San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-03-01
Washington Letter.
(From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, February 10, 1888.

| (trOm our heSular Corresponuent
WASHINGTON, February 10, 1888.
The open history Of the late memorable
debate in the House on the tariff bill has
been written verbatim in the Congressional
Record it has been criticised from stand
points as various az tho interests which it
touches, but there is an occult history Of
legislation that will never be published un-
til the recording angel furnishes the copy.
Many members of Congress know this, but
they think the publication will be too late
to affect their political fortune. 1t is be-
lieved that the majority in the House has
abandoned all intention Of passing tariff
bill this session, from the fact that the
Ways and Means Committee have directed
their Chairman to move to suspend the
rules to-day and pass bill to reduce inter-
nal revenue taxation that will accord with
a bill for the same purpose now pending in
the Senate. If the Democrats wish to do
so they can with about fifty tariff reform
Republicans pass the Senate tariff bill and
it begins to look as though this may be
done.
A bill has been passed by the House add
ing one hour to the days labor for half the
year in all the Government Offices If this
measure can be enforced it will be equiva-
lent to the addition of about 5000 clerks to
the number already employed, and it will
not cost the Government cent. But how
to make them work, that is the question.
1 would suggest that it be forbidden to
bring novels or newspapers into any of the
Government Offices and that conversation
on al subjects, not actually necessary to the
business of the office, be prohibited.
these rules had been observed the passage
of the additional hour bill would never have
been thought Of. There is no honest, well
informed man but knows that the present
clerical force could do all the work at their
desks by working steadily three hours day.
And no honest well informed man but
knows that they have always failed to do it
by idling, gossiping and reading novels the
greater part of the time they are in office.
The Government clerk considers this lmpo-
sition of IN additional hour a great hard
ship. but he has brought it on himself by
neglect of work. The work got behind,
and the chiefs of bureau, dear, simple souls,
could think of no remedy but to get moro
clerks. So they said to Congress ''We
pray you give us some more clerks" But
Mr.. Cannon to whom the request was re-
ferred, replied by the passage of bill,
'give us more work with the clerks you
already have" If Mr.. Cannon will turn
Democrat he shall have my support for the
presidency of the United States.
Some precious hours were wasted last
week in eulogies over recently deceased
member of Congress. This is an ancient
custom, and, I believe, is common in the
Legislative bodies of other countries, but it
is entirely useless and senseless, and there
is disposition expressed by many members
and senators to either discontinue the OBJ
servance or to enact that all funeral orations
shall be delivered at special called session
on Sunday. The Postoffice Department is
now drsped in black in honor of ex-Post-
master General Marshall Jewell This is
another official custom that might be more
honored in the breach than in the observ-
ance especially as it furnishes the employees
of the Department with an excuse for hol-
iday on the day of the funeral of the de-
ceased cabinet officer Great men must die,
but il is not necessary to put aside the affairs
of the whole people of the United States
for a day, or even for an hour because death
has reduced the number of their hired men
by one.
Secretary OF the Navy, Chandler, has been
trying to have the revenue vessels and ser
vice turned over to the Navy Department,
this service is now under the control Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury, but Secretary
FOlger argues against, and appears to have
the better Of the argument From statistics
4 appears that the vessels of the revenue
marine, in the course Of the last ten years,