The examiner., 1886-02-27
FROM WASHINGTON.

wAsHINGToN's BIRIHDAY-FEMALE sUF-
 FRAG IsTS-FITZ-JoHN PoRTER-RE-
 FORM OF THE CIVIL sERvICE-THE
 EDUCATIONAL BILL-oFF1CIAL
 CHANGES.
 Yesterday being the anniversary of WAshingtons birthday, neither House of Congress was in session, and the Govern ment machinery stopped, as usual, in honor of the day. Although there was no formal celebration in this city there were number of suitable observances. The Oldest In- babitants' Association met, read Washing toms farewell address and some of the Members made speeches. The Washing ton Monument Association also had a meeting, and served luncheon to some dis. tinguished guests, Including Senators, Judges, ministers, Generals, etc. Then there were some military parades, National airs were played on the Metropolitan church chimes, and the Washington Continentals | made 8 pilgrimage to Mount Vernon, and were addressed by Congressman Cabell of Virginia, Compton, of Mary | land, and Gen. Black, the present Com m. ssioner of the Pension Office.
 The city has been under siege by female suffragists since wrote you. The women have gone, however, jubilant over their lively convention, and the church that re- sounded with their eloquence is, this week, at the service of an Educational conventi' n.
 The advocates of woman suffrage were granted hearing by the House Judiciary committee, before which they plead their own cause. Among the orators of the oc- casion were Mrs. Meriweather and Mrs. Minor, of Missouri. Miss Eastman. of Boston, Mrs. Nelson, of Tennessee, Mrs. Bennett of Kentucky, Mrs. Field, of Lou isiana, (Who is the Catherine Cole of the New Orleans Picayune,) Mrs. Sewell of In- dianapolis, and Mrs. Congar of Indiana.
 The latter probably made the most strik- king remarks. She asked the Committee to let the question go 10 the State Legisla- lures, saying they need not commit them selves to the principle. She said she was not for suffrag-, but for the salvation of society and of the country. The Govern ment was ruled by the cities, and the cities were ruled by the slums. She wanted to put the intelligent woman's vote as an offset for this ignorance and crime. Wom- an did not want suffrage, suffrage needed J women. Woman's vote should be the reserve force upon which the intelligent men of the country would have to call to preserve them from degradation and crime Sue pointed out the election troubles in Chicago and Ohio to show that for the | want of more intelligent voters the gover l. ment was being run by the criminal classes at these elections. 'Gentlemen" said she, "You are kind, you are gallant. We ask you to be just"
 The Committee of which Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, is chairman, listened to the ladies with respectful attention. When the last speech had been made, Susan B. Anthony, who is mistress of ceremony at all the suffrage. conventions, presented the committee with history of suffrage movement from it's beginning up to the present time. '1 will continue to make history out of your actions on this question:" said she, ''until we get a six teenth amendment of the Consi nsiitution.'
 Since every Congress gives week or two to the Fitz John Porter bu mess, now hat theGen. has been disposed of by the House for this winter, it is hoped that body will get down to real work. All of the Demo crats and sixteen Republican members voted to restore General Porter to his posi- tion in the army and retire him with pay. The bill will now go to the Senate, where it's friends think it will have four majority, although the Republicans have control o1 the upper House.
 The Senate has the Blair Educational bill still under treatment. Senator Evarts defended the measure, leading it's bitterest opponent, to say he was sorry that one o1 the greatest of American lawyers should have decla-ed himself in favor of the abso- lutism of Congress. MT. Morgan's refer. ences to the Constitution gave Mfr. Ingall: another opportunity to be sarcastic. "The Constitution said he, Sis made for the people, and not the people for the Consti tuition. Government is a thing of to-day and not of yesterday" He said he had listened with rapture to the disquisitions ot the political arch@oligists who have made subtle explorations into the subterranear recesses of the Constitution, and the inner conciousness of it's founders. All this had indescribable delight for those who are in quiring what should be done to day. But the Senator from Kansas thought it wa: like turning from Pennsylvania Avenue F to the buried streets of Herculanun and Pompeii to ascertain what were the opinions of the politicians in Rome in re gard to the coinage of the silver dollar ant the reform of the Civil Service.
 In political circles the arraignment of the Administrations policy regarding officia charges submitted by Senator Edmunds is the chief topic of comment. Some of tn, Republican Senators show lukewarmnes in following MT. Edmunds' lead whicl may militate against very stubborn con troversy. The battle is to begin about nex Monday. Whether it will be followed by { very bloody war, remains to be seen.
 THE CHURCHES AND THE LABOF
 MOVEMENT.
 , The awakening of the church and clerg,