San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-03-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1881
From Our Regular corrsspOodss,,l

The Upper House Of Congress
talked less than usual duringi the
week but acted more, Quite mum.
Der Of bills were passed, most Of
which, however, were rather unim-
portant in character. The House Of
Representatives talked diffusely, and
reached but few conclusions. II
passed but two notable bills; one TO
pension the Mexican veterans, and
another providing ordinance for the
completion Of the four steel cruisers
ordered by Congress in 1883. The
latter measure occasioped the longest
debate Of the week. Hon. S. S. COZ
criticised the construction of these
vessels and said the Democrats were
opposed to the ideas Of prodigality
prevailing on the other side of the
House. They did not want to keep
up Naval establishment only one
half of which was at sea-though
sometimes the whole thing seemed to
be ''at sea" He represented the
Navy as an amphibious arrangement,
one half the officers on land. some at
sea, and others between the two,
waiting orders. He did not like to
be asked to keep up the pay roll of
such n Navy, and build vessels for it
which could not protect our ports
and harbors. Mr.. Caldwell said the
Navy-yards were not used now to
equip men-of-war to defend the ma
tional honor, but to employ voters to
maintain the Republican party in
power. Another mem Der wanted
such guns made for the new cruisers
as those used recently by the British
vessels when they succeeded in de-
molishing the Egyptian city of
Alexandria at q distance Of eight |
miles. Mr.. Dorshemer also favored !
the use Of the most efficient guns,
and hoped no more "mute inglorious"
frigAtes would DO produced to go to
sea.
a wellwor subject has been re-
vived in Mr.. Springers committee,
and some ghastly secrets are being
revealed. The star route investiga-
ton through all its stages has been
very prolific Of surprises but tie
stock is not yet exhausted. EA,At-
torney General McVeagh, Ex-Post-
luastor General James, and Ex-Sen-
ator Spencer have each been asked to
testify as to what they knew about
the star routes, and it has come to
light that the late President Garfield,
while a member of the House of
knew all about the
star route frauds and used the money
If the arch star route conspirator
Dorsey, for campaign purposes know.
ng we'll whence it it came. Spencers
testimony overturns all theories that
lad been previously formed touching
lis relations with the defendants,
md puts him in position directly
opposed to the one to which CON-
non rumor has assigned him. He
ays he helped postmaster James to
ret into Gar6elds cabinet, and gave
lin advice and information about
tar routes. How a man who had it
n his power to bring the malefactors
% confusion should have remained
ilent SO long is mystery. Messrs.
Brewster and Bliss told the public
hey wanted to convict Brady and
Dorsey, but having to CHOOSE in what
ase against them q trial should be
lad, they selected case in which
he conviction was uncertain or i'm
when there were other cases
n which conviction was inevitable.
The Morrison tariff bill was report
ID to the House on Monday, and it is
it will be called up for con-
Iteration very soon, as it will stand ]
t the head of all revenue bills on the
Iouse calendar and will take prece
ence in committee of the Whole {
yer all other measures except ap-
ropriation bills. At least one hun
red members have prepared speeches ,
Or the coming debate, which will
resent the great question from every
ossible standpoint. The visitors in
he galleries will hear tariff to their
tier bewilderment. The focal in
usi-y" Of louisiana is beset on every
ide. The Senate threatens sugar
v the Mexican treaty, and the House
hreatens it by the tariff bill.
one or the other it looks
s if the country would get what
.enatur Vance calls free sweetnin.
The Democratic Congressional
committee met at The Ar
ngtOn hotel this week, and orgAniz- I.
j for setive operations, electing Sen E