San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-04-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Mar. IL, 1886.

WASHINGTON, Mar. IL, 1886.
ED. FREE Press - With the sen
ate's investigation OF the administra
ton, the house commuters inyestiga
ton of Pan Electric stock, and an
other investigation Of the commits
sioner of pensions in regard to the
charges he brought against his pre-
decessor. Dudley, it would seem that
the spirit Of inquiry were raging here
now.
On the contrary, two Of these affairs
are dismal farces. No sensations
have been evolved from the telephone
business, and public interest in it il
rapidly subsiding. Hon. Casey Young
has contradicted the imputationf
against the Encouragement, and il
seeking letters for publication as ties
tinony, out of 212 five were from Mr.
Garland, none of which bear on the
subject under investigation.
Gen. Black is we'll fortified with
proof of his allegations against ex-
commissioner Dudley's republican
pension machine He submitted
cases of gross irregularity, showing
that claims were advanced and al
lowed as partisan rewards, and he
has hundreds of affidavits in reserve.
As to the senate's fight for papers,
none but tho blipdest of partisans
can see any other outcome of the re-
publican situation than a surrender
There is desire on the part of most
of the senators who have followed
Mr.. Edmunds' lend to drop tho con-
test as soon as possible and to say rs
little rs possible about it. The de-
bate has involved SO many senators
in contradictions and Inconsistencies
that it has clearly strengthened the
president in his position. 1t has also
served to direct attention to the evils
of secret sessions so intently that
that their very existence is strongly
threatened.
The weakest point of the repub-
lican position is that they have called
for this information to be used in
Star Chamber sessions. If the SEN
ate considered the presidents ap.
pointments in open session, there
would be much more excuse for these
attacks upon him for his secresy.
Senator Edmunds is sorely cut by
the revolt of the finance committee.
Its resolve to report the nominations
of internal revenue collectors referred
to it in spite of the caucus, was a
square breakdown from the repub-
lican position. And the present week |
is likely to witness similar action on
the part of the Indian affairs commit
tee, and other committees which are
weary of the useless contest.
There was never any commences
or cohesion in the movement, and it
required little political keenness to
see what would certainly happen. The
obstruction was political blunder,
and there was so little interest in it
that the public did not even charge
its mind with the task of keeping up
with the debate. The Indignation
which was pumped up was false and
and there has beer nc time
when the republican senators in a
body have not regretted the course
into which they were dragooned by
the rasping selfshness from Vermont.
As an experimental issue it has been
n dismal failure, and it is only aston
ishing that the pretense was kept up
rs long as it was.
The bill to pension the widow Of
Hancock has been before the
house, and was eloqueEtly supported
by representative Bingham, of Penn ,
sylvania. Representative P,ice, of .
opposed it. He said the
country had paid General Hancock
brilliant, brave, generous in all his
the sum Of Sl52.0OOl
during the last twenty years. "He
helped to save your country" sug
yested Mr.. Bingham. Aud there
are hundreds Of thousands as good
As he wss who helped to save the
country. who are starving, replied
Mr.. Pnce. The pension Will b.
$4,000 q year There are many mem
bers who would be glad to make It
$1,000. but the widows Of G,neral
and Admiral FSrragut re-
,eive S2-Olo. and presidents in such
matters are dificul; 10 overcome. ]