San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-20
SENATOR SHERMAN
CONGRATULATED UPON ACCEPTING
THE PORTFOLIO OF STATE.
Will Not Resign Until After the Present
Session-General Batch Of Leg
islative Gossip.

showered upon Senator Sherman since
he returned to Washington and made
the formal announcement that he had
decided to become secretary of state
under President Mckinley, and con-
gratulations have also been wired to
Major Mckinley on his success in
getting so able and experienced a
man for his secretary of state. The
great business interests of the cOun-
try will welcome the selection of Sen
ator Sherman for this important post,
because his well known conservatism
is IL guarantee that while the foreign
policy of the Mckinley administra-
ton will be firm ana strongly Ameri-
can, it will not be tinged with the dis
turbing element of jingoism-it will
maintain the rights of American citi-
zens abroad, just as its internal poll
cy will protect Americans ut home,
but it will not get up war scares for
political effect, which disarrange all
branches of business and add to the
timidity of capital. The corner stone
of the Mckinley administration will
be confidence, and no one thing could
have made that palmer to the coun-
try than the choice of Senator Sher-
man to be secretary of state. Mr..
Sherman'S resignation as senator will
not take effect until the close of this
session of Congress, as he is deeply
interested in matters which may be
legislated upon by this Congress. Be
sides, it would not be good policy to
have n vacancy in the craftsmanship
of the committee on foreign relations
at this time, as there is no certainty
that the Senate, as Mt present COM
posed would allow the Republicans
to name his successor.
The Republican steering commit
tee of the Senate has given the MIC
ara qua canal bill the right of way in
the Senate. A similar bill has passed
the Senate several times, and there is
little doubt that this one will pass,
but it's chance for getting considera-
ton in the House is not considered
especially good.
Senator Gear has reported his bill
to the Senate for the appointment OF
a commission to be composed OF three
members of the cabinet to determine
upon a Just and equitable settlement
of the Indebtedness of the Pacific rail-
roads to the government, together
with a unanimous report from the
committee on Pacific railroads. of
which he is chairman, in its favor.
The fate of the bill is dependent upon
favorable action by the House on Il
similar bill, as il would be a mere
waste of time for the Senate to pass
it until assured of the attitude of the
House. Meanwhile the legal officers
of the government are getting ready
to apply to the courts for an order
foreclOsing the mortgage.
Col. Fred. ID. Grant, representing
the army of the Tennessee, and Gen.
S. b. Lee, of Mississippi, representing
the Confederate Veterans association.
made a joint argument before the
House committee on rules for the set
ting apart of a day for the c0nsidera-
ton by the House of the bill for the
purchase of ground around Vicksburg,
in order that future generations may
see the battle ground and study the
maneuvers made by Gen. Grant, which
resulted in the capture of what was
known as the Gibraltar. of the Con-
federacy, Gen. Grants first really
great military achievement. Speaker
Reed, who is chairman of that COM
mittee told the gentlemen that mas
much as the bill carried an apprOpria-
ton, it could not be considered from
a sentimental standpoint alone, and
that the committee could not at the
time make a positive promise.
The return of Hon. Thomas G. Platt
10 the Senate by the New York legis-
lature, recalls the remarks made by
himself and Senator COnkling, when
they resigned from the Senate. Mr..
Conkling said: ''Fhis ends me so far
as politics are concerned. shall new
er again allow the use of my name in
connection with any political office. 1
am done for all time with the game
of politics." Mr.. Plat said: Il will
re-enter politics at this very moment
and stay in until l die-Maybe to get
even with certain perfidious scoundrels
who have deceived us, and maybe to
60 back to the Senate of the United
States"
Before passing the Oklahoma Free
Homestead bill, the Senate amended
it by making its provisions apply to
all homesteads on lands acquired from
the Indians, and the amended bill is
now in the hands of the House COM
mittee on public lands. So far as
can be learned, the reports of an at
tempt to kill the bill in committee
have no better foundation than guess
work.
The Republican members of the
House Ways and Means committee
are making progress on the new tariff
bill. but il is not probable that the bill