The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


have had packed galleries, and Tuesda y
morning, when the last hour approached,
there was not standing-rOOm anywhere
within sight or hearing. The Demo
Gratis seem to have astonished them
selves by the pluck displayed in the de-
termination TO force a repeal Of the su-
Pervisors' law, aud they have thereby
carried their point to the extent of Sc
curing an extra session, with a majority
in both houses. Il was generally he
lieved that they would weaken at the
last moment and accept a compromise,
the Senate having offered to repeal the
test oath and omit the posse cOmidtBlus
clause Of the army bill if the supervis-
ors' law was permitted to stand. But
the latter is what the Democrats were
chiefly fighting against, and they stood
firm. Mr.. Springer was obliged TO
abandon his committees proposed i'm
peachment to Minister Seward, because
the Republicans proposed to fillibuster
the session out in his defense. But it
does really seem, from the evidence,
and from his refusal to produce the
books upon the ground that they might
criminate him, that Seward must have
deserved what he just missed getting.
The scenes at the last night session
were interesting, but very different from
what was witnessed last June, when the
last night, especially in the Senate, was
but narrowly removed from a drunken
carousal. Perhaps the memorable no.
toriety that occasion received served as
a awarning. In the House, notwithstand-
ing the partisan feeling which pervaded
both sides, there was remarkable alb
sence Of personal animosity on the part
Of members toward their political op-
ponents. Conger, Of Michigan, was the
most active and irritating Of the antag-
onists, against whose attacks the Dem
oerats were all the time called upon to
defend themselves Bot he and Spring
er, OF Illinois, whom he seemed specially
intent on annoying, were, whenever
they met in the aisle, or when they
acted as tellers together, in an amicable
and pleasant mood, as If no singing sar-
casms ever passed between them. It
was the same with Atkins and Foster,
with Southland and Garfield, and with
all the other mutually hostile elements.
On one occasion, when Springer tried
to get in some remarks out of order,
General Butler planted himself squarely
in front of him and discharged a vOlley
of 81 object" each louder and more en-
phatic than the one before; and be kept
at it until he carried his point And as
he walked over to his desk again, he
gave as a reason for his demonstration
that he was not going to listen to abuse
Of a friend Of his. There was less Of IT,
multi and uproar than at most any other
last night session Of Congress, and there
was not the least sign Of that hilarious
ness which has sometimes characterized
such night sessions. The attendance of
members all through the twenty-five
hours of the sitting was quite large, and
when the vote indicated the absence Of
a quorum it was generally because mem
bers refrained from voting. Some of
the oldest members, notably General
Butler, and Messrs. Patterson and Town
send, Of New York, were among those
who showed the least signs Of fatigue,
and after the brief recess of one and
three-fourths hours they were the earli-
est in attendance. The speaker was
seldom out Of the chair, and he steered
the House through the sudden storms
and through the rocks and quicksands
Of parliamentary navigation with great
skill, tact, moderation and impartiality.
The extra session OF the forty-sixth
Congress, already called TO convene
March IS, will very likely last until
June. There will be a lively contest
among the Democrats over the organ
izatiOn OF the two Houses. The only
necessary appropriation that failed to
pass the now defunct Congress was that
providing for the legislative, executive
and Judicial expenses Ofthe government.
The proposition of the Senate to appro-
pirate $780, 900 to build a national mu-
scum on the Smithsonian grounds to re-
ceive the present collection Of centen-
nial exhibits donated by foreign powers,
and the constant additions from all
parts of the world that remain in un-
opened boxes was receded from. Some
thing like this ought to be done, how
ever, and some of these days, when all
our people don't feel so poor as now,
such appropriation may pass. The fail
ure Of the Brazilian steamship subsidy
to pass the House surprised nobody ac-
quainted with the situation. Lots of
people don't agree with Blaine and few
Others that such scheme would make
the country rich from the trade with
Brazil, though nearly everybody can
see how It would have been good thing
for John Roach and his partners. TAX
ing all things into consideration, the
lobby has not Jared particularly well at
the hands Of the retiring Congress.
/ have not heretofore felt inclined to
criticise the action Of executive officers.
But the Commissioner of Pensions has
recently been guilty of so gross an out
rage upon right and decency, that 1 can
not refrain from paying him some de-
served attention. He has been urging
upon Congress, with all his strength,