The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13

are some O,UOO lnulans, while IN the new
but rapidly growing State Of Nebraska
there are now but 5000 where only few
years since the pale-face had not yet
pitched his tent. The Sioux number
about 5000, aud are really to-day the
only tribe that could give any trouble 10
our much-abused army.
The proposed cipher dispatch investi-
CATION, Senator Conkling's fight with
the administration, aud the various SEN
atorial elections have furnished exciting
subjects enough to talk about the past
week, though aside from the rush TO hear
General Butler speak, there has been DO
activity here. The Democrats propose
TO bring out the true inwardness Of the
ciphers and to viudicate Uncle Sammy.
Aud while this is going on, Senator
Conkllng proposes to vindicate his
friends, Arthur and Cornell, of the New
York CustOm-house, and defeat the
confirmation Of their successors. He is
bitter against the occupant Of the White
House, and said the other day, in execu-
tive session, he wished it understood
that when he spoke of "Mr. Hayes" he
did not refer to the President of the
United States. No Democrat could be
more sarcastic than that.
a poultry show is one of the things we
are entertained with now, aud it is a
success. The game chickens and other
fowls hold high carnival at Masonic
Temple, and demonstrate their appreci-
alton Of the attention bestowed upon
them by crows, coos and struts. The
display is really fine. Thursday morn
ing about 10 o'clock heavy clouds over
spread the city, aud made the interior
Of the hall about as dark as day-break,
the result Of which WAS an uproariOus
chorus from the throats Of two or three
hundred cocks, from small bantams to
high bred cochins.
10 seems impossible to punish capital
crimes here. Two convictions for cold
blooded murder have been found within
a few months, and have resulted, not in
the hanging Of the murderers, but in a
new trial, and finally hung juries. The
second case occurred this week. A negro
who had been tampering with another
mans wife concludes to put the husband
out of the way, and, turning up his coat
collar to avoid recognition, walks out in
broad daylight, meets him unawares,
aud deliberately shoots him dead in the
street. There were no words, no quar-
rel and no provocatiOn. He is tried and
convicted. His counsel obtain "new
trial." fix up a jury partly colored, and
they disagree, ten for conviction, two
for acquittal. The same record has been
made in other cases, II 'tably trial for
one of the most heinOus crimes on the
calendar. All this is the result OF negro
juries, and an insufferably weak or cor
rupt administration Of the laws. And
coupled with this we have u drunken
Judge, whose decisions are alike a bur
iesque on law and an outrage on de-
eency. His name is Humphreys, and
il is no libel to say that he is habitually
drunk on the bench. He is one of the
judges Of the District Supreme Court
not United States Supreme Court-and
comes from Alabama. It is said Sena-
tor Spencer got him appointed during
Grants administration, to get him out
Of the State. IL has been his custom to
get his liquor from a neighboring res
taurant, brought in by colored attache
OF the court in glass set in an emp, Y
cigar box. He is often in maudlin
condition as early as 10 o'clock in the
morning, and creates a good deal of
amusement, when he does not make a
| too pitiable exhibition of himself and
retard justice. Two or three years ago
an attempt was made to impeach him,
| but politics defeated it. If the Demo-
Gratis elect the next President, he will be
put out. A member of the bar recently
told me that the judge now gets his
liquor in a smoking tobacco box, and
when il arrives he retires to little ante.
room and takes his refreshment like a
true Alabamian.
Preparations for taking the ceusu:
next year are occupying the attention
OF Congress, and the bill introduced by
Mr.. Cox, of New York, is a well-deviseC
measure. Since the passage of the ac
of 1850, under which three censuses hsv,
been taken, the better methods of emu
merating have been devised, and ther,
has been an increasing public deman,
for greater variety Of statistical infor
nation to be obtained in come. tiOr
with the census. 1t is important tha
the work be thoroughly done, aud tina
it may furnish fresh array Of "figgers'
on various subjects from which a goo,
deal Of illumination, so to speak, MAJ
be drawn. The arguments from statistic
are accurate and complete. Should th,
Cox bill pass, it may be a little hard OF
st. Louis aud Chicago, as the plan of in
stantaneOus enumeration does not al
low sufficient facilities for counting
early aud often. There is suspicion
that certain city directories will be foun,
to have been enormously padded.
FELIX.
Washington, d. c., January IS, 1879
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