San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-12-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular cOus'pOHd.a, !


TO bring about long and bitter fight
Some OF the members, however, have
not given up the idea Of tackling the
tariff, and say that something should
be done this session. Mr.. Morrison,
it is understood, il primed for another
fight. He looks upon the success OF
the democratic party as an indorse'
ment OF tariff reform, and has OK
pressed the opinion that something
should be done this winter to reduce
the revenue. II congress is disposed,
however, to make busy and eventual
session of it, there is no lack OF
meterial in the chape OF pending
legislation. There is, for instance,
the silver coinage question, which
urgently calls for attention A very
respectable element is calling for q
bankruptcy law; there is q great
desire in legal and business circles
for action which shall expedite the
work Of the Supreme Court much
remains to be settled respecting the
relations ofrailroads and land corpora
tions to the government and there
are various private canal and railroad
schemes to which Congress will be
asked to give a helping hand; the
pension laws are not yet satisfactory
to some influential classes and the
friends of the shipping interests look
upon last winters legislation as
merely preliminary, and are anxious
to follow it up by broader measures !;
tho education bill presents it's claims
to the House and two or three terri
tories which have now large and
ambitious population are clamoring
for the rights and dignities of states.
1t will be seen readily, therefore,
that even if Congress prefers to
ignore the tariff and follow prece-
dents pretty closely in the appropria-
tions, there is an abundance of import
ant subjects on which it can profit
ably spend the winter.
Among the first questions presented
at the Capitol to-day will be resolu.
ton in the House calling for diplo-
matte Investigation of the action Of
the French in prosecuting work on
tho Panama canal, and declaring in
favor of the American policy OF pre-
dominance on this continent. Several
leading democrats have the matter
in charge, and it is indeed gratifying
to SEQ some inclination towards en-
forcement of the Monroe doctrine.
The representatives of the three great
Isthmian inter-oceanic transit pro-
jects are gathered here in anticipation
of some action by Congress on this
question. The Panama
people are simply anxious to be let
alone. The Nicaraguan people want
substantial recognition. The Tehaun-
tepic people are willing to take any
thing they can get James B. Eads,
the father of the Tehauntepic scheme,
went to London last summer to get
some money. 1 don't understand
that he got any there. But he has
gotten some on the way
home, for he is exhibiting quietly to
New York capitalists a working
model of his inter oceanic ship
railway which cost him $4,000 and
occupies twenty feet of space. He is
now arranging to exhibit it at New
Orleans.
The Washington Monument is
booming along towards completion.
The cap stone will be set this week
The tip Of the capstone will be COM
posed of aluminium, and is the largest
device ever made of that metal. 1t
is about four feet high, and is as
sharp rs q moderately dull needle at
its apex. There are several reasons
why this particular metal was used.
To begin with, it is good lightning
and will serve as the top
Of the tightening rod; then it does
not tarnish but will always remain
bright. 1t has much the same APP
pearance as silver.
The most distinguished military
that has assembled in this
country since the close Of the war is
now in session in a small upper room
in the Corcoran building. One major
general and six brigadier generals
Of the regular Army, hanked by three
colonies Of the line on either hand, |
occupy the long table. Schofeld,
Terry and AIiles-it would be hard 10
find three more distinguished looking
men The staff Generals Rochester.
Holabird, Murray and Newton, are
men Of dignity and power. / believe
IL is the FIRST tine in the history Of
the country that man holding the