Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1884-06-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our regular correspondent


tons have collapsed with the reckless
management of this financial and over
confding scion. This family has held
the clerkshIp of the Supreme Court of
the Urlted States from the foundation of
the Government, and held it too when
there was no restriction or limitation up
on the fee bill, so that every year the of
flee was made to yield just as much OF an
income as service able conclsnce might
dictate. A last, however, the extortions
became so prodigious THAT Congress was
obliged to step in and regulate matters,
after which Middleton had nothing TO live
Tor, and died leaving the fortune that his
son, with the aid of a Providcntial dis
pensatior, has suddenly gotten rid of.
The Chicago convention tears Congress
up completely. Not even Bedford, the
Colorado beetle, is left to play his antics
and gibe the Treasury surplus in the
House, and as tor the Senate, that body
has become extinct altogether, only meet
ing long enough to adjourn over the Con-
stitutional period. The solit .ry Republic
can Senator who is not a candidate for
the Presidency, is old Sawyer, OF Wiscon
sin, who nevertheless has his dark horse
lightning rod out, and his ear at the
clicking Of every report from Chicago.
Ben Harrison has in some way become
assured. that the grandson of old Tippe-
canoe has got the Chicago fellows where
the hair is short, and has turned his pro-
Ky over to his alternate from Indiana. 1t
was only'a day or two ago when Ben
caused himself to be interviewed and
to say that il he were candidate be
wouldn't be in Chicago. Since then be
has packed his grip sack and lett Chica-
60. and you may gather your own con-
illusions.
The country will hail with unalloy,
satisfaction the adoption OF the bill now
pending in congress that abolishes the
tee system in United States courts and
which has been scandal upon the adj
ministration of justice in these courts
throughout the country. Under this fee
sysnem the marshal's office mas been turns
ed INTO an erg'ne of the most outr. &c )us
oppression, tyranny and injustice, be-
cause there was no limit to the exactions
that these officers might demand under
the present statutes We all remember
what an infamous history these officials
made in the administration Of the geper-
al bankrupt act few years ago, and the
same scamps who then filched
fortunes out of the insolvent estates, by
collision with the equeally a-pacious as
signees, have been here this winter lobby
ing for another bankrupt act just like
the last, and against the abolition. of the
vicious fee system. So far they have
been defeated by Congress, but NO
one knows here what may yet transpire to
enable them to defeat Congress.
Another of Washington's society pets
has gone to Jail; the National Rifles, the
crack company of the Washington dude
soldiery, is without colonel, and the
Government exchequer is short, nobody
knows how much, through the speeula>
tions and pecu!ahons of Col. ]. o. P.
Burnside, Discussing Officer of the Post
Office Department. This Burnside was
enc Of those self righteous sort of chaps
who avoided the ways OF the ungodly
until petroleum with its fascinating
puts" captured him, and the Government
funds necessary to keep up his out of
pocket speculation. o.show how easy
1t is tor these ,iisbursing officials to get
away with the government funds and
not get caught, the amazing fact is
brought to light that Burnsldes accounts
with the Goverment have net been ad.
justsd since June so, 1881, period of
three years! How many more of these
many fellows may turn up defaulters no.
body can guess, for nobody knows how
their accounts stand, and nobody seems
- be invested with the duty of finding
out.
wonder if Gresham bases his claim
for presidential domination upon his
great achievement ia sqelching the
Louisiana Lottery He commence d
firing upon that concern as soon as he
got thoroughly warmed in the Post Office
DEPARTMENT, although be has had the
whole Government at his back. he has
been beaten at every turn, and the wheel
OF fortune has never once stopped it
revolutions Gresham has an afflictif n
in the shape ola big-head, such as no
Cabinet officer has before experienced.