The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-13
Washington Letter.

WAsuISGToH March 6. ISei-Tlie
United States Treasury rs bankrupt, as
far as the reckless and eNtravsgant APP
preparations voted by the Republican
Congress can make II 50, and
il would be actually 20 to-day If ell
of the appropriations had 10 be paid at
once In the dying hous OF the Fifty
first Congress the Republicans threw
prudence, conscience, fear Of the here
after and every other restraining in
auence overheard, and boldly voted for
every possible thing that promised 70
assist in the looung of the Treasury,
which their leaders had agreed upon for
the purpose of confroting the Democra-
tic Congress with deficiency. Old
mouldy claims that had been refused
hundred times were tackled on the ap-
preparation bills and railroaded through,
extra salaries were voted TO employees
who are already paid beyond their de-
serts, and money was scattered around
in every direction as though the Treasu
~ was overtlowing to the Republicans.
Where the mOny Is TO come from to
pay all of these wild appropriations is
more than anyone can see AT this time;
it isn't in the Treasury nor can it posi-
bly, get there under the present methods
of taxation. Two years of Democratic
economy in the House and purging of,
the pension rolls of the frauds thereon
may pull the country through without
making it necessary to put new taxes
upon the already tariff ridden people.
The Republican eN-Representatives are
loath 10 leave Washington until Mr.
Harrison has distributed the plums now
al his disposal, which includes nine new
L. : circuit Court judges as provided by
the new law, which purports to be for
the relief of the Supreme Court, but Mr..
Harrison proposes TO try their patience,
as he is going to Maryland tomorrow
for few days of wild duck shooting,
and says he viii do nothing in the mat
ter until his return.
Ex-Speaker Reed has a pretty thick
skin, but he couldn't hide the chagrin he
felt when every Democrat in the House
voted against the usual resolution of
thanks that Mr.. Mckinley, after vainly
trying to persuade Democrat TO do 1t,
had offered. Served him right is the
verdict among Democrats.
Senator Villas is here looking just as
natural as when under Mr.. Cleveland
He SAYS that Wisconsin has cut loose
from the Republican party for good and
all, and that her vote may be confident
ly counted upon for the Democratic can
dldate next year.
1t is pleasing TO know that the Fifty
first Congress did one good thing. 1t
passed the International copyright bill,
although II Was apparently done under a
misunderstanding, and Mr.. Harrison
signed 1t with quill pen, from the wing
of sn American eagle, which had been
provided for the occasion by one Of the
editors of the Century magazine.
Senator EdInunds Is entitled to thanks
for having baked Senator PIumb's
scheme for transferring the employees of
the Census bureau TO the regular class
flied departmental service, without the
formahty of a civil service examination.
Mr.. Plumb attempted TO hitch ii on To
an appropriation bill, but Mr. Edmunds
raised point OF order against 1t, which
WIS sustained by the chair
And while giving thanks must not
forget the Democrats in the House, who
with the aid of few Republicans
jumped upon the Pacific cable subsidy
Job, after it had been agreed to by a
conference committee, and strangled the
NE ITOIl IL.
The Democratic Senators also deserve
well for the smartness they displayed in
preventing the mail subsidy bill from
being sent 10 conference committee,
which would surely have incorporated
the tonnage subsidy bill in it. 1t is much
better TO accept the least of two evils than
10 have to take them both.
Senator ingalls, made very ''small''
use OF his last official hour. He dis
missed the clerk of the committee of
which he WAS chairman and appointed
his son, Paul Ingalls,, clerk to the COM
mittee. The objectlies in the fact that
the clerk draws his salary during the re-
cess, but d, c no work Senator Wolcott
at once employed the dismissed clerk as
his private Secretary.
There were some disgraceful scenes
at the last night session of Congress,
caused by that old time offender, John
Barleycorn. The tipsy statesmen were
kept off the floor of House and Senate
with some difficulty by their friends, but
their antics in the committee rooms and
corridors were witnessed by many NJ