Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-08-06
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OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
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N-IlN...TAN Inl,- ~ I'M


NA,nlNrToN, July -, 1856.
The painting of the Elect oral
Commission. like the theft it com
memorates. is a. troublesome as
Banouo's ghost. Ever since the
purchase by the Government "t
this picture i; has hung on the
wall Of the Senate library com
mittee room Al the G .nitol. The
tri,lri- :" ,ne t II, We not a.
cided he Z 10 iiai= II pc, ininentl,.
and they know there will be Il
good deal at opposition 10 enc"un-
ter when 'iev offer TO put il IN
some honpl-l pl zee. \ few daN>
ago the picture tell with IA crash,
and upon striking the floor.
swaved Over. one end resting upon
the committee table. The frame
was utterly demolished, but the
painting escaped injury. II id the
committee been in session at the
time of the fall. some of its mem
bers would have been killed or
badly injured.
| believe the artist was paid ST.
500 for the painting, which repre-
sents the scene of the Supreme
Court during the sitting of the
Electoral Commission. The room
is densely packed with people.
Mr.. Evarts, now in the Senate, is
making bis speech before the
Commission and real portraits
are given of all the notable men
who were present and participated
in that great historical iniqaity.
When the Library Committee
purchased the picture several
months ago, / met a Democratic
Congressman who was full of ill.,
dignation over it. In the first
place, said he, ut is not a
good specimen Of American art.
No private collector would have it
in his gallery, but besides it repre-
sents the most disgraceful occur
renee in American history" He
thought we might just as appropri.
ately decorate the Capitol with
the picture of a battle of BIadens.
burg, or with the murder of Lin,
coin or Garfield, as with this de.
lineation of the theft of the Presi.
dency. Il feel very much like
offering a resolution" continued
he, to have it altered so as to rep.
resent Judge Black as he poured
out his walls of wrath upon the
commission, and then have it hung
in the Supreme Court room so that
Joe Bradley might see it daily"
On turning around l heard a Re.
publican Congressman express a
very different statement on the
subject. 1t is "a valuable, histori
cal painting and it is worth all that
the Government paid for it. In
terest in it will increase as the
years go on. Yes, l thought tc
myself, interest will increase a.
time goes on and assigns to til.
crime it represents its real place
in history.
Congress will probably adjourn
next week since the House il
ready, but its action in the matter
is too uncertain to be venturins
prophesies. The Senate's proceed
ings have been made lively during
the week by the eleomargarin'
debate, personal controversies be
tween Republican Senators, and b,
long speech from General Loga'
in vindication of Senator Payne O
Ohio. He spoke with great fac
ility for three hours, some time
rising to eloquence, in defense O
the committees decision that Their
was nothing crooked apparently il
the election Of Senator Payn,
within the Senate's jurisdiction.
Discourtesy among Republican
in Congress has been quite marke'
Of late. The happy Republican
family has become quite demoral
lied. Last week the principa
quarrel in the Senate was between
Senators Logan and Edmunds; thi
week it was between Senators Mil
Ter and Ingalls,. The latter gentle
men became very wrathy ant
poured invective upon each othe
numerically. They occupy ad
joining seats in the Senate cham
Der, but no longer recognize ont
another's existence. And it was al
about butter-bogus butter, rea
butter and eleomargine.
I was pleased to hear Con
gresham say few days since, g.
guess we could stand little re
forming ourselves" He had beer
talking about the recent vote il
the House against giving the cap
itel employees an extra months
pay. YES" continued he, while
u,o ,ro roforpo;,,. <boco oo,-1o,o,