San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Irregular correspondence Of the rsEs RszIs.l

lHeGuIhr correspondence 81 inc fhES iN4ab.I
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. 8, VI.
The substantial unanimity with
which the House and Senate passed
the resolution under which Garfield
was to-day declared to have been
elected President, shows how much
a repetition of the 1877 irregularity is
dreaded. I do not believe q year
will pass before some permanent
mode of procedure for these counts
will be provided. tits plain now to
everyone that as little as possible
should be left for the separate Houses
to do just before the time for the
count arrives. What has passed SC
smoothly this year might have gone
roughly enough if there had been any
slight doubt of Garfeld's election.
Though little has been completed
in the way Of legislation during the
past week, progress has been made
upon several matters of Importance
The usual pension appropriation bill
has been under discussion in the sen.
ate, which body refused to adopt as
an amendment the "Sixty Surgeon
bill. This bill was explained in a
previous letter. Il compelled the
claimant for pension to bring his wit
nesses to some central place in his
state or in some subdivision of his
state, and present them there for ex
animation. The objection which re-
ally killed the bill, was that the ex-
pense to the applicant, though not
certain in amount in any case was
certain to be very large in every one
so large in fact, as to prevent, prac-
tically, the prosecution of pension
claims. The Senate continues the
present system in the Pension Office,
giving the commissioner 100000 for
increase of clerical force.
The Senate Post Office Committee
unanimously recommends an appro-
priation of one million dollars for car
rying the mails to South American
ports 1t is the same proposition as
was made last year, except that then
the vessels to be employed were to
be of American build, while this year
that is not required. The intention
of course, is to aid in establishing
lines of merchant steamships between
ports of the United States and South
American ports. 1t is believed the
bill will fare better this year than
heretofore.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs has unanimously agreed to
resolutions defining what is known rs
Monroe Doctrine" and emphatically
affirming the duty and right of the
United States ,nforce it. The reso-
luton will be r'r, rtoi to the House
in few days.
No action has been taken in the
the Senate in the funding bill, but
its Finance Committee will report in
favor of 81 per cent interest on all
obligations to be issued by govern
ment, and it is certain the House will
never accept that amendment
Senator Conking quarreled on
Monday with Senator Butler, of South
Carolina. making his fourth engage
his tongue-during the
past two years. No other Senator
has had more than one fight dnring
that time, and all of them have been
with Conkling. The mans manner
is a perfect menace to good order in
the Senate He even quarreled with
Burnside. the best nA;ured man in
the world. and can hardly MAINTAIN
amicable relations with the Senate
pages
All the Inauguration indications are
favorable to a magnificent success
nt,r