Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-04
REEDS EXPLANATION
Of the Policy That Has Been Pur-
sued by the Present Congress.
THE SURPLUS HAS DISAPPEARED
But the Money Has Not Been Thrown
Away Extravagantly.
TROUBLE WITH THE PENSION PROBLEM

BOSTON, September 3.-Speaker Thomas
B. Reed, of the National House of Repre-
sentatives, who is on his way to Maine to
participate In the political campaign in
that State, addressed large audience to-
Lane. President of the Boston Merchants
Association, presided. Mr.. Reed said:"..
All progress is over the ruins of old institu-
tions. Men are eutren ched behind the use and
wont of their lives, and fight desperately against
any one who carries the breastworks; and if you
| look at some of the newspaper headlines. you
will see what th e feelings were of some gentle
men whose entrenchments were being carried.
1t is amazing to notice the history of the House
of Representa- YES and of Congress, to see how,
in detail, is carried out this principle.that
when things are to be done the Republican
party does them.
THE DEMOCRATIC IDEA.
The great struggle which has been done by
the Democratic House of Representatives for
years has been not to economic in the expend-
ltures of the Government, but to cut down the
sum total of appropriations. They have been
striving in every way to pile up the surplus, not
merely by taxation, but by parsimony IN their
action in the expenditure of money. So long
as they could point to the cloggIng Of business,
which results from the storing of money IN the
Treasury, they seemed to be happy, but now
they are busily engaged In showing that the
surplus has disappeared.
They are unable to be contented, either with
surplus or without one. There is no doubt
but what the expenditures of the Government
are about to approach its receipts, but any man
would make mistake if he believed that it
was in any way result of extravaganza or
earelessness with the public money that
dollar has been appropriated by either House
which does not carry upon 1t the stamp
of the necessities of the Government,
and nobody who does not carefully
the righteous action of the Republican
party in both House and Senate and how
much it has cost them to be economical In a
true and proper sense. There has been an ad.
vertisement broadcast of this surplus, and
every human need and want has been set to-
gether to try to get money out OF the treasury
for other than public purposes, but not one OF
these schemes has been successful.
LEGITIMATE EXPENDITURE.
All the expenditure has been legitimate, just
and proper. We shall expend nearly our in
come. We shall also reduce taxation to the
extent of $50, 600 600 in addition thereto. One
great element of expenditure is pension legis-
latIon. which is not understood in. New En-
gland and the character of 1t is not fully ap-
preciated. With US the soldier is comparatively
content with what he has received and with
what is promised him in the near future.
But in the West there exists:a different feel.
set men wild with the idea of service pension
which would bring emolument to every man in
the service. We have had to meet not merely
the contention of those who are parsimOnious
and not willing to do what was fair to the SOL
dier, but those who wished to do such things
as with the present revenues OF the Govern
ment are impossible without bankruptcy and
ruin.
1t is thus that the Republican party grap-
pies with the question and solves 1t with the
measure OF justice which is satisfactory TO the
whole people of the country. So have we met
all such questions We have given to the
postoffice department. its due need of increase.
Wherever the necessities of the Government
require any addition we propose to give it to
the people. Such Is the magnificent growth of
the country we can do this safely. We have
met all questions in this spirit
THE SILVER PROBLEM.
Here was that question of currency with
widely diverse sides. On the Pacific coast
and in the silver States there was a wild de-
mand that the mints should be open to the free
coinage of all the silver in the world. On the
other hand there was a reasonable fear on the
part of the men living in other parts of the
country lest we should do something which in
some way would drive gold out of the country
and cause mono-metallism on lower plane.
The result has been, very much owing to the
from the State of Massachusetts. That right
eous judgment has been reached which seems
to be sending silver safely to par, to the great
advantage of this country. The loss OF bank
circulation will be made up and the circula-
ton of the country be adapted to its vast and
growing needs. This population grows at the
rate of two and half millions in year and its
circulation increases in a still greater ratio.
did not come here to outline the policy OF
the Republican party, but stopped merely to
greet you and give you the thanks of the Re- |
publican party for the help which Massachu- |
setts has given to the party during the past |
year.
Hon. 81. @. Lodge spoke briefly after Mr.. |
Reed closed.