a statement from an importer, from a
silk manufacturer, from a wine mer-
chant, from the proprietor Of print
works, from q carpet maker, or an IRON
monger, be more useful than anything
the best lawyer could say? Suppose
the subject OF proposed legislation to re-
late to railways and telegraph must a
lawyer be paid to elucidate it? Suppose
it an international copyright; must
authors speak only through an advo-
Gates mouth The fact is, the lawyer.
are over-m much represented in Congress
p which would be the better for more
farmers, merchants aud physicians
among its members. To make every
body but lawyers ineligible as parlia-
mentary attorneys would be to aggra-
vate an evil that is already obvions
enough to all but lawyers.
Mr.. Gorham, who has just been re.
lieved OF the duties Of Secretary Of the
Senate, rendered his final account day
or two ago. He has been an excellent
officer and, after eleven years service
during which he has disbursed many
millions-for the United States Senate
is the most expensive body on earth
he closes his account for the first time
It was found at the Department thai
. ] AAlEAE " a. 1AE ANAAs NWAnE AAAAns III al
official letter, which had to be copied
recorded, numbered, ETC., the United
States Treasurer notified Mr.. Gorham o.
the balance on settlement, and request
ed him to draw a check for the amount
f With the same precision as though ,
million Of dollars was at stake, th,
check was drawn, and messenger con
veyed it to the Treasury. The book
were searched to see If the account wa
to Gorham's credit, and then the cen
was paid-a great big copper one, which
the ex-Secretary proposes to keep fo
luck forever. 1t seems that, had he no
drawn the balance, it would have gon,
, on forever among the liabilities Of th'
! Treasury, and occasioned any amour
{ OF trouble to the clerks.
} DON PEDRO.
: Washington, d. c., April Z.
! "Mother," said a little square bull
Inrahfn kouf Il 90 z-aa - old tsgyhy don ?