The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-19

The outcome Of the commercial congress
which closed its Iabors 1t Kansas City on
Friday was sadly disappointing to the ex-
pectations that wers justified by the atten-
tion given to the able non-partisan adj
dresses Of Edward Atkinson and Senator
Stewart in the beginning. The tenor and
temper Of those remarks, representing in
scientific spirit opposite sides Of an i'm
portant question, and the equally respect
ful attention accorded to both, inspired,
and Justly, bright anticipation Of highly
beneficial results.
But as II turned ont, the trouble was that
in the membership Of the congress men Of
any standing in commercial circles, or Of
any commercial knowledge or experience.
were in a deplorable minority. Catchings
of Mississippi, Murphy Of Iowa, Wiclife
of Louisiana, ''Speaker" Niblock of the
Indiana Legislature, General" Walker Of
Ohio, major" Warner of Missouri, "Col-
onel" Fisk of Denver. .Congressman-elect"
Bryan of Nebraska and the like were in
the end the ruling spirits Of the congress.
These may be and doubtless are great
men in their several lines-great Speakers,
Majors, Colonies, Generals. congressman
elect and % on-but history and the pub
lie have failed to identify them with the
conception or execution of any world
renowned commercial enterprise, either
successful, hopeful or commercially ex-
perimental On the contrary, with few
exceptions that were soon overwhelmed,
it seems to have been an aggregation of
badly dilapidated. utterly discredited,
"ready-for- anything" politicians, rather
indiscriminateiy drawn from all parties.
with preponderance, Of course, of dilapi-
dated Democrats. As usual with such
men, the lack Of knowledge or experience
connected with subjects appropriate to the
ostcnsible object of their convocation was
not the slightest impeachment What they
did not know they were willing to discuss
and eager to teach.
The most intricate problems Of currency,
finance, revenue, transportation, irrigation
and the like were nuts which these COM
mercial Speakers, Majors, Colonies, Gen.
erals and Congressmen-elect seem to have
considered it the simplest matter in the
world TO crack with . sledge-hammer of
ignorance. Very naturally for congress
OF dilapidated commercial politicians, with
the dilapidated Democratic element pre-
dominant, these sages were unanimously
in favor Of larger supply Of money. They
want the volume of it adjusted to meet the
requirements Of their dilapidated condi-
tion. Not to put too fine . point upon it,
the currency cannot be made too redund-
ant to suit their philosophy.
Quite naturally, these self-constituted
instructors of the public concerning mat
tiers of which themselves are densely igno-
rant, have probed the tariff question to its
profoundest depths. They want tariff;
. tariff 'sfor revenue" for revenue only,
and IS they have no great enterprise, pres
ent or prospective to protect, they are will
ing to have protection merely incidental"
On the one subject of irrigating arid
lands alone did these pundits condescend
TO come down to facts and figures. These
show that by irrigation the lands of the
arid belt. now estimated at a valuation of
ss00, 000, 900, can be made good value for
<i9. 200. 100000 No estimate of the cost of
bringing about this change is vouch-
safed. Your true commercial politician of
the dilapidated sort, the "for revenue
only" sort. concerns his head only about
receipts; never bothers himself about ex-
renditures; they are ''merely incidental. I"
On the whole, this was about the broad
est of the many broad farces in the same
line enacted within the past year or two.
Like those others, but surprising them,
this assemblage of worn-out politicians
had for sole object the guidance of public
opinion into channels that may promise
revenue and an increase in the volume of
currency for its instigators. The only test
vote taken revealed the fact that there
were only LIZ members in the congress, /"
hut this was somewhat modified by the
announcement that it "has been made per.
manent. to meet biennially" But hap
PLY that may depend on tarifffor revenue,
increase in the volume of currency, and
the passage of . bankruptcy bill. Let the
country live in hope.