San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Mar. @, 1856,

AShiNofON, shui. ", iooo'
Ed. FREE PREss:-The house com
mittee on post offices and post road
have taken up the postal TELEGRAPH
question again. They have alread.
decided to report adversely upon al
propositions for the government h
purchase or TO construct telegraph
lines. They are now considering tn,
question of contracting with existing
lines, MS they do with railroads Il
carry mails. Mr.. Gardner Hubbard
addressed the committee this morn
ing III support of this scheme. He
thought it entirely practicable for the
government to make contracts with
telegraph companies SO that private
correspondence could be carried on
under a postal telegraph system at
very cheap rates.
Secretary Manning's reply to the
Bland resolution concerning the
treatment of the silver dollar by the
treasury department was laid before
the house yesterday. The secretary
says he has labored to promote tho
circulation of silver with unremitting
energy. a. have pressed its circula-
ton at the expense of the U. s. notes,
Zones and twos), which, rs fast rs re-
deemed, have been re-issued only in
larger denominations The secre-
tary makes an elaborate review of
the silver question, and defends the
policy of the department during the
recess of congress, when it seemed rs
though gold panic was imminent.
On the general question of silver the
secretary reiterates the views ex-
pressed in his annual report, and adds:
"Forced silver circulation, forced sill
yer accumulation-these are the al
ternatives to which silver coinage has
brought us now. While the law re-
mains what it is, 1 shall endeavor in
the future, rs l have done in the past,
to conform my official acts to the let
ter and spirit of its plain require
ments." He says the United States
ought to return at the earliest posi-
BILE date to bi-metalism, which means
free, unlimited coinage of both gold
and silver, and that this can be done
only by suspending silver coinage for
the present.
The congressional proceedings of
the past week were rather interesting.
The parties locked horns in the senate
over the right of that chamber to re-
view the presidents reasons for re-
moving otfice-holders; and the con-
WAS taken advantage of by
hose who favored open sessions, to
lrge their views. They argued that
f it was wrong for the president to
.ct on secret information, it is equal
y unjust and un-Amerlcan for the
enate to do the same thing. This
position is pretty strong one logic
lily, and is finding more and more
support among senators.
In the House an attempt was made
o fix the metes and bounds of q for
nal silver debate. 1t is very well
Understood that no silver legislation
an be enacted this session, but mem
ers are anxious to snake record"
gainst the coming campaign. 1t is
aid that sixty representatives have
speeches on the subject
The rising opposition to the
'lair educational bill has become SO |,
larked that the friends of the mea-
ure have good cause for alarm.
Ir. Allisons amendment, pro-
iding that the money be distributed
etween white and colored children
n the basis of their respective litter
cy, gives new turn to the discus
ION and may change the final vote I
n the bill considerably. Under this 7
about three-fourths of i
le appropriation for the south woud a
O devoted to colored schools. c
In view of the careless statements c
nat have gone out and made mischief, |
is proper to say that president Cleve- s
nd has followed the rules of invita-
on to receptions set by his predeces- v
,rs. When in former years the ex- b
eriment was tried of sending out Z
Decial invitations, the confusion and O
understandings that resulted, b
roved that such method was i'm
and on that taccountit was n
ever adopted rs the rule. 1t is al "
ost needless to say that the Presi- n
ent is desirous of showing every n
'urtesy TO his guests on such occa- a
ons. l.. N
The Dress OF Great Men. q