San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, April IL, 1872.
The latest democratic scheme to aid
in throwing the election of President
into the house Of representatives lie
.hrewd, but it will not work, for the
very simple reason that the republl-
can leaders see through 1t and will
take care that it is made equally clear
TO the voters in the states concerned.
AT q consultation attended by Sena-
tors German, Brice and Hill, and
some other prominent democrats 1t
was decided that 1t would greatly
strengthen the chances of the third
party 10 carry, of course, with the Is.
sistance OF the solid democratic vote,
four or five of the northwestern states
if it could be made to appear probable
that it could carry an equal number
of southern states.
Carrying out the idea OF that con-
ference, southern democrats of pro.
minence have "filled up" every news
paper man that they could get at
with their fears that the third party
carry from four to seven OF the south.
ern States, and lots of rot has been
teiegraphed from here concerning
this alleged new phase of the Presi
Dental campaign. new nothing.
There is as much probability that
the electoral votes OF any southern
State, with the exception of two
Virginias, either both of which may
ue carried by the republicans, will
be cast for third party candidate as
there is that Texas will 60 republic
can. 1t is simply dodge to try to
catch repu blican voters who belong
TO the farmers organization in the
northwes tern States.
Only three democrats voted against
the bill for the admission of cotton
ties and bagging free Of duty, which
was passed by the House Saturday
afternoon, and yet 1t is one the most
illogical as well as sectional bills
ever before Congress. 1t lie q direct
blow at one established American
industry-the iron hoop and band
mills-snd it would, if it became q
law, create distractions in the path OF
those who are trying TO establish on q
large scale the manufacture of jute
bagging in the United States.
Notwithstanding the covert opposi
ton of nine tenths of the democratic
Senators and the open opposition and
sneers of q few of them, the very men
too that conscience should have kept
silent, the bill appropriating 500. 900
towards helping to entertain the
members of the G.. A. r., at the
coming encampment in this city was
passed by the senate. Only ten demo
Gratis had the nerve to cast their votes
against the bill when the test came,
and every one of them reprerents eX.
Confederate constituencies. Here is
the list: Berry and Jones Of Arkan-
Sos; Coke and Mills of Texas; Black
burn of Kentucky; Bates of Tenn.
eseee; Irby, the so called Farmers
Alliance Senator, from South Car
DINA; Colquitt, of Georgia; Pugh of
Alabama, and Vest of Missouri.
The Worlds Fair congressional
committees have been giving hear.
ings both for and against the opening
Of the exposition on Sunday, and as
far as the arguments 60, the OPPOSE.
tion to Sunday opening has decidedly
the best OF it. What Congress will
do. or whether it will do anything, is
q matter of doubt; it would much pre-
Ter escaping responsibility by doing
nothing, but the pressureis becoming
so strong that some action may have
TO be taken.
Real Estate spectators are every
where q shrewd lot but those Of
Washington should be rated above
them all; they have made millions by
unloading ground, bought for a song,
upon the government at ia ncy prices,
and they are still at it. At the last
session of congress bill appropriat.
ing the money to purchase site for
the Washington city post Office on
the south eide of Penn avenue,
the most dispreputeble part
Of the city, became law,
and In due time the aforesaid specu-
lators received about three times as
much as the square-about the most
unproductlve property in town-was
worth, and now engineers are search
ing for solid foundation, which they
say can only be had upon forty foot
plies, aud even then 1t will be neces-
sary to cement the entire bottom and
sides of the cellar, and TO provide the
building with q powerful pumping
outfit to K. ep it dry.
A bill has been introduced in con-
gress to build new patent office In
the same locality, presumably on the
came foundation, at q cost Of So. 500.
600. Now word agout that locality
Strangers to Washing ton have heard
so much about Pennsylvania avenue
that it is natural for them to suppose
that it would be a perfectly proper
place to erect costly buildings, but az
o matter of fact 1t isn't. Why? 1t ID
too low-less than three ieet
above ordinary high tide-and
it's dampness and consequent un
healthtulness has caused it to be
abandoned for higher ground. All o.
Washington's largest business houses