San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Senator Henderson is very anxious
that the President should appoint a
Commissioner of Pensions at once. He
has no candidate himself and would
have been very glad to have seen
Tanner remain there but he regards
the present status of the matter as
very poor politics, and l understand
has not hesitated to plainly tell the
President so at the several confer
ences he has held with him during
the last two or three days. Senator
Manderson said privately a day or two
since that "the only good thing about
the present situation is that Tanner
continues to draw the salary of Com
missioner of Pensions and will until
his successor is appointed and quail
fies." Secretary Noble has decided
that the re-rating of Senator Mander-
sons pension without application Or
examination was illegal.
Secretary Blaine states that the
members of the Three Americas Con-
gress will be taken on a tour through
the south in January. The only
reason that they were taken through
the other sections first was that there
was more to be seen, and 1T was de-
sired to give them as favorable i'm
preston as possible of our manufac-
turing resources before the work OF
the Congress was begun.
The October term Of the United
States supreme court was formally
opened to-day, though the justices
did nothing further than to make the
customary call OH the President. All
the justices were present and con-
siderable surprise was expressed
around town that successor to the
late Justice Matthews had not been
appointed before this term began.
The court has docket of 1925 cases
and under the most favorable circum-
stances is not expected to dispose OF
more than 400 during the present
term. 1t is believed that the APP
pointment to the vacancy would have
been made long ego if it had not been
for the continued opposition to the
appointment of Attorney General
Miller. If this opposition was united
in favor of any one man Mr.. Miller
would have no show at all, but d.
yided as it is between five or six, it
would not be surprising fhe captured
the much coveted appointment.
Representative Samuel j. Randall,
who has recently been reported as be-
ing dangerously ill, has arrived at his
Washington residence. His health is
not very good, but he Is not ill. 1t is
probable that MIR. Carlisle will find
him we'll enough to assume the lead
ership of the minority in the next
house of represen tatives.
The knights Templar had high
old time here last week. They were
given the freedom of the city, and
they enjoyed it to the fullest extent.
The gunboat "Petrel" has been &C.
cepted by the government and is now
at the Norfolk navy yard being fitted
out for cruise.
Secretary Noble has received many
communication from labor organiZa-
lions asking that he have the facts
collected for the census next year,
showing what per centage OF the
people occupy their own homes, and
what per centage are tenants. Also
what per centage among the owners
of realty have their property clear of
debt. Such table carefully prepared
would certainly be very interesting,
and it is hoped that the secretary can
see his way clear to having it pre-
pared.
On Wednesday the International
Maritime conference will meet in this
city. The newspapers have not had
much to say about this conference,
nevertheless it will be one of the most
important international meetings ever
held. Its principal object is to ar
range an International code of navi-
CATION signals to be used all over the
world. That the universal adapta-
ton of such a code would result in a
large saving of life cannot for a mo-
ment be doubted.
Many of the knights Templar while
here last week engaged quarters for
the opening week of the Worlds EX-
| position in 1892, so confident are they
| that it will be held in Washington.
Secretary Rusk continues to grow
in popularity. He Is never too busy
| to see caller no matter how humble
he may be, and already many people
are asking themselves why he would
not make good president. One
thing he never fOrgets is that it is the
people, and not the accidental office
! holders that control the country.
Gen. Poole of Syracuse, New York,
| is the favorite today for commits
sioner OF pensions. He is strongly
endorsed by Senator Hiscock. Elk.
Congressman Steele, of Ind, is said
to have declined the appointment.