San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-06-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsnMaroN. june II 1884.


WAsHNoros. June II. 1884.
II Congress should adjourn on the
last day OF this month, az the House
OF Representatives has signifed n
desire TO do, only eleven more work
ing days would remain Of the present
session. But the record OF the past
week docs not indicate an early
adjournment.
In view of the immense amount OF
business that remains to be transac'
ted, the thought OF an early depart
ure is out Of the question. Import
ant measures were advanced very
little in either House. The Senate
cannot get along with the Mexican
Pension bill. After spending three
days debateuponit in open session, and
two daysin secret session, the Republi-
can side Of the chamber making cam
paign speeches on amendments which
they proposed, they then went into
caucus, and tried to get a plank or
two Of the Chicago platform into it
or course they aim TO defeat the bill,
but they would have it appear that
they are 30 very friendly to the sold
iers of the late war that they cannot
support it unless it is 30 amended as
to include all ex-union soldiers in its
beneficent provisions. Senator Sauls-
bury does not approve of the measure
as whole, but from far different
standpoint. One objection urged by
him was that it proposes to pension
men who are holding seats in the two
Houses of Congress with the money
wrung from the poor toiler as taxes.
The Senator from Delaware does not
speak often, but he talks very plainly
when once melted. He informed his
associates that they fattered them
selves that they were great men,
Senators of the United States who
made laws for the people; but behind
them was another power greater than
themselves that controlled their &C
ton if not their judgment. He
alluded to the pension agents who
sit around the Capitol and issue their
circulars and decres and send up
petitions for pensions. The great
and mighty statesmen bowed to these
behests for fear of losing political
status at home. He thought if Sena-
tors were not human beings, con-
trolled by motives of self interest,
and if the soldiers had no votes, there
would be no such bills pending before
The National legislature. He respec-
ted as much as any man the claims
of the war marked veteran, but did
not approve of squandering money,
which people who were suffering for
the necessaries of life paid into the
public Treasury, to pension able
bodied men. He said he knew the
man who ventures opposition to any
bill that proposes to pension anybody,
takes the risk of being censured and
denounced for it. He was willing
to take each mans censure and reserve
his judgment He wanted q con-
sistent record and would vote for the
reduction of taxation whenever he
could, but would not vote to increase
the expenses of the Government and
thereby keep up taxes,
The Senate added 100000, to the
House Consular and Diplomatic bill,
thus protracting the session with
another deadlock contest. It has
also debated claim of Georgia for
money expended by that State for
the common defense TIT, but the
Republican Senators are not willing
to do justice of any kind to South
ern State. Senator Morgan in advo-
eating the claim said, they ought to
be able to consider this question
aside from all "reminiscences of the
war, and as lawyers,as construers and
evpounders of the Constitution, say
that this debt is, or is not legal.
Can the Senate of the United States,
asked he, twenty years after the war,
permit itself to be influenced by
acrimonious feeling so as to blind its
Judgment upon pure, dry question
of law?"
After four days argument the
House passed the River and Harbor
bill, the Hennepin canal scheme be-
ing stricken out and then discussed
the Senate's amendment to the Post
Office appropriation.
The necessity for dislodging from
power party which, according to no
less an authority than the late Chair
man of the Republican National
| Comm;ftaa has LONG Outliyed and