San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-12-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
m On 1000

On the eve OF the first Thanksgiv.
ing day after Secretary Whitney took
charge OF the navy department, he
inaugurated the pretty custom OF
presenting each one OF the four hun
drod employees OF that department
with big fat turkey. The custom
has been regularly kept up ever since
and last Wednesday the employees Of
that department received for the last
time this practical evidence of the
Secretarys interest in their welfare.
This year Postmaster General Dick
inson followed the good example set
by Secretary Whitney, and presented
each Of the employees Of his depart
ment with the finest turkey to be had.
Believing in the old adage that
"the early bird catches tue worm,
Representative Canon, of Illinois, has
opened headquarters here and be-
gan an active canvass for the Speak
ership of the next House of Repre-
sentatives. Messrs. Butterworth,
Mckinley, Burroughs, Reed & Co.
will however make the fight interest
ing as soon as they get here. 1t is
generally thought that either Reed or
Mckinley will be Speaker.
Democratic members OF Congress-
are as a rule extremely reticent as to
what line of policy they will adopt at
the coming session of Congress-; they
nearly all express desire to confer
with their democratic colleagues be-
fore committing themselves. An ex
ception to this rule is Representative
Springer, of Illinois. He insists that
one of the first things the House will
do will be to pass his Oklahoma bill,
and that the next thing will be to
pass bill for the admittance of at
least four territories into the Union
as states.
The clerks in the government de-
partments in this city below the
grade of chief are all in an easy state
OF mind just at present. They haye
become convinced that Harrison is
genuine civil service reformer, and
that there will be no clean sweep
when he comes in. The principle
cause of this belief was an article in
our local papers taken from the edi-
torial columns of the Indianapolis
Journal, a paper which is thought to
be Harrison's home organ, which
warned the republicans not to expect
a clean sweep. There may not be q
clean sweep, but in my opinion at the
close of Harrison's term there will
not be one democrat in Office here for
each ten republicans now drawing
Uncle Sans pay. In other words,
I don't believe that Harrison will
keep ono tenth as many democrats in
Office as Mr.. Cleveland has kept re-
publicans.
Harrison's southern policy contin.
ues to be subject of general discus
sion here. The opinion is almost
among the members OF
both parties, that Harrison's admins
tration will he conservative one I'M
less something now entirely unex-
pected should occur. I don't think
the south has anything to fear at the
hands of Harrison. If many things
that now have troublesome look are
let severely alone they will adjust
chief among this class OF
things is the negro question. I am
certain from information derived from
sources that Harrison will
appoint no negro to any prominent
federal position in the south. In fact
there is an undoubted disposition
among republicans to relegate the
negro to back seats in the future.
He is no longer of any practical use
to that party, therefore they will give
him nothing.
There is growing belief that Har
rison will call an extra session of
Congress soon after his Inauguration.