National Republican., 1888-03-01

which attached to 1t. The President had
lutt as much justification In asking Con
gress to re enact the increase Of the salary
as TO ask 1t to reenact law which was
eight years old. 1t was little short OF
executive notification. What was the
meaning Of IL ali? The responsibility OF
the President and his failure to call an
extra session was dwelt upon at length.
Mr.. Mckinley chalged the administration
with being responsible for whatever con.
getted condition was found 10 the treasury
and the finances OF the government, and
was loudly applsuded from the Republican
side.
"The President" he continued, "migbt
lecture the Democratic side OF the House as
much as he pleased. Doubtless they de-
served 1t. But there was some little re-
sponsibility resting upon him. A business
man who had a surplus balance In the bank
and outstanding debts would pay them.
And that is what business administration
would have done II the President had fol-
lowed the way blazed for him by the Re-
publican party" [Applause lie wondered
II there was some Interior motive In piling
up this surplus. lie wondered II 1t was not
for the purpose OF creating condition OF
things In the country which would get up
scare to break down the protection system
OF the country. He wondered II that.was
not just what was in the mind OF the Presi-
dent-to pile this money up In the treasury
and tell Congress that the country would
become bankrupt and that panic would
come II II didn't reduce tariff duties.
Mr. Weaver, Of Iowa, criticised the al.
minlstration for having distributed the sur.
plue among the national banks, and inti-
mated that the President was controlled by
the great money trust which afflicted the
country.
MIR Reed, OF Maine, took the iloor, aud
said that II some gentleman desired to re-
ply to the attack upon the administration
he would yield him time ilaughterl, II not,
he would 20 on. BE had always felt that
the management by the treasury of the
finances OF the country was q matter too
serious for partisan action. Since the ad-
vent OF the present administration he had
once or twice been It's defender, because he
thought that the administration Of the
Treasury Department was following the
sound principles which characterized the
administration of the eminent Rapuhii.
cans who formerly presided over it. lie
felt now, however, that the action OF the
Treasury Department was subject to criti-
cism.
Why had not the Secretary met the exl.
genCies caused by the surplus? No mao
dared 10 stand up agd defend the quibble
that the power was lacking because 1t was
given IN all appropriation bill. That was
Il
to assume. He could recOllect when IL was
absolutely necessary to suit that party that
every law should be upon an appropriation
bill.
He arraigned the majority for it's inac d.
tivity on the financial question, and said
that necessary measures had been neglected
because men pursued the empty vision OF
free trade policy. When the fiftieth Con n.
gress came here spectacle had met it-a
xNft Il, ,t.l
neglected every interest Of this vast em-
pire, which placed to one side every ques
tion, except that of tariff bill, that was
pressing upon the country. The President
had said that on the tariff and the surplus
Congress must act instantly. What had
been done. Three months had rolled by
and the committee on ways and means had
never spent one day on the tariff. That
subject had never been mentioned In the
committee room of the committee on ways
and means in full public meeting. ZAP.
plause and laughter on Republican side
A special message declaring that there was
only one thing on earth which demanded
the attention of the Congress of the United
States, and that subject utterly unmen-
toned for three long months in the COM
mittee to which that unique message was
consigned and that was called business.
Laughter. lie did not wonder that the
the long distance of Texas aud Arkansas
might require some time to be overtaken,
but surely the heavyIpressure OF the surplus
which ought at least to be pressure Of one
thousand pounds to the square inch, ought
to have given force eE Eough to cause one little
WHISPER to be heard in the committee on ways
and means to which had been consigned the
message OF the President Of the United
States, aud where II now rested in eloquent
sileIc ce. He had heard from various sources
that there was being matured something
that would finally get ont OF the secusion
and be presented to the members of the
committee who had the matter in charge
But thus far there was a singular fulfill
inert Of the scriptural idea that this thing
had been hid "flom the wise and prudeut''
snd had been revealed to the gentlemen
upon the majority Of the committee
Laughter. From the way In which those
gentlemen hesitated and moved around II
looked as II they were not the babes Of til,
Scripture, but OF the old story waiting fOi
| somebody to come ard bury them under
| last years leaves. The trouble witt
| the country was not the trouble OF tax
| alton, but the trouble of the accumulation
| Of money in the treasury.
Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, made
| lengthy but not powerful reply, In whicl
he endeavored to defend the financial pol
| icy OF the administration. He said that tn,
| coming tariff bill would gather to It's sup
| port every Democrat on the lloor OF tn
House.
| Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, said that
American industries were not now In dan
ger, and bis remarks generally went :,
show that Premier Mills had suGcumbed t.
| his Influence. He tRanda)l) said the Dem
ocratic party was united.
| General debate on the measure havin!
closed, Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, oifere,
| the following amendment, which was ac
cepted by Mr.. Mills:
Provided that the bonds so purchased o
| redeemed shall constitute no part of the sink
| ing fund, but shall be cancelei b. the Secre'
tary OF the Treasury.
| MIR. Bayne, or Pennsylvania, then Of
fered an amendment repeating all laws i'm
| posing taxes upon snuff, cigars, or othe
manufactured tobacco, and upon dealer
and peddlers of the same.
| Mr.. Mills made point of order agatns
the amendment as not being germane t,
the subject.
Mr.. Reed. hope the gentleman will no
make the point Of order. That will re
duce the surplus materially. 1t can b
| passed by unanimous consent. There is NJ
objection on this side.
The chairman (Mr. Burrows) ruled tn
amendment out on the point of order.
The House then proceeded to the specia
order, being the delivery of eulogies on tn
late Seth G. Moffatt, OF Michigan, and ap
propriate speeches were made by Messrs
Cutcheon, Ford, Oates, ODonnell, Whit
ing, Cannon, Hayes, Allen, Wade, 0s
borne, Chapman, Gallingcr, aud Conger
Resolutions reciting the past services an'
worth Of the deceased were adopted upOI
motion OF Mr.. Burrows, and, as furthe
mark Of respect, the House tat j;?0) al
journed.
| The $1,000 nuuse.-p Potomac Fair.