The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-03-21
CALLING A HALT.


Some time ago The DEMocRAT made the
statement that the republicans IN congress
would no. be called uron TO reduce the treas
ury surplus. for a, the close Of this session
there would be none 10 reduce. The other
day congressman Peters Of Kansas, leading
republican, and member Of the committee on
appropriations thus told his party the unwel-
come tn h. 'I.et business men pause and face
these figures. They may be chilling figures;
but | tell you II Is better for usio pause and
face them now than 10 pause when i Is loo
late and he staggered by them. s44a,ooo, ITO
50 when only s45o.4i4,537.34 Is the estimate
ed revenue Of the country from which to pay
taem. Where are my friends who are interest
ed Ia the river and hasbor bin You must bear
In mind that these figures do not take into con.
sIderation tha, great bill. with all is diyefsi
fed industries aud interests. There whs no
river and harbor bin passed al ibs .la;i .ession
Of last Congress. The Chief Of Engineers in
the book Of estimates says that there can be
probably and eilespended upon the rivers
and harLofs Of III. country. during the coming
faeai yea. The sum Of s3s. ssa.sso. sss. .s3z, !.
$50 can be profiably expended during the neat
fscalyear."
The foregoing extract from Congressman
Peters speech presents the coming flood tide
Of prohigacy even In more appalling aspect
than The alarm sounded IN these columns and
Il win not be pretended that he can have any
motive to exaggesa,e the facts. He shows
that with estimated revenues Of from s4oo, 600.
600 10 100000. 900 ESTIMATED below $780,
100000 by Secretary Window, ! the appropria.
lions which nov seem 10 be inevitable mus,
reach s44s. 100000, exclusive Of River and
Harbof appropriations, and also exclusive Of
any increased pensions legislation.
II Is simply impossible 10 stay a large APP
preparation for rivers and haFbors. as the COM
bina,ion interested Is too powerful TO defeat.
!. Is par. Of the pablic.buiIding jobbery and
both will sweep down all opposition. II is.
therefore. safe 10 assume that the River and
HaihoE bill alone, added 10 the inevitable ap-
pFophasions named by Congressman Peters.
win make the appropriations lafg ely exceed
The revenues for the year even II ths revenues
shall reach the highest possible figures; but
whsa the River and Iiasbor appropriation j,
sdded. the iargss, additional drain on The
Treasury viii come in enlarged pensions,
Congressman Peters obviously sought to
call a halt on threatened prohigacy BY exhibit
Ing an excess Of expenditures over revenues
without considering The River and Harbct bin
tie Blair Educational bill. the Pension ! ills
the Coast ForsiEeasion bill. etc, bn, the bal
esnno, be called on either the Blair, the Rivel
and HafboF OF the Pensions bills.
The Grand Army was supported BY the
solid Republican organization In is assault
upon President Cleveland for hts veto Of the
dependent pension bill. The national plat.
form adopted a, Chicago fully warrants the
Grand Army In demanding the passage o
either It's dependen, or It's service pension ball
or bosh. with renewal Of the right 10 pension
arrears. and neither congress nor the presi
dent dare refuse TO fulfil that promise. AM
Of the pension biiis likely to pass must. viii
the srrcars clause. add not less ,han $50,
600 TO pension expenditure the first year th'
new Law Is in operation, and require at leas
81, ,ooo. 200. 600 to fully execute Il.
The Inevitable pension and river and hasbo
appropriations added 10 Congressman Peter
stubborn figures mus, not only wipe out III
surplus in tse Treasury ba, leave an acsua
deficit 10 be Supplied by loan OF an increase Q
the present highest iaxes ever imposed npo'
country Ia time Of peace. II 10 no. surprisin
that considesa,e Republican leader Ike Goa
gtcssman Pes.Fs boldly calls upon bis Republi
can brethren TO ''facs these hgures.' becaas
ifnos faced new they must she staggered b
them" As be says, they are. indeed. 'ehil
ling figures" bat he well appreciates the fac
that proaigraey Is in the air about the capi'o
and that there Is the greatest danger OF bank
rup.ing both the Treasury and Republicanisn
The lesson ei the preseni Congress is likely
be most impressive one TO the nation ot u
inestimabls value Of > President like Grow
/ Cleveland.