San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-27

WASHINGTON. Jan. %, 1888.
Daily LIGHT:
For do.nothingness, the present con-
gress lie long ways ahead of all its pre-
decessors.
Congressional Investigations are al
ways popular with certain class OF con-
lions and individuals happen to be
wealthy. Impecunious congressman
want all the opportunity for fat pickings
that they can get, and they are sure to
make the most OF their opportunities.
The latest proposed Investigation Is that
provided by Mr. Mason's bill, which pro-
poses to empower q congressional COM
mittee to Investigate all the trusts and
combines that have been entered into
by firms, corporations, and individuals
In coal, sugar, mining, and kindred
subjects. The House committee on man.
ufsotures has unanimously agreed to
report this bill fayorably and they are
expected to do SO early this week. Then
these impeounious congressman Will be-
gin 70 indulge inchampagne and terra
pin stew, and to ride to and from the
capitol in Ooupes instead Of the plebian
street cars and herdlcs.
1t Is said there Is a strong lobby with
unlimited cash behind them, who are
here for the express purpose OF opposing
this bill. IL 1t were not for this lobby. it
is extremely doubtful whether the in
vestigation would ever have been pro-
posed.
just why Secretary Villas, late post
master general, should have been will
ing and apparently anxious to go down
grade in official dignity as he did in
accepting the portfolio Of the interior
department, has been quite puzzling to
o great many people. The whole matter
Is explained, however. by the following
official order which was made public on
Saturday.
Secretary Villas has relieved Assistant
Secretary Muldrow OF the care OF super
visiDg land decisions, aud In the future
he will devote his personal attention to
them.
Which means in plain English that
from this time on the entire public land
system of the United States ia to. be
manipulated in the interest OF Cleve-
lands reelection. Keep your eye on
Villas and his land decisions be-
tween now and next November.
The post Office department has issued
a circular giving the construction that
the department will put upon the new
Ia" COUctIblUB luo dmOuuI VI printing
or writing that may be placed on the
wrappers Of second, third and fourth
class mali matter. This new law re-
ceived The presidents signature on Sat-
day.
The anti-Rsndall democrats In con-
gress are wild with Joy over the defeat
OF the Randall candidate for the chair
manship OF the democratic state central
committee, Of Pennsylvania, and the
passage by that committee of resou-
ton strongly endorsing Cleveland and
commanding his recommendation for
reducing the tariff. MIR. Randall keeps
cool, and says the result will not change
his legislative course one Iota; but be
does not intimate what that course will
be during the present session OF con.
gress. But 1t Is safe to say that his
opinion on the tariff has not undergone
any change since the adjournment of the
forty-ninth congress. Ii Is claimed by
anii-internal revenue men, that Ran.
dali Is with them In their EXTREMIST
measures, while others will tell you that
he only fsvors the abolition of the to-
baoco tax; and still few, very few,
Others will tell you that he will favor
the bill for reducing the tariff, that will
be reported by the committee on ways
and means. The fact of the matter is,
no one knows what Randall intends do
ing. He has not committed himself.
His enemies think that his defeat In
Pennsylvania will deprive him Of some
Of his prestige and power In the house.
We shall see. G. A. 8.