San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. s, 1889.
(From Our Regular Correspondence

| dock In geUGlng MS Dill passed, Wnlcn
provides for relieving the Railway
Mail Service from the operation of the
Civil Service law. The bill which has
already been introduced in the SEN
ate, stands a good show of passing,
and some people think that Senator
Vance's bill for the repeal of the en-
tire Civil Service law may also be
passed. Speaking of the Civil Service
law, Senator Paddock says. II look
upon the system as a humbug which
| in its operation prevents the main idea
| of republican form of government"
Senator Vance says on the same sub
ject: 1T is losing strength in both
parties, because it has given no re-
suits that are creditable."
The president Is now in Chicago,
but he will return to Washington in
time to hear the address which Chief
Justice Fuller is to deliver before con-
gress next Wednesday, when that
body celebrates the one hundredth
anniversary of it's organization.
The first week of its existence con-
gress did little else but organize, and
there is little probability that 1t will
get fairly down to business until after
the Christmas recess. Very little
can be done in the house before the
committees are appointed, and if
Speaker Reed announces them before
the holidays he will do well-better
than the most of his predecessors.
The biggest sort of a sensation was
created at the Capitol last Thursday
by the announcement that &. f. Sill
colt, cashier, of the Sergeant-at-arms
Office Of the house of representatives,
had absconded with something like
SIS, 900. 1t was particularly emhar-
RAISING to Mr.. Leedom, the retiring
Sergeant-at-arms, who was just pre-
pairing to turn the office over to his
newly elected successor, Mr.. Holmes.
The money taken was the salaries of
the house, and just who will have to
lose it is not yet settled, owing to
the slipshOd way this office has con-
Quoted its business for years. A
committee OF the house, assisted by
several expert accountants from the |
treasury department are engaged in
making thorough investigation of
the sergeant-st-arms Office, and their
report, which is expected early this |
week, is anXiously looked for, Mr.. |
Silcott was brought here from Ohio |
by Mr.. Leedom six years ago, and |
since that time it is estimated that |
at least S30,O00,000 have passed |
through his hands. He owes his |
downfall to fast women and fast hor-
ses, a combination that rarely fails |
to ruin any man who follows them
for any length of time.
4 vigorous attempt is to be made to |
get congress to take up and decide |
= nf ho lc
exposition before Christmas. If it is
to be held in 1892, time is getting
precious.
Senator Edmunds, although not
opposed to holding an exposition to
celebrate the four hundredth ami
versary of the discovery of America,
would prefer seeing the money spent
in establishing great National uni
versity.
The National wool growers associa-
ton, which was in session here last
week, sent a committee to Secretary
Window to protest against certain
practices relating to the admission of
certain classes of wool. The secretary
informed the committee that he was
now engaged in making an investiga-
ton of this subject, and assured them
that full justice would be done to the
wool interests of the United States.
Secretary Noble has given permits
sion to 80 Sioux Indian chiefs to visit |
Washington. They want to talk to |
the president about the sale of their |
lands, which they have recently |
agreed to. They are expected here
next week.
Speaker Reed has announced the
committees on rules, accounts and |
enrolment bills. The committee on
rules, which may virtually De said to
control all legislation, consists of
Speaker Reed, Representatives Nc
Kinley and Cannon, and eX-Speakers
Carlisle and Randall.
Secretary WincOm's annual report
to congress would have made his rep
utation as one of the ablest financiers
in the country, if he had not been so
rated before. 1t is a document that
the ablest of his predecessors would
have been justified in feeling proud
OF. Its browning feature is the origi-
nal and ingenious system it proposes
as a solution of the never ending con-
troversy between the friends of gold
and silver as a basis for currency.
Every body is talking about it, and
doubtless those congressman who
pride themselves on their financial
knowledge are burning the midnight
oil studying it. Whether it will be
adopted is question that cannot be
answered offhand. No public man
who values his reputation would COM
nit himself for or against such all i'm
portant measure without long and
careful study. The president in his