The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-27
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
[FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May s, 1850.

10 Congress, yet there are times when il
is made such a cats paw that We are
inclined to feel somewhat rebellious,
and wish, at least, that matters were
conducted differently. For instance,
the Senate devoted two whole days to
discussing whether $4,000 should be
paid for the leased church building now
occupied by our Police Court, and final
ly decided, by a strong majority, to
make the purchase. Arrayed against
the proposition were our District Com
missioners and many leading citizens,
who showed, by indispuiable evidence,
that the property was not worth over
Sl4, 900 at the utmost, and, beside, was
located in an undesirable part of the
city. Mr.. Beck championed the Dis
triet in his most vigorous manner, but
was beaten 10 the final vote, which
doubtless was as much a surprise to him
as to us, for the sole end accomplished
was making a present to a congregation
that wanted to dispose Of an old, rickety
edifice that would have fallen down long
ago but for the strengthening walls
built by the city since leasing it for pO-
lice purposes. Again, Congress proposes
to give 500 900 for charitable purposes,
Of which sum one-half is charged to US.
But, were the District Commissioners to
determine whether or not this appropri-
alton should be made, our judgment is
that the amount would be pruued at
least one-half Congress has a happy
faculty, at times, OF disbursing literally
certain funds which do not belong to
the Government, aud, now that we have
TO pay one-hRlf the bills, IL is often
wonderfully profuse in ordering expend-
itures which our people depreeate, just
as in these wholesale charities to church
corporations and hospitals. We are well
aware that if we were reIegated again
to the tender mereies Of the herds OF IN
washed voters who swarm in Murder
Bay aud other slums, the experiences Of
our popularity elected Legislature Of past
years would be re-enacted. 1t WED with
the Boss Tweed dynasty Of New York
in squaudering millions. Yet, for all
that, we wish Congress would heed our
wishes in regard TO our sO-called chari-
ties aud certain other appropriations,
asked for by only few citizens, who
have axes to grind.
Senator VOORHEES, delivered an inter-
esiing and valuable speech upon the
necessity for Congress to provide addi-
tioual accommodations for the Congress
sional Library, aud made very strong
appeal to the Senate for immediate re-
lief, which will, in all likelihood, be
given IN a year or two. 1t always re-
quires several years to perfect such de-
sired legislation as he asks for. after its
necessity is admitted. Mr.. VOORHEES,
said that there are in the library 375, 600
volumes, while there is only shelf-room
for $500 leaving 5000 volumes to be
piled on the floor and stuck away in
hooks and corners. In addition to these
volumes, there are 10000 pamphlets,
and over G,OOO bound volumes OF news
papers, besides large number of valu-
able maps and charts, all Of which have
to be packed away like dry-goods in a
crowded store. When they are called
for, whole stacks must be overhauled
aud dark recesses ransacked.
Strange to say, both political parties
here claim to be happy over the veto Of
the marshalship rider upon the def
cheney appropriation bill, as both insist
that the President has given them a
strong political boost for next Fall's
campaign. The one bases its belief on
the ground that the people will condemn
the President and his party for continu-
ing the "bloody shirt" policy aud its
various consequences the other, upon
the ground that the people will uphold
any course calculated to protect the
right of ballot. 1t is fortunate for the
country that the President can please
everybody by squelching certain legis-
lation, but we fancy some will not ex-
press themselves as delighted next Fall
as they profess to be just now over his
action.
It is persistently claimed that Con-
gress will adjourn on the 29th, and that
the appropriation bills are in such
state OF forwardness as to permit the
solons to peregrinate homework about
June lst; but we are so skeptical on this
point that we feel positive that July 4th
will find the Capital as full Of Senators
and Representatives as it is to-day. The
Presidential conventions will afford food
for at least three weeks Of buneombe
speeches, and then q few days more Will
be requisite for the consideration and
passage OF the appropriation bills. II is
an utter imPossibility TO induce Con-
gress to dispose of business as the days
come aud go. The passing time belongs
to buneombe matters, and the last three
weeks to the transaction Of real busi-
ness, which should have been disposed
of weeks or months before; hence our
belief that the Forty-sixth Congress
will not prove an exception 10 its pred
ecessors by leaving prior to our Summer
heats, which heretofore have been nee
essary to get them to go to their homes.
DON PEDRO.
---------
Mrs. Amos Cummings, the erewhile
laudlady of the old Waliula hotel, and a
thorouvh- going business woman, has