San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINGToN, Dec. "a, 1883.


WAsHINGToN, Dec. "a, 1888.
Da,'y LIGHT:
Senator Allison may be seen at the
Capitol since the recess getting the
tariff bill in good shape for its final
passage by the senate.
Some amusement has been created
among those who are conversant with
the under-current of congressional
action at the easy manner i'm which
the democratic senators tumbled into
the open trap which had been set for
them by the republicans. OF late the
fact has been patent that unless the
consideration of the senate tariff bill
could i'm some manner be hurried up
its passage would be somewhat doubt
ful, owing to lack of time. Observing
this state of affairs the republican
senators thought chat the Christmas
recess might be dispensed with and
evening sessions of the state held in
order to get through the tar
itf bill some time in January. This
was by no means pleasant arrange
ment for those senators who expected
to eat their Christmas turkey at home.
How to get the recess and at the same
time make sure of the tariff bill was
the question. 1t was easily settled and
the trap set by holding caucus of re-
publican senators and deciding
against Christmas recess. In an
hour every democratic senator had
heard of the action of the caucus, and
was in a state of indignation thereat.
The house had passed without a divi-'
sion a joint resolution for recess from
Friday, 2lst instant, to Monday, Janu-
airy 18th, and the republican senators
had actually decided not to allow the
senate to take any recess at all.
Shameful! The democratic senator's
called caucus to consider the matter,
and appointed committee to wait on
the republicans and attempt to bring
about some sort of compromise that
actly what the republicans wanted,
and what they had confident.
ly expected. The committee was in
formed that the only reason
the republicans opposed the recess
was because, owing to the needless
amendments offered by democrats,
the time seemed to be necessary for
| the consideration of the tariff bill.
| The committee was also informed
that if the democrats would agree
to take the final vote upon the tariff
bill early in January the republicans
would agree to vote for the holiday
recess. The committee, after confer
ring with the democratic senators,
and after Directing to every date men,
toned, finally agreed to allow the
final vote to be taken on the tariff
bill January Dist, while the republic
cans agreed to vote for recess from
last Friday to Wednesday, January
End. Thus everybody was made hap
Ply and the republicans went home,
feeling particularly good, to think
their tariff bill would get through all
right next month, some time earlier
| than the most sanguine had hoped.
This early passage of the bill will up
| set the calculations of the democratic
leaders of the house, who had based
| their arrangements on the idea that
the bill would not get through the
senate until so late in the season,
that they could pigeon-hole it on the
ground of lack of time for it's proper
consideration.
Senator Quay stopped here on his
return from his visit to Gen. Harri-
son, but as far as any news of the WIS.,
it is concerned he might as well have
gone directly home. II am pleased
with my visit to General Harrison,
and entirely satisfied is about the
substance of all that Mr.. Quay has
said of his visit.
If every man who elected Gen. Har-
rison is to have position in the cab
met, the cabinet Will have about TO-
0Co members. have sneak
ing, bashful kind of an idea thar
when the correspondents and editors
get tired of working on the cabinet
General Harrison will take hold of the
matter and announce to the country
the names of the men he has selected
as his advisers.
Scene, hotel bar; persons, two
broken down politicians. First-"Ah,
L am glad to meet you, / see that
your name is mentioned in the news
papers as the next secretary of the
navy" Secondhand yours as the
coming postmaster general" Shake.
First-''I am little short today; loan
me dollar until tomorrow and we
will drink to your success Second
'Great minds run in the same chan
mel. was about to make the same
request of you" Loungers in the
bar-"RatsD