The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-04-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.



WASHINGTON, April 5, 1888.
Traditional evidence was needed 10
show that the Democnuc party Is incap-
able u managing the affairs 0, the ma
tion, Il would only he necessary TO look
at the present condition Of the business
of the House OF Representative Never
In the history OF the country has il been
50 far behind, aud the prospect Is that
no buslhrss other than the passage Of
The necessary appropriation bills can be
had before very warm weather In
deed It now appears that no other meas
nres will he really pushed with any
prospect of favorable action,
The Mills bili Is doomed to defeat, and
lis earnest supporters know this, while
many who, by the party lash, will be
compelled to vote for 1t secretly, desire
its defeat, Randall, McAdoo, and the
lew protection Democrats in the House,
who have been ignored to an extent by
the leaders and cad out Of the party by
the lesser lights, while preserving com
pratiyely sai,er faces, are inwardly
chuckhug over the hopeless and help
ltss eff IRIS Of the free traders, and on
every convenient occasion they are
sticking tile Mills bill under the fifth
rib, and joining with the Republicans in
shaking tbs very life out of IL. 1t may
be set down az fact that the Till will
never get beyond the House, and will be
as eifectualiy killed as was the Morrison
bill of the last Congress.
Mr.. Grain, of Texas, to-day introduced
in the House his joint resolution propos.
ing two amendments to the constitution.
The first amendment, if adopted, will
extend the term OF President Cleveland
from March 4th to April 30th, 1889, and
thereafter fix that date as the beginning
and ending of the Presidential and Vice
Presidential terms. The second amend
ment substitutes December 3lst for
March 4th as the beginning and termi-
nation of the period for which Senators
and members of the House of Represen-
tatives will be elected. The effect of
the adoption Of this amendment will be
to shorten, by sixtY-three days, the
terms of those Representatives in Office
at the time of the first general election
after its ratification. In other words,
should it be Immediately ratified, the
term of the present Congress will end
on the 3lst of December next, and the
term OF members elected November 4th
will begin, and they will take their seats
on the first Monday of January, 1889.
Both amendments should be prompt
ly adopted. President Washington was
inaugurate April 30th, and his success
sors should be inaugurated on the ami
versary of that date. The month of
March is the most unpleasant of the year
in this latitude, while the last of April is
about the most delightful, and the thou
sands who attend the Inauguration
would be enabled to see the city IN Its
greatest loneliness.
The advantages of the second amend
ment are too numerous to mention; but
one that should not be overlooked is,
that the members of Congress will come
fresh from the people, and be In condi-
ton to vote for the measures on which
their election hinged; there will be no
such thing as short session, which has
so often cut short action on measures OF
vital moment to the people; but the ses-
sions may be made continuous if the
business of the country demands. 1t
will stop all hurried, half-considered
legislation.
most encouraging for Republican unity
paign On all sides there is DISPOSE
ton to lay aside personal preferences
and unite ON the best and strongest
man, ali things being considered, for the
nomination for the Presidency, and the
aim appears to be to antagonize no one,
but to bring together again all the dis
satisfied elements. With perfect union,
the party is invincible. One of the
most encouraging statements, that seems
to have foundation. is, that Hon. Roscoe
Conkiing, of New York, will take an in
terest in the contest in the Empire
State. If this is the case, there need be
no fear for the final result, for with the
found in the Republican column.