San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Corresponding

WASHINGTON ID. G, Dee. 10, 1881
Senator Cockrell, as chairman Of the
caucus committee, reported to the
democratic senatorial caucus this
morning IA list, assigning the demo
cratic senators TO positions Oh the
newly created senate committees
which was ratified by the caucus.
Affairs around the office OF the
sergeant-at-arms of the house are
beginning to take on an ugly look
The committee Of the house, which
has been investigating the defalca'
ton OF the absconding cashier, Sill
colt, in its partial report tells enough
about the loose way Of doing bust
ness in that Office 10 surprise people,
and everybody knows that tho COM
mittee discovered good many things
which il has not told because mem
bers and ex.members OF the house
are mixed up with thom. This mys-
terry should be at once and without
delay swept away. Matters have
arrived at the stage where it will be
far better to make public everything
the committee he's found out than to
attempt TO smother up things, as has
been, done. This smothering policy
has resulted already in filing the air
with rumors charging all sorts of
things against various gentlemen OF
prominence in both parties. In the
meantime Silcott, is the Lord only
knows where, and the books show a
shortage Of about $1,000. If the
action or rather want of action, on
the part Of those most concerned
may be taken as basis Of opinion,
Silcotts defalcation was no legal
crime. He has, however, been in
dicted by the grand jury of this city
for forgery, and if his whereabouts
can be discovered he may be brought
back.
Congress will take recess to Jan
uary 6. Many members and senators
will take advantage of this opportu-
nifty to 90 home for a flying visit,
This is particularly true of the demo
Gratis Of the house who do not feel
the same responsibility about the
recess work of the house committees
that they did last year, and for some
years past.
The senate has two propositions
before it relating to negro emigra
ton from the south. One is a bill
offered by Senator Butler, and the
other resolution offered by Senator
Gibson. Both look to government
aid for the emigrants.
The Mckinley tariff bill will pro-
badly be the popular name for the
measure which the republican mem
bers of the ways and means commit
tee will try to formulate on that most
troublesome subject, the tariff. II
is entirely too early to attempt to
make a prediction as to what the new
bill will be. Some people think the
bill will be based on the senate tariff
bill of the last session. Your CORES
pendent does not think so. The
senate bill of last year was vote
catching hodge-podge Of absurdities
hnrriedly thrown together by certain
republican bosses, and would never
have passed the senate had not those
who voted for it known that it was
certain to be defeated in the house.
The new bill will be constructed in q
more leisurely way and will conse,
quently be better measure-it could
hardly be worse.
The senate has so far confirmed
very few of Mr.. Harrisons nomina-
tons, and against some Of them there
is very active fight being made, no
tably Morgan, commissioner of Indian
affairs, and Dorchester, superintend-
ent of Indian schools. 1t would not
be surprising if these two are reiec-
ted.
A committee Of The house has been
appointed to try and run down the
scoundrels who committed the for
geries on the notorious ballot box
contract, which was used in the re-.
cent Ohio campaign. Honest men
of both parties will earnestly wish
the committee God speed in its good
work.
The house committee on elections
having perfected an organization, the
stream of perjury in the contested
election cases will begin to flow this
week.
Justice Lamar, of the supreme
court, has accepted an invitation to
deliver an address to mass meeting
of the citizens of Richmond, Virginia,
on the life and character of the late
Jefferson Davis.
Speaker Reed promises to an
nounce the rest of the house COM
mittees before the recess.
LincOln-DaViS.