San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Political ProRnostIcations-
cratic JoCkeys--Playing a
Desperate Game.

Political representations
cratic JoCkeys--Playing a
Desperate Game.
from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, December 81, lsS7.-The
burden OF conversation at the capital
since adjournment has been the appoint
meDt OF the house committees. The
speakers room ia literally thronged
from morning till night by members
who are Urging their own interest or
that Of friend. To complIcate affairs,
1t Ia said that the president is assuming
to dictate to the speaker certain ap-
pOintments that the speaker don't want,
and that several members are quite
wrOth because their merits are not more
readily recognized. All these things
are a sad comment on American poll
tics, and ought to disgust the people
to that extent that they will
see to 1t that the next house
Is republican. There Ia no ques-
ton that the important committees are
being most shamefully packed In GER
tain interests, and IL is through these
committees that legislation must come,
II we have any regarding the great is
cues. As an illustration, the control of
the ways and means committee, the
most important at this time. Is given to
the nor manufacturing south, while the
bee hive OF all New England Is only
given one member. and the great manu-
featuring state OF New Jersey. with Its
millions Invested, Ia left without a rep
reseDtstive on the committee. This is
only one Of many instances shO wing how
desperate the democracy are In playing
their lost game.
Ex-Speaker Randall, of Pennsylvania,
will be appointed chairman of the appro-
priation committee, through neither the
president or speaker want him In that
position, but he carries too many guns
to be ignored, and is bent upon having
1t. and will get 1t. Judge Holman. Of
Indiana, who has served many years on
that committee, is TO be dropped, and
will be made chairman Of public lands,
which change does not suit him. Cen
eral Wheeler, Of Alabama, who was the
chief confederate cavalry leader, wants
to be chairman Of military agairs, but
Dick Townsend, OF Illinois, Is booked
for the place, and Wheeler Is mad.
General Herbert, OF Alabama, who
was another Confederate leader, is to be
of naval affairs. Culbertson,
of Texas, prominent in the COnfede-
racy. is to be chairman of the judiciary,
and Dirble. of South Carolina, another
prominent Confederate, has the commit
tee on public buildings and grounds.
The invalid pensions committee was
made unusually prominent in the last
congress, by the president vetOing 100
bills that that committee reported and
{ assed. Col. MatsOn, of Indiana, was
chairman, ard was successful In passing
a ew bills over the veto. For that, the
president demands q new chairman, but
whether such petty vengeance will sue
coed or not, is matter Of doubt up to
this writing.
The president sent to the pope, as a
Christmas present, a beautiful engraved
copy Of the United States constitution,
richly bound in book form. There are
fifteen pages In the book, aud each page
Is inches square. The book rests in
gorgeous case Of Iyrian purple, and
doubtless will be highly priced by the
pope.
The report OF the geological survey
just published, shows that the produc-
ton of mineral In the United States
reached, last year, the enormous value
OF $465, 600 900, the largest yet recorded
greater than the year previous.
1t is asserted this morning on good
authority that on the reassembling of
congress the president will send in
special message, recommending the re-
peal of the tobacco tax. Such an act
will reduce the revenue about $30,000,-
600, and will not be seriously antagon-
lied.
We have had az visitors this week
shout 300 school teachers from New
York and Brooklyn, who have made a
thorough tour of the city and its public
buildings, and express themselves as
highly pleased with the visit. Washing
ton Is getting to be the most delightful
pleasure resort on the continent.
Congress meets agaia next Wednes-
day, from and after which time, until
July at least, we may anticipate lively
times. Everything goes to show a fierce
and bitter contest between the two
great parties. G. A. s.