San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan 30, 1888


From our regular correspondent.
A ripple Of amusement has been
caused here by the publication OF let
ter written by Senator Ingalls, three
weeks after Cleveland's inauguration, in
which he pays Cleveland some compli-
ments About that time there were a
great many republicans who would have
written similar letters, so completely
were they humbugged by Cleyeland's
professions Of civil service reform. but
now that his character il more fully
known and understood, he stands In the
eyes OF obseryant people as the repre-
sentative OF the spells system, and his
administration will stand In history as
having removed mole officials on ao-
count OF their political opinions than
any other one in the history ofthe coun-
try: and these removals have been
steadily going on while this arrant pO-
litical fraud WAS repeating: mo man
shall be removed on account OF his pO-
litical opinions" and other such catch
phrases. The publication Of this old IT.
CALLS letter was doubtless intended to
help Cleveland, but IL Ia more likely to
prove boomerang.
For the first time, Cleveland WAS seen
on foot on the streets OF this city, Satpr-
day, when accompanied by Secretary
Fairohid he walked to west Washing
ton and returned. A short distance be-
hind them walked two detectives, to see
that nobody should hurt the "dear limo
cen little things" Bah. It's enough to
make one sick to even think OF. particu-
larry when 1t Is remembered that when
Gen. Grant was president, he made u
regular practice OF walking about the
city alone, and it would have been
very reckless man who would have
dared to suggest to the brave old war
rior that he should be followed by deteC-
tives to protect him rom his fellow citi-
Zens. But it's long ways from Grant to
Cleveland; one was the real man Of the
people; the other is II bogus representa-
tive OF the people, who tries to palm
himself off on the masses as a great re-
former.
That republics are ungrateful" was
never more strikingly shown than in the
case of the survivors OF Lieut.. Greeley's
expedition to Lady Franklin Bay, who
have not to this day received from the
government their regular allowance for
fuel and quarters. II they had been on
some easy duty at home, they would
doubtless have long ago received their
allowances; but their absence In the
Arctic seas and the form of the order de-
failing them, made an act Of congress
necessary to authorize their payment.
A bill was reported to the senate In the
last congress, and easily passed, but 1t
WAS defeated in the house, through the
efforts OF Gen. Bragg (hOw minister to
MexicO) solely because 1t was reported
from the committee on claims instead of
from the military committee. A bill hiss
already been introduced In the senate
this session to give Brainsrd and bis
brave comrades their pay, which
amounts to about 500 for each OF them.
Senator MandersOn made the report on
this bill, in which he said:
The appeal of these men is not OrIy
Just. with precedent In support OF IL.
but the heroism exhibited and the hard.
ships endured by the petitioners should
have stimulated earlier action RS an
evidence Of desire on the part of the
representatives. of the American people
to reward those who were willing to
sacrifice their lives and their health in
the cause OF science. Justice has been
tardy. Fourteen OF the nineteen persons
named in this bill are dead, and at the
rate OF progress which their prayer for
relief has, all may be deceased before
action 10 taken.
Think ola report like that being made
in the senate. And yet 1t may be years
before the heirs of these brave men get
their money.
Hon. S. V. White, OF New York, has
introduced bill that will strike many
people fsvOrably, In view of the rapid
rate at which our forests are being de-
stroyed. His bill proposes to separate
the forest lands from the other public
lands OF the United States, to withdraw
them from the control OF the general
land office, and to put them under the
special care OF the commissioner of for
rests, and four assistant commissioners.
with the view OF having the forest lands
cultivated and preserved. HowLEss.