San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-05-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Tom our Regular Correspondent,
WAsHINGrOS, Aluy 10, 1856,

w AnHANhANht - 49, @
Some Of the Presidynt's latest work
has been that Of carefully examining
private pension bills He WAS sup
posed to have work enough 10 do a.
ready without assuming any new bur
dens, but it seems he feels the neces'
sity Of taking u hand himself in the
retrenchmont campaign which Mr.,
Hewitt and some other influential
Democrats have begun in the HoGse
of Representatives, Mr. Cleyelands
predecessors have generollyrogarded
life as too short to spend in eSamin-
ing this class Of legislation with spe-
cial care. They have contentcl them
selves with tho assurance that Con,
gress had opportunities for investi'
eating the claims in the most thor
ough manner, and that il the bills had
got through both Houses there must
have been some merit in them.
A few days since a rumor about
the Capital, to the effect that any
further raids npon the Treasury
would DO combattod by the Presi-
dents veto, created considerable SEN
sutton. President Cleveland, it is
said, is the first President who has
undertaken to scrutinize private bills.
But he became alarmed Mt the reck-
less way Congress wits rushing the
pension business. 4 fortnight ago
the Senate alone, in one day, passed
over $50 such bills, after merely read
ing their titles. This hurried and
careless way of taking money out OF
the National Treasury struck the
President MS eminently improper, and
he began sending to the Pension Oh
flee for the records in order to satisfy
his mind concerning each of the cases
which have thus far come before him.
1t is, perhaps, no more than the Pres,
ident's duty, but it is a duty which
has rarely been performed; aud the
question is, where Mr.. Cleveland is
going to find the time for the pursuit |.
Of his excellent policy.
No speech probably has been made
during the present session of Con-
gress which has created so much of a
sensation rs the one delivered by Mr.. |
Hewitt, on Thursday. when he pro.
tested against any further raids upon
the Treasury under the name Of boun-
ties or other benefits of that kind to
soldiers of the late war. Most of !
these propositions are i'll considered,
and although for sovonty-iive years to
come the South will be helping to |
pay pensions to the soldiers and to
the widows of the soldiers of the
North, q Southern member cannot
raise question rs the propriety OF
any Of these grabs, without rendering
himself liable to charges Of disloyalty,
and cheaply brought.
The reference made by the gentle
toman from New York to the pecu-
liar position of Southern members,
who are thus ombarraSS ed when they
would like to oppose these ruinous
schemes according to their convic
lions, was especially relevant and
timely. He declared that the limit
Of endurance on the part of the tax
payer had been reached, and that the
on account Of excessive
taxation was breaking out in riots,
dynamite and death. "ThOse who
wanted to dive their hands down into
ne Treasury, said he, "take advan-
age Of the delicate position in which
he Southern men are placed, being
subject to the charge Of disloyalty if
hey resist the steal" But no one
'ould make this charge against him |
nd he would make the fight
The great river and harbor grab
which went through the HOuee after
discussion extending over several
1eeks, takes from the River Commits :
ions their power and gives it to the J
secretary of War. During the debate !
Il opponent of the measure severely
it. No grandeur Of place
e said, nor insigniGcance of spot was
gnored. The bill reached every
there. 1t was not restricted by any v
npronounceabIe name, by any OBJ :,
curity Of situation, or by any ditficnl-
Y of access. There was nothing that a
eomed to be too incredible to be !
in this bill. The disfran-
hised citizens of the Capital join
,sue with this assertion, however, e
nj are indignant because an appro- c
riation for the Potomac fats was
mitteL Because Of this neglect of