Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-02
The Work Before Congress-

The Work Before Congress
Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, member Of
the present House Of Representatives
from Massachusetts,. contributes an able
article to the September North American
Review, in which he points out the four
chief duties which the coming Congress
will have to perform. First OF ali
to revise the rules Of the House so that
the majority shall be enabled 10 govern;
to reduce the revenues Of the Govern
ment; to protect the ballot By suitable
legislation; and to appropriate such
sum Of money that the civil service law
may be enforced in manner creditable
to the country. The present trouble
with the rules is that mere handful of
members can block all legislation
for an indefinite period. We had an
example OF this during the last session,
when all that was done for days and
nights WAS to call the roll OF members on
one dilatory motion after another, until
the members had become 40 physically
promise was effected and an adjournment
taken without any settlement Of the origi-
nal question having been obtained. There
il no question about the propriety and the
necessity for an amendment to the rules
that such exhibitions may never again oc-
cur. They are IA disgrace to the Congress,
and had the party In control of its orga-
nization had proper respect for itself and
the reputation of the country, such
parliamentary opposition would never
have been provided for, and the only real
reason for 1t can probably be found in the
fact that the Democratic leaders have
been afraid they should not otherwise
be able to work their own will
on everything presented for legislation,
and under the pretense of preserving the
rights Of the minority, they have secured
the adoption OF such rules that they have
been enabled to rule Congress with an iron
hand. Had the rights OF the minority
really been protected the Republican con-
tingent would have been allowed to say
more about tthe character of the legisla-
ton that has passed the house since the
Republican party has been in the mnori
". Whenever any measure has been pro-
posed that WAS in line with the principles
and professions Of the Republican party,
the Democratic majority has proved its
friendship for the rights Of the minority
by solidly voting against its passage.
Whatever revision Of the tariff is at
tempted this winter, Mr.. Lodge believes
it will be along the lines of the senate bill
OF the last session, rs the verdict at the
last national election has settled the meth
cd by which the surplus shall be reduced.
and IL only remains for the Republican
party to fulfill its pledge OF reducing the
surplus revenue, and thoroughly revising
and adjusting the tariff In accordance with
the principles on which it has been car
ried to victory. The passage of a new cleo
ton law is OF equal necessity. Both par
ties have repeatedly pledged themselves
to honest elections, but while the Repub-
leans have stood ready to revise existing
legislation the Democratic party, under
the control Of the south. has allowed moth
ing to be done. The reason why is appar-
ent to every one who has watched the re-
states. Honest elections would
long since have reduced the
Democratic majority in Congress and
would have prevented the alleged election
Of Grover Cleveland In 1884. Regarding
the enforcement OF the law, Mr.. Lodge
says:
1.-The cry which Is sometimes raised that
no election law can be enforced in certain
parts Of the United States is idle. The
day has gone by when a law executed by
the officers of the United States, and with
power Of the United States behind it, can
be either disregarded or violated with
safety. II an election law properly drawn
Is passed by Congress, 1t will be enforced.
and although it may not put stop to all
the evils which exist, it will so greatly
improve the condition of things, and will
do SO much toward the restoration Of an
honest and unquestioned ballot every
where, that the ouly wonder will be that
We have gone SO long without it,"
The question of the tariff and the feder-
al law, Mr.. Lodge believes will take up
more Of the time and attention Of the
coming Congress than anything else, for
the leaders Of the opposition have indi
Gated their intention to make protracted
resistance on both these points. But il
such opposition il carried to an undue
length 1t will naturally cause public at
tention to be attracted to the disposition
OF the parties upon these questions, and
in the subsequent inquiry that will be
made AS to the results aimed at by the
two parties the Republicans will have
nothing to fear.