The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-29
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
IFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WAsHINaroN. D. @, Jan. Z, ls79.

/ lFROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Z, 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST;
On the 5th, when Congress re-assem-
bled, our Senators and Representatives
dropped into their places as quietly and
naturally as if no long vacation had in
tervened since the last days work. Mr.
Randall cooked his Eyeglasses, squinted
his eyes, and threw back his head in
the manner peculiar to himself when in
the chair, and went promptly into busi-
ness. In the Senate the same matter
of-fact proceedings obtained, and now
Congress is in the harness again for q
long pull, as we think, though we are
promised a short session by the legisla-
tors, and the Post the leading Demo
cratic organ here, is strongly urging, as
a national necessity, that Congress ad-
journ long prior TO the Presidential con-
ventions in June. That is very pretty
talk, but past experience, il it be a cri-
terion, shows that Congress cannot stop
its windmill short Of July 18th the first
year, no matter what the country de-
mands. II is impossible to expect the
passage Of the appropriation bills till
just before adjournment, for so many
steals and sWindles are embraced in
them that common prudence dictates to
those interested the prolongation Of the
session until such time as an adjourn
ment becomes necessity, and then
drive the appropriation measures
through both Houses under the lash Of
haste and spur OF the previous question.
Such has ever been the rule, anG we
venture the prediction that 1850, as past
even years. will require our Summer
heats aud Potomac flats malaria to force
Congress into rustication.
Our New Year opened up as bright
and balmy as a May day. The sun
shone brilliantly, and the beautiful
weather vas enjoyed to the fullest ex-
tent by our callers. Even our "oldest
inhabitants" who IN resisting modern
Innovations are as tenacious and uu-
yielding ss the Bourbous, generally sue
cumbei 10 the seductive influences Of
the weather aud our handsome ladies,
aud Joined in the thronP Of callers,
whose carriages rolled through the
streets from early morning till late in
the eveuing.
Il may he noted that the grea, major
. ity Of ofIenses against persons aud prop
erty iu Washington have been commit
ted by colored persona, and the idea is
often expressed that more summary
punishment should be meted out to the
transgressors. The negroes number
about one-third Of our population, and
yet they commit much more than half
the crimes, such as theft, burglary and
murder y few broken-down political
hacks and poverty-stricken whites are
clamoring for the restoration Of popular
suffrage in the District, so that political
power may again be given this class OF
dangerous people, who swarm in "Mur-
der Bay" "Hell's Bottom" and other
euphoniously- slums, where life
ia hardly safe in daylight, and who,
when we were cursed with universal
suffrage, turned out in mobs on election
| day TO vote into Office men Of their own
stripe.
About noon on New Years day 2
young lady named Horton attempted to
kill the son Of Senator Morgan Of Ala
bama, but Inflicted only a slight wound
in his shoulder with pistol. She wss
immediately arrested, but was perfectly
cool throughout the whole affair and
examination at police headquarters.
| Miss Horton came here from Alabama
last Summer aud entered suit against
young Morgan for breach Of promise
aud seduction. She has been admitted
to bail, Mrs. Belya Lockwood becoming
her surety, and has been provided with
comfortable home by Mrs. Spencer,
who, with other so-called strong minded
women, took her in charge, as she was
IN necessitous condition. Miss Horton
alleges against Morgan not only seduc-
tion and breach Of promise of marriage,
but the vilest persecution since she
came here to enter suit against him.
She got a place in the Treasury, aud lost
il through his charges. Wherever she
went to a boarding house, he followed
her with slander, and had her turned
into the street, and to such an extent
did his persecution go that she was
driven to desperation, so that she felt
irresistibly impelled to kill them. An
other allegation is, that she was prom
Used relief II she would return him the
letters he wrote her, and on which she
based her suit Tor damages. Her state
ments are implicitly believed by those
who have befrieuded her, aud, if true,
one can hardly res st the wish that her
bullet had not failed to 10 its intended
mission. DON PEDRO.
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TEST FOR IMPURE WATER-Tbe fol-
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contamination or the presence OF pU-
trescib'e organic q Htier ia water; ill