The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-01
Washlngt0n Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 50, 1882.
There are many members of congress who
think the present session will not continue
longer than until the middle of June, but how
every member can make his half dozen cut
and dried set speeches by that time, no one
has attempted to explain.
To-day the question Of retaining the Po,o-
mac flats will come up In the house. 1t is a
subject of vital Importance to every one who
lives in Washington, or, it might be said,who
visits this city, since these swamps are the
source of the malaria which has given Wash.
ington such bad name.
An effort will be made 20 dissociate the Mis-
sisslppl river improvement bill from the river
and harbor appropriation bill, for the reason
that the latter bill is a kind of an omnibus IN.
preparation for his district, the result being
that the great waterway is, to an extent
crowded out of the vehicle.
There have been more cabinet rumors and
speculations during the past week than at any
time since the first week of President Arthur's
administration. 1t is believed, | might say
known, that Senator Teller will be named and
confirmed Secretary of the Interior Nearly
everybody says that Mr.. Chandler will be
called to take charge OF the naval portfolio
But there are some who refuse to believe their
ears in this report 1t is quite probable that
the president may nominate him for reasons
known to himself and guessed by Others, but
it is difficult to understand how Mr.. Chandler
can be confirmed by the senate when this body
few months ago refused to confirm his noml-
nation by Garfield as Assistant Attorney Gen.
cral. AS was to be expected, there is some
dissatisfaction at the removal of Secretary
Kirkwood from the interior department, but
1t Is known that President Arthur has from
the first intended to have cabinet of his own
selection, and that his removal must sooner or
later take place. The new secretary is expect
ed to give play to the extreme western ideas,
as far as law will permit him, in the admins
lstration of Indian affairs. Extreme western
ideas, it may be remarked, are the exact anti
thesis of Quaker or Fennlmore Cooper's views
of the noble savage. We seei a great deal of
these unGsthetlc wards of the Nation here in
Washington. They are brought on by Indian
agents professedly to talk over some business
matters with the Secretary of the Interior; but
the real secret of their presence here is in the
fact that the lazy agents become tired of the
monotony of post life, and make any excuse
for picnic excursion, at government expense
to Washington. They bring with them al
number of hideous old chiefs, who lounge
about the hotels during the day and frequent
bawdy houses at nights. They have one or
two big talks with the secretary, in which,
by the agent, they ask him to give
them wagons, farming utensils, and schools.
then they 60 back to Uncle Sans free ration
dlspensary on the plains, while the religious
press all over the country rejoices at the evil
dences of their Chrlstlanizaton In the fact that
they have asked for plows and school houses
If there ls anything an Indian really detests
1t is pillow or school house, and, as long as
the government supports him in idleness, he
will have no use for either.