The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-06
REFORM 1T ALTOGETHER.

slonal reform that the country needs
more than any other is the abolition of
the calander of private claims by an
amendment of the U. S. constitution.
During three or four successive con-
crosses that measure of reform has been
repeatedly promised but to be repeat
eddy denied. And we have two or
three times already referred to the
open declarations ofthe judiciary CON-
mittee, through its chairman, on the
floor when the scandalous Luther
Holmes matter was before the house,
that the committee was ready to re-
port joint resolution for that object
and would do so Immediately. The
joint resolution has never been report
ed and it is becoming disgracefully OBJ
vious that congressman have no de-
sire to confer this great benefit upon
the country. Why? Because it will
greatly enlarge the insigniicance of
the jaok-legged member, it will abridge
to less than one-third its present vol
ume the work of a congressional ses-
sion, it will greatly abreviate the term
of the session, it will dignity congress
as a body, add to its responsibility,
and improve the character of its states
men, and it may lead congress at the
apportionment under next census to en-
large the basis of representation and
reduce the body of the house to one
half its present size. 1t will relieve
the country of the disgrace of having
its two houses of parliament sitting
one-third the year discharging the
functions ola pettyfogging justice of
the peace.
We take it the oyerruling reason is
that it will make the average member
of congress of vastly less importance
to his constituents; and if so, it is in
cumbent on the press and the people
to take the matter up, both and all
parties alike, and send none to con-
gress but those who pledge themselves
openly to this important measure of
reform. tits very easy and simple
matter for congress to pass a law
authorizing claimants to sue the gov
eminent in any competent court, or to
establish claims commission express
ly for that work. To have both houses
of congress engaged in it from year to
year at cost to the country of FIVE
hundred times the sum of the claims
is simply disgraceful.
We do trust our state press will take
this matter up with unanimity and that
in the near future we shall Have the
government relieved from this very
worst of its many intolerable griev-
ances.
President Barrios, of the Republic of Guat-
emala, who is going to visit this country soon
is reputed to be worth $4,000, 200.
In an article on celestial scenery.the
New York Sun of Sunday last says:
"To say that the new comet is now Wis
ible to the naked eye is the truth, but
the statement is, nevertheless. mislea.
ding. Only keen eye can pick it
out from among the stars. 1t is not
brighter than a star of the fourth mag
nitude, and its tail, which is very pretty
in the telescope, is hardly distinguish
able wisp of light as seen with the
naked eye. twill grow brighter, how
ever, for a week to come. After that
it will be too close to the sun to be
visible until about the middle of Jnne,
when it will reappear in the west, hav-
ing in the meantime passed its peri
heliOn. How bright II will be then