The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
Legisiation-PPesident Arthur and
the New York SenatoPship.

From our Rcg uar Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, December 3, lsSl.-The
first week Of the possible 10 OF the Con-
gressional session has passed and 1t is
difficult to find enough proceedings TO
base an obituary on. An immense num-
Der Of bills have been introduced and n
boundless lot of talk INDUCED in, but
when that is said, there ia not much to
tell. The committees, however, are
hard at work, and some Of them promise
to submit some bills before the holidays.
The House committee on postofllces
and post roads have number Of impor-
tant bills on their list, to which they
intend to ask the early attention Of
Congress. Among these are the postal
telegraph bill, another which regulates
the mail contract system more carefully,
n third which changes the basis of COM
pensation to railroads for carrying the
mails, and fourth which deals with the
letter rate Of postage. All these are
matters Of Importance and should get
hearing. 1t Is to be doubted, however,
II the committee is wire in putting the.
postal telegraph at the head Of their list,
as this subject is one of great difficulty
and sure to excite a protraoted debate.
They would do better to follow the OK
ample of the Shipping and Public Lands
committee, and present first to the
House those measures on which there
will be little or no controversy.
The contest over the New York Sem
atorship excites much interest here. and
the progress of the fight Is eagerly
watched. Hon. Frank Ilisoock has left
his place In the House and gone to New
York in order to put himself In good po-
sition for the Senatorial lightning to
strike him. saw Hon. stephen French,
OF the Empire state, n day or two ago
when he was In Washington with a COM
mittee of Republicans to confer with
President Arthur in regard to the Sem
atorship. At first he refused to be in
tervlewed, but after moment he recon-
sidered and said: ~ don't mind saying
that the President is willing to accept
the Senatorship If 1t shall come to him
In the right way-as the practically
unanimous offer of the Republicans.
But he Will not enter into any scramble
and as for any OF his friends steering
him In the race or making n contest, he
Will not permit anything of that kind.
| will say further that | believe when
the Republicans-th members of the
Legislature | mean-come to consider
the matter, they will see that the right
thing, the proper thing, to do is to elect
President Arthur. | think any man who
studies the politics of New York at
present can see that. In my opinion, 1t
VIII become so apparent In the interest
OF the Republican party that the Presi-
dent Is the man for the place that his
election will be practically unanimous.
In that case he will accept. You can
say that"
Leaving Mr.. Arthur's personally out
OF the question, there are many consid-
erations of public character that make
the election to the Senate of
man who has served In Presidential
office desirable. No man acquires so ex-
tensive and thorough n knowledge of
public affairs as the President. He is
Drought in contact with representative
men from every part of the country, and
Is made to understand the merits of
every matter of public concern. Through
his cabinet lie acquaints himself with
the essential principles and incidents of
our foreign and domestic policy, and by
personal and confidential intercourse
with diplomatists, politicians, and bust
ness men OF every type he acquires a
iuhu VI anu u
with the detail of Government which
pre-eminently qualify him E.r legislative
functions. 1t has been proposed, on
this account, TO admit our ex-Presidents
to seat In Congress. Such step
might, perhaps, be too radical depar-
ture from the principles of the Govern
ment, but II Is a pity to lose the services
of men so peculiarly fitted for n share in
the councils of the nation, and on that
account 1t Is matter for oongratulation
when circumstances permit their reten-
tion in public life.
The cap stone of the Washington
monument was set on Saturday at 2
O'Clock in the presence of n small party
OF invited guests. Although the obelisk
Is now completed, there Is much work
still to be done. Probably the most i'm
portant matter remaining Is the design
for the base of the monument. which
has not been selected yet. Much finish
Ing work remains to be attended to on
the interior. The memorial stones are
placed In the interior wall, and those In
charge are exercising fine taste in
drawing the line between those that
are TO be excluded on account Of serv-
ing as advertisements of the donors,
and those which can properly be used.
The American flag now floats from the
nag stan at the apex of the monument,
at height of 600 feet.
hear that n number of naval officers
are likely to be dispatched to Mica
raugua at an early day to look over the