San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-06

--LATEST crop reports from the wheat
growing states are not such as to war
rant the expectation that the present
low prices will be maintained. Min
nesota will not market more than three
fourths OF an average crop. Illinois Is
too irregular 10 its yield to predicate
much with certainty, crops ranging
from five bushels per acre to eighteen.
The official estimates Of two weeks since
will not be realized in Iowa, Dakota,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska or ILL
nois.
SECRETARY MANNING, who owns the
"barrel" OF the present administration,
returned to Washington yesterday
much improved in health and quite him
self again. His car was boarded some
distance out by Assistant Treasurer
Jordan, with basket Of flowers and the
news that the fatted calf was on the
spit. Arrived at the station, his ex-
cellency Grover 1, Sister Villas and her
little general, the ubiquitous Dan La
mont, Mrs. Assistant Secretary Fair
child, and others too numerous to men,
ton, held a reception in DaniePs private
car. After due amount OF taffy had
been disposed OF the distinguished ar
rival and his majesty were closeted for
couple OF hours in the state room, after
which the secretary's car was switched
Oh the New York train and his august
highness proceeded northward. The
president valet was the bearer Of
magnificent boquet Of flowers TO the Ie-
turning invalid, who seemed as we'll as
ever, and altogether the affair was quite
picturesque.
LITTLE Villas has had his fling at the
postal clerks, and reiterating his decla-
ration on entering his mismanaged office,
that no one will be removed without
cause, he dsmisses the request for in
vestigatiOn into causes OF removal with
q superb wave of his hand. This action
OF Villas is ola piece with the whole idea
of office holding in these United States.
The particular grievance between Villas
and his clerks Is that they were removed
without cause, other than that they were
republicans, on trumpsd up charges of
conspiracy which they deny and which
Villas refuses them an opportunity Of
disproving. We may relegate this
specific case to be settled by the logic of
events, but the general cussedness OF the
whole manner and method of doing pub
lie business remains. Every officer who
comes into place as the servant Of the
people seems to forget as soon as he
crosses the threshold of office that he Is
the servant of the public, and assumes at
once the prerogative Of master. Private
corporations may claim to manage their
own affairs in their own way, but the
servants Of the people, the officers Of
the state and national government
should be considered solely as holders in
trust for the people Of the offices they
administer. No appointee to any posi-
ton, however subordinate, in the ser
vice of the people should be removed
from such position without cause. 1t is
not enough to allege cause, such cause
should be shown and the accused should
have the privileges of defense. The star
chamber method Of making dismissals
from the public service so much in vogue
with this present administration should
be brought to an end, and If by no other
means let it be by bringing the admins
tration itself to an end. 1t is the era of
civil service abuse, with vengeance,
not VI cleveland and reform"