San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

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Ed, FREE Press The republican
senators met in caucus this mornin:
and ratified the action of the caucu
committee in filing committee vacan
cies-Mr Sherman to the head Of tn,
foreign relations committee, and MIR
Spooner ON the district committee.
Mr.. Sewell, from the committe or
library, reported favorably bill fol
the erection OF q monument to Abra
ham Lincoln.
Mr.. Cullom said he had the honor
to introduce this bill. 1t appropri'
ated $500,O00 for the erection oi
a monument at Washington to the
memory of Mr.. Lincoln.
Time, Mr. Cullom said, would not
dim nor lessen the glory that clus-
tered around the name OF Lincoln.
He was man who could not diverge
from his duty, q generous and great
hearted man, full of human sympa-
thy-"with charity for oil, with NAL
ice toward none. 1t was he who
said: II have not willingly planted
q thorn in any mans bosom" His
namo had taken its place by the side
of Washington.
The bill was passed.
Mr.. Reed summed up good deal
of the common sense of the situation
when he said Wednesday, during the
debate on the arbitration bill in the
house: at may turn out that this
will amount to but little /;
it may turn out that it will amount
to much. Suppose we try it; when
we learn more, do more" The tenor
of the debate throughout showed
that, however the partakers in it
might differ about details, they were
q unit in recognizing arbitration as
the key to the whole labor problem.
Great reforms do not mature, like
fungi, in night. Their beginnings
arc often feeble, and their evolution
the work Of time. As Mr.. Reed sug-
gests, it is worth trying even con-
fessedly imperfect measure, and see
how it works. When its faults are
apparent, they can be corrected.
Meanwhile, the friend of progress will
have the satisfaction of seeing the
United States government, by the
hand of Congress, set the stamp of it's
on arbitration as principle.
That, of itself, would be great point
gained.
The house ways and means com
nittee is still considering the Hewitt
customs administration bill. This
dill will be the tariff bill tho commit
zee will endeavor to put through the
iouse. The tariff part of the bill
las been practically completed, and
when tho administration bill is fin
shed it will be tackled on, and the
'ill will be ready to report to the
louse. The administration bill oc-
'upies some twenty eight pages, and
consists largely of definitions by
which the customs officers are to be
,uided in the collection of duties. 1t
S very intricate to the comprehen-
ion of one not familiar with the
of the customs service. The
ariff feature of the bill will consist
# very short free list. This will be
constructed in accordance with Mr..
Iewitt's idea of free raw material,
With the probeble exception Of iron
re. Wool will be the principal arti-
lie on the free list; then will follow
umber and salt, and certain drugs
nd dyes used by manufacturers. In
making up this list the committee
las been guided by the purpose of
making the bill as strong as possible
n the house without sacrificing the
.reat tariff reform principles. They
xpect to have the bill ready in a
hort time now, and hope to get it
trough the house. /
Mr.. Foran, Of Ohio, told the house
esterdsy that he was no more op-
osed to the bill then pending than
e was TO drinking q glass Of water.
seems as if the gentleman might
ave chosen a smile whose force
'ould not have been lost upon 50
lany Of his audience.
Senator Hoar wants longer ses-
ions every year. Representative
each wants more hours Of work ey-
" day for the house Between the
NO the people may hope to get their
,onev's vygrfh of la,y-rnakinp- T..