Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-08
THE GOING.

Notwithstanding the immensely of the
surplus, Congress is rapidly getting away
with it. It is slow on the matter of rev.
enue reform, but how fast in spending the
illegal proceeds Of that neglect! Ii the
purpose OF Congressman were to scatter the
surplus as expeditiously ~ possible aud to
make a reduction Of taxation impossible by
creating new demands for money, it could
be shown in no more direct manner thar
by the action of both Houses thus early in
the session.
1t is not the great schemes that now
most seriously threaten the Treasury.
BLAIR's scheme to dispose of S79, 0OO, 900
is indeed working its way laboriously
through the Senate, but it will not amount
to anything; but the accumulation of
smaller Jobs has already reached q stupen-
dOus aggregate. The class of bills now fur
thest advanced is that in which provision
is made for the erection of public buildings.
Some of these, of course, are necessary, but
the great majority are not. In the
House, five days have been set
apart, toward the end of the present
month. for the consideration of bills re-
ported from the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, during which dill
atory motions will not be allowed. At
the rate at which bills are now pouring in
to the committees hands, it is estimated
that not less than 600 will he reported and
passed during these five days, and that the
expenditure involved will be about $50
000, ZOO. The Senate is not idle, more
than sixty public building bills having
been introduced already, representing an
aggregate expenditure of nearly S14, OOO,-
600.
Some bills of this class already lave
been reported favOrably and passed, in
each branch, and from their character may
bejudged that of the main collection which
the eommitte will dump into the House in
the course of three weeks.
This, however, is only the advance
guard, the skirmish line. Back Of il the
readiness for the grand assault upon the
surplus. The river and harbor bill, which
failed last year through the TACT that the
President did not have time to read it,
and-to the establishment of the politicians
actually refused to put his name to it
without reading it, will come up stronger
than ever by the additions which new
members will make. This, like the ap-
preparations alluded to before, is tine more
dangerous because gathering strength by
log rolling. 1t can be put down as q fact
that the river and harbor bill will he big
ger than ever this year. A service pen
sion bill is already proposed, similar in its
scope to that which Mr.. CLEVELAND
vetoed, and this, it is estimated, will at
least double the sum Of $50, 600, 900 called
for by the commissioner to meet the de-
mands of the pension list as it now stands.
The dullest intellect will see that at this
rate, and with these prospects, the enor-
nous surplus which should be in the PeO-
pies pockets, will be exhausted by reck-
less legislation before this season of Con-
gress is half over.
The people elected this Congress to
reduce taxation, not to empty the treasury
and render reduction impossible.
But GROVER CLEVELAND stands at the
door Of the United States Treasury and he
will not allow a spendthrift policy to in
terpose to prevents reduction of the peo-
pies burden.
Congress should understand the Presi-
dent by this time, stop its foolish extraya-
gance and get to work in the interest of
the people.