San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-02-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsmsaros Feb. 18th. 1884.


arts and literature during tho week
in an indirect way at least, for it has
voted nearly a million Of dollars for
the improvement Of the Capitol, and
discussed the oft discussed Congress
sional library bill. Senator Ingalls,
had also something to say about the
marble group Of statuary, represent
ing Fame and Memory placed by Ad-
miral Porter in front Of the Capitol
to be perpetual reminder Of the
achievements of the American Navy,
which, in the language Of President
Lincoln, could sail anywhere that the
ground was o little damp. Mr..
Ingalls, thought the marble pile fu-
neral in appearance and out Of place
in setting of beer shops and board
ing houses. He wishes to have it
removed elsewhere, and as his wishes
seem to have the approval OF other
Senators, the probability is that that
statuary will go. The group may be
out of place, and it's locus offensive
to straight laced sticklers for art
istic propriety, but if q revo-
luton of artistic reform is to be
sprung on Washington city no man
can tell where it will end. 1t will
certainly sweep from their pedestals
half the bronze equine monstrosities
that have been mounted in the last
ten years.
The House calendars show that
ITS bills have been referred to the
catacombs of the Capitol after due
inquest by committee, Nearly five
thousand bills, most of them of q pri-
vate nature have been introduced in
the House during the present session.
OF this number less than two hun
dred have received the action of COM
mittees and been reported to the
House.
The committees Of the House have
a number of important measures on
their dockets for consideration this
week. The Ways and Means Com
mittee will hear arguments of bust
ness men on various phases Of the
proposed tariff legislation; it is be
lieved by members of the committee
that MIR. Morrison's bill will not be
reported to the House for three or
four weeks. The Public Lands Com
mittee expects to take action this
week on the bills which provide for
forfeiting the alleged unearned land
grants of the Northern Pacific and
Atlantic Pacific railroads. The Coin
age. Weights and Measures Commit
tee will probably report bill provid,
ing for the withdrawing of the trade
dollar from circulation. The Foreign
affairs Committee has resolved to in
sist that the House should refer it to
the correspondence received from
the State Department last week rela-
tive to the prohibition of American
Pork in foreign countries, on the
ground that the question is one of
treaty obligation.
During the morning hour in the
Senate to-day Mr.. Riddleberger's
concurrent resolution calling for an
investigation of the Civil Service of
both houses came up, and led to an
extended and animated debate. The
bill to provide for the erection OF a
Congressional library building has
been made special order for Tues
day, and the Mcpherson Banking
bill-now on the calendar, with a IA
vorable report from the Finance Com
mittee-is set for consideration as a
special order on Wednesday, The
discussion of the last named measure
and of the various important amend
ments already proposed as substitutes
for it will doubtless run through the
remainder of the week.
|. In the House Friday, the Speaker
announced the appointment of Messrs.
Hopkins, Ward, Adams, Poland and
Wilson as a committee to investigate
tht charges of corruption made by
ex-speaker Kiefer against b. V.
Boynton, Washington correspondent
of the Cinncinnat Gazette. The com
mittee expect to begin Tuesday. Gen.
Boynton favors an inquiry with open
doors and it is said will manage his