Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-26
OUR LEGISLATORS.
HOW CONGRESS AMUSED ITSELF At
THE SESSIONS YESTERDAY.
senator stewart of Nevada Attacks the
President The House Discusses she
Postofice Appropriation.

ffesluent-In Ine mouse DlScusses Sht
PostofIice Appropriation.
WASHINGTON, May 24.-The deficiency
bill for collecting the revenue and the In
dian appropriation bills were report &c
back. Mr.. Stewart called up joint reso
luton providing for constitutions
amendment that only a simple maiorit,
vote be necessary to override the Presi
dents veto, and addressed the Senate or
the subject.
He referred to the large number OF veto
messages sent in by President Cleveland
and said they rested solely upon the as
sumption that it was the duty of the
President to nullify every law for which he
would not have voted as member oi
Congress, an assumption not only of gu.
perior wisdom, honesty ard patti fiotism On
his part, but Of better opportunity to
ascertain the faets than the members oi
the two houses had. The form of the Gov
ernment, be said, had changed from Demo.
cratic simplicity to the one man power
responsibleeonly to the necessities Of party
and the
MFLUENCE OF MONEY.
The people did not realize the growing
power OF the executive The President had
more than 100, 900 offices at his disposal,
and q member OF Congress was not even al
lowed to give evidence as to the qualifica-
tion of any applicant for office The Presi-
dent alone determined all questions relat-
ing to appointments Of Office either himself
or by board called the civil service COM
mission. appointed by him and removable
at his pleasure. The vast revenues OF the
Government were practically used by the
administration as q private fund to aug
ment the
POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE.
This result was reached partly by legisla-
ton, partly by force of the construction of
the laws. The legislation OF Congress, no
matter how secured or by whom devised
permitted the administration to loan the
funds in the treasury to such
banks as might be in favor with
the executive without interest or regard to
the Government, and this power has been
literally exercised by the present admins
tration losning over $6O,O0O,O0O to such
banks as found favor in the eyes
of the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr..
Stewart referred in the same connection to
the purchase of bonds at the enormous
premium OF over 26 per cent, from persons
UNKNoWN TO THE PUBLIC,
but presumably weH known to the execu-
i've, of the discretion lodged with executive,
but not properly exercised) to purchase
,oin, not less than two millions and, not
more than four millions of silver per
month, and to the ruling OF the Treasury
department. in the matter of importation
of lead ore, under which ruling lead ores
we're admitted that were mixed with gold
Ind silver the government was thereby
osing vast amounts OF money that some
body was gaining.
1t would be interesting, he said, to ex-
hibit for the consideration OF the people
jhe various rulings and the determinations
If the Treasury department whereby
pecial privileges were granted and mer-
hant princes created in the great city of
Vew York and elsewhere at the expense of
he people. But he only desired to show
.lmost unlimited discretionary power ex-
riends ssd dfha utgg sggscutiye. 81 to benefit his
As example Of this extraordinary power"
le referred to the litigation OF pri-
,ate land claims in California to
The raid of the Attorney General on Bell
Telephone Company" and to the treaty
making power which might be used to ad-
rance the ambitious projects OF the execu-
i've. all these things might be remedied or
hecked by legislation and the liberties OF
he people might be guarded by laws il
congress had had the power to legislate
against the will of the executive. No one
Ienied Cleveland's absolute ownership OF
he Democratic party. Before reaching
Washington he bad sent word to the
members of the House to dis.
ard one OF the precious metals and in all
hings to do
THE BIDDING OF WALL STREET.
The refusal ofs.the patriotic Democrats to
Ibandon their constituents and join the
oiden bond and leading ring had chal-
enged the admiration OF the country. The
House of Representatives had seemed to
,e an impregnable fortress against any as
aunt from Wall street, but it had fallen
With wave of the hand of Grover Cleve-
and: that body was paralyzed, it could
rot even utter the word "silver"
vhen the Senate sent it back
purchasing bill. At that rate
he growing power OF this man ofdestiny"
lad but to continue unresisted, for by an
,ther term Of four years to SO intrench
irover Cleveland in the White House that
lothing but revolution could remove
i'm. Never before in the hands OF one
nan had such vast powers and resources
,een entrusted by
THE coNFIDNG PEOPLE.
{ remains to be seen whether the President
yould be able to fulfill the expectations OF
he Washington Post by initiating Ma
,oleon and crown himself. because he re-
arded all others unworthy to perform
hat service. The exercise of the great
latural force with which the President was
ndowed was concentrating the whole
,ower of the Government in the executive,
md if not restrained it would
lead to monarchy.
The people admired courage and
audacity and will; these
Qualities were possessed in a high degree
" Cleveland, and hile they were guar
Lntees of personal success yet they were
dangerous to popular liberty. They were
Qualities which always increased executive
at the expense OF the people.
after an executive session the Senate ad-
ourned.
Mr.. McKenna endeavored to secure the
of the Senate bill increasing
% 100000 the appropriation for the
public buildings at Sacramento, but Mr..
Bland objected. The House then went in
% committee of the whole on hepostoffice
appropriation bill and finally passed it.
WESTERN MAILS.
Perkins, OF Kansas, speaking to a verbal