The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
NEWSPAPER PROPHETS AND THE
NEW CABINET.
Congressional Opinion...The Tariff
and otBeP Questions.-.The
Panama Canal.

WASHINGTON, December 1.-The news
paper prophet in Washington, after he
fashions a cabinet for the President elect
to his own intense satisfaction, Is fully
prepared for more arduous labor, and Is
now busy In planning the work OF Con-
gress with great Zest. 1t seems TO have
struck him that possibly Mr. Cleveland
may have voice in the selecting Of his
cabinet.
Members who have arrived In the city
express the opinion that Congress will
not find time this session TO attempt any
very important legislation. Besides the
appropriation bills, the. land grant. for
fixture question will probably be taken
up, and II promises 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 some
thing should be done this session. Mr..
Morrison, 1t Is understood, Is primed for
another fight. lie looks upon the sue
cess Of the Democratic party as an en-
dorsement Of tariff reform, ana has ex-
pressed the opinion that something
should be done this winter to reduce the
revenue. II Congress is disposed, how
ever, to make busy and eventual SEES
sion OF Ii, there Is no lack Of material In
the shape of pending legislation. There
Is, for instance, the silver coinage ques-
ton, which urgently calls for attention.
A very respectable element is calling for
n bankruptcy law; there Is n great desire
In legal and business circles for action
which shall expedite the work of the
Supreme court; much remains to Q
settled respecting the relations of rail-
roads and land corporations to
the Government and there are
various private canal and rail-
road schemes to which Congress will
be asked to give n helping hand; the
pension laws are not yet satisfactory to
some influential classes; and the friends
OF the shipping interests look up last
winters legislation as merely prelimi-
nary, and are anxious to follow II up by
broader measures; the education bill
presents its claims to the House, and two
or three territories which have now a
large and ambitious population are
clamoring for the rights and dignities
of States. Ii will be seen readily, there
fore, that even If Congress prefers to
ignore the tariff and follow presidents
pretty closely in the appropriations,
there is an abundance of important sub
jects on which it can proiltably spend
the winter.
Among the first questions presented
at the capitol to-day will be resolution
in the House calling for diplomatic
investigation of the action of the French
In prosecuting work on the Panama
canal, and declaring in favor of the
American policy of predominance on this
continent. Several leading Democrats
have the matter in charge, and it is indeed
gratifying to see some inclination to-
ward the enforcement of the Monroe
doctrine. The representatives of the
three great Isthmian inter-oceanio
transit projects are gathered here in an
ticipation Of some action by Congress
on this important question. The Pana-
ma people are simply anxious to be let
alone. The Nicaraguan people want
substantial recognition. The Tehaun-
tepec people are willing to take anything
they can get. James b. Eads, the father
OF the Tehauntepec scheme, went to
London last summer to get some money.
| don't understand that he got any
there, but he has apparently gotten
some on the way home, for he is exhib-
iting quietly to New York capitalists a
working model of his inter oceanic ship
railway, which cost him $4,000 and oc-
cupies twenty feet of space. He is now
arranging to exhibit 1t at New Orleans
The Washington monument is boom
ing along towards completion. The cap
stone will be set this week. The tin oil
the cap stone will be composed
of aluminium, and Is the largest device
ever made of that metal. 1t IL
about four feet high, and is as sharp as
a moderately dull needle at its apex
There are several reasons why this par.
ticular metal was used. To begin with
1t is a good lightning conductor and will
serve as the top of the lightning rod
then Ii does not tarnish, but will always
remain bright. 1t has much the sam,
appearance as silver.
The most distinguished military trib
unal that has assembled In this country
since the close of the war is now in SEES
sion In small upper room in the Cor
coran building. One major general ant
six brigadier-generals OF the regular
army, flanked by three colonies of tn,
line on either hand, occupy the table
Schofleld, Terry and Miles. 1t woult
be hard to find three more distinguished
looking men. The staff. Generals Roch
ester, Holablrd, Murray and Newton
are men of dignity and power. believ,
1t Is the first time In the history of tn,
country that man holding the rank o
Brigadier-General has been on trial II
time of peace, and the court is making
short work OF General Swain.
Lemon.