San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June, s, 1891.

| ltrom Our Regular correspondent
| WAsHIN GToN, June, S, 1891.
| Secretary Fostersshas returned from,
New York, and Will in day or two
decide what, if any, action he will
take upon the extraordinary demard
| made by Messrs. Hayes and Devlin,
of the executive board of the knights
of Labor, which are part of the
| fight which has been going in
the bureau Of engraving and print
ing nearly ever since Mr.. Meredith
was appointed chief of that Su-
reau by the late Secretary Window.
This fight, as understood here, is
really between the knights of Labor
and its rival organization, the FEEDER
alton of Labor, aud the trouble seems
to be that Mr.. Meredith has declined
| to allow either of them to run the
| bureau. More than year ago the
| knights of Labor preferred charges
against Mr.. Meredith, and Secretary
| Window, after a careful investiga-
ton, declared them without founda-
| ton.
Since Secretary Foster came into
the Cabinet these charges have been
| again brought forward by tho
knights of Labor, and Mr.. Meredith
| was informed that If he would rein
state seven Knights OF Labor whom,
| he had discharged for disoDedienee
of orders they would be withdrawn,
| but as that would have been q taelt
| Acknowledgement of the truth of the
charges he, ofcourse, refused to do it.
| Messrs Hayesand Revlin last week
| while Secretary Foster was out of
| nd triad RI hInf A iota
Secretary Crounse into ac-
| ceding to their demand. He told
| them that 80 far as he could see there
| was nothnk In the charges they had
| made against Mr.. Meredith. He was
| then informed that unless Mr.. Mere
dith was removed the whole strength
| of the knights of Labor would be
| thrown against the republican party
| in the Ohio campaign this year.
| Judge Crounse told them that threats,
would have no effect in this case,
unless they could present some
| good reason why MIR. Meredith
should be removed. Messrs. Devlin
and Hayes then went to the White
House and repeated their de-
| mands and threats to the presi-
| dent who simply declined to discuss
| the matters at all, telling them that
Secretary Foster was the proper per-
son to see. Those who are fully con-
| versant with the matter in all its
bearings do not think that Secretary
Foster will interfere with Mr.. Mere
| dith in his methods of conducting the
business of his bureau, nor do they
believe that Messrs. Hayes and Dew
| lin will dare to attempt to array the
! knights of Labor Of Ohio against the
| republican party upon any such
| filmsy pretext as the discharge Of
| seven men for disobeying orders.
| The affair Is creating q great deal OF
| talk here, because 1t lie the first time
| that high officials of any labor organ
| ization have attempted In such D bold
| manner to dictate to the Government,
i and for the same reason the outcome
| ia watched for with much interest, al
| though few believe that the threat is
4 any more than talk.
| Secretary Noble is coming back:
this week, and again there are all
sorts of rumors about bis early retire
1 ment or change to another branch Of
the government service, but there 10
the same lack of authenticity In these
rumors that have distinguished all
their. predecessors. Commissioner
Raum Is treated In about the same
way by the rumor mongers. He says
that he has no idea of resigning I'M
less requested to do so by the Presi-
dent. and that the President has
recently told him that he was entirely
satisfied with his administration of
the pension Office, and yet nearly
eyerv one you meet believes that We,
will have new commissioners of PEN
sions in the near future.
The appointment OF ex-Representa-
tive owen, of Indiana, to be immi-
grafton commissioner Is generally
recognized as peculiarly fitting one.
Mr.. owen is the author of the bill to
restrict immigration; he has made
the subject special study for years
and his appointment was asked for
by hundreds of labor organizations in
all sections of the country. 1t Is the
intention of the administration to
strictly enforce the immigration laws,
and although they are by no means
perfect 1t is believed that they can be
30 administered as to remedy many OF
| the worst abuses.
| Ex.Sen ator Blair, who is still in
town, drawing salary as minister to
China, has turned prophet. He says
! the republican national platform next
year will declare for the free coinage
| OF silver. II.
Justice Adam held an inquest last
evening, on the three months old
| baby of Tiburcio Garcia, which died
of intestinal disease.
The mandamus case of ex-relator
Harry Dale VS.. Justice Anton Adam,
to onno nal him tn enter in his dock et