San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 1888.

fact that several Of them are known
to DO bitterly opposed to certain sec
tons Of tho bill. Several explana-
tons are given for this action by par
ties who profess to know. One is
that Harrison has stated that he
wants the bill passed at this session,
and that those Republicans that are
opposed TO it are afraid to vote against
1t, lest they thereby lose their share
OF patronage under the new admins
tration; another is. that tLey know
tho bill will not pass the House ard
only vote for it to keep up appear
ances OF harmony in tho Republican
ranks until after Harrison is inaugur-
ated, leaving the quarrel that is be-
lievcd by many people to be inovita
bic over the tariff until the next SEES
sion, when they will control both
House and Senate.
The presidents message was an
able statement of the position OF the
Democratic party on tho tariff and
other matters of importance; the
IDEAS expressed therein could not
have been improved. Statements like
tho following from the message are
ponderous with statesmanlike Wis
dom: HE mocks the people who
proposes that the government shall
protect the rich, and that they in turn
w.li care for tho laboring poor. Any
intermediary between the people and
their government, or the least dele
cation of the care and protection the
government owes to the humblest
citizen in the land, makes the boast
of free institutions glittering delu-
sion and the pretended boon OF Amer-
lean citizenship shameless imposi
ton" "Extravagant
appropriations of public money with
all their demoralizing consequences
should not be tolerated, either as a
means of relieving the treasury of it's
present surplus, or as furnishing pre-
text for resisting proper reduction
in tariff rates. 'lt
cannot be denied that the selfish and
private interests which are so persis-
tently heard when efforts are made
to deal in a just and comprehensive
manner with our tariff laws, arc rolat-
ed to if they are not largely respon
sible for the sentiment largely
prevailing among the people
that the general government
is tho fountain of individual and prl-
vate aid; that it may be expected to
relieve with paternal care the distress
of citizens and communities, and that
from the fullness of its treasury it
should, upon the slightest possible
pretoxt of promoting the general
good, apply public funds to the ben
eft of localities and individuals. Nor
can it be denied that there is grow
ing assumption that as against the
government and in favor of private
claims and interests, the usual rules
and limitations of business principles
und lust dealings should be waived
These ideas have been unhappily
much encouraged by Legislative &C.
uuiescence. Relief from contracts
made with the government is too cas-
ily accorded in favor of the citizen;
the failure to support claims against
the government by proof is often
supplied by no better consideration
than the wealth of the government
and the poverty of the claimant; gra-
tuities in the form of pensions are
granted upon no other real ground
than the needy condition of the APP
plicant. or for reasons less valid; and
large sums are expended for public
buildings and other improvements
upon representations scarcely claimed
to be related to public needs and ne
cessities."
The House yesterday by unanimous
consent took up the direct tax bill,
which caused the long deadlock last
spring. 1t is expected that /. will be
passed, bat hopes are expressed by
its opponents that Mr.. Cleveland will
veto it.
Mr., Hurriscn's backbone is likely
10 suffer a severe strain between now
and the fourth of March. The Re
publican leaders have determined
upon having an extra session Of the
iftv fret congress called to meet late
in March or early 10 April. There Is
not the slightest necessity Of an extra
session: the republicans acknowledge
that the only object in having 1t called
is to gain the six Senators and Is
many Representatives rs South Da
knta. M-ntsra ani Washington, when