The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
HarrisOn's Message.-The Lamented
Force Bill.

Harr1SOn'S MeSSuSes-Iu Ne AdutoHtOu
Force Bill.
SnecJal Correspondence Columbia Herald.
WASHINGTON, DEC. I4.-Mr. Harri-
sons annual message to Congress is
strong bid for renominatIon at the
hands of his party, and all that now re-
mains to make his nomination certain,
is that Mr.. Blaine shall write that
letter which the public has for year or
more been periodically informed that
he will under no circumstances accept
the nomination. He may or may not
write such letter; just now it again
positively stated that he will do In a
few days.
The only part of the message deserv-
ing of the slightest commentator is
that dealing with the several foreign
complications which occurred during
the past year. The rest OF 1t with one
or two exceptions is worthy only of the
condemnation OF those who believe in
democratic ideas OF the administration
Of the Government, He strongly en-
dorses the Governments guarantee OF
the 500, 600 900 OF bonds which ex-Sena-
tor Warner Miller estimates as neces-
sary to build the Nicaragua canal; he
wants to'intsrfere with the sovereign
rights of q Safe as lately exercised by
the Michigan Legislature, by the adop-
zion of Constitutional amendment
providing method for the election OF
members OF Congress and the electoral
O lege. Constitutional amendments
nave AlNdS OoCh q ICpuOAAOoA AoN1 40
proves that Senator German and the
other democratic leaders have been
right in asserting that the notorious
Force bill was not dead, bat only tenn
porarily shelved by iamenting the Pail
ure to pass that bin and proposing that
an 80 to commission be appointed by
the Supreme Court for the purpose OF
considering the ''evils connected with
our election SYSTEM" This is willy at
tempt on the part of Mr.. Harrison to
q TnarfiSQn commission QnDOlntAd
that would report in favor of the .enact-
ment of law similar in all respects to
the Force bill, but the democratic party
has been tricked by ono 80 to ~ Com
mission and is not likely to be caught in
the same trap a second time. The prin-
cIpal "eyil" in our election system, in
Mr. Harrison's mind, is that democrats
are elected where he wishes republicans
! to elected; il that could be reversed he
would consider the system perfect.
Mr.. Harrison naively informs an
| overtaxed country that the Commits
sioner of Pensions, after a careful ex-
animation of the subject, is of the opin-
ion that the estimates of $l44, 956, 900,
which is including the annual report of
the Secretary of the Interior, will be
sufficient to pay the pensions for the
wear ending June 30, 1893.
In order to give Speaker Crisp an OPP
portunity to devote sometime to the
| very important work of making the
committee assignments, the House ad-
|
with the understanding that it would
then adjourn to the following WedneS-
| day. Even if he devotes his time en-
tirely to the subject 1t is hardly proba-
Bile that Speaker Crisp will be able to
| announce the committees before the
| Christmas recess.
The first bill introduced in the Senate
was that prepared by superintendent
| Porter, providing for permanent CEN
| sus bureau. MIR. Harrison does not
| on hinRt in his maaRApR.
There has been a good deal of non
| sense written about the election OF
Speaker shutting out prominent can,
1 didate for the democratic PRESIDENTIAL
nomination. The National convention
only, has authority to settle that ques-
If Jerry Simpson does not catch the
| Speakers eye as often as he wishes, II
| will not be because of his location, as
he has secured seat in the very front
row. Jerry has not recovered yet from
his disappointment at the small vote
i his candidate for Speaker received. DE
thinks that instead of the Alliance
candidate should have had about Al
! votes.
i The meeting of the executive commit
tee of the National Democratic Com
mittee here early this week was all I'M
pOrtant event for the party and very
| pleasant one for those attending it
january 81, 1892, was the date set for the
assembling of the full committee IL
Washington, for the purpose OF naming
the time and place for holding the mex
National convention of the party. The
time for holding the convention viii
probably be about the first week il
July, but the place is as yet matter o
doubt.
Representative Mills characteristics a:
absurd the rumor that he intended tx
resign. That he is disappointed he does
not deny, but the idea Of resigning hal
never occurred to him. He Is not tina
kind of q man; and unless the Governor
the legislature OF that State, which
shall elect Mr.. Mills Senator, to fill tn,
unexpired term of Senator Reagan
there Is every probability that Mr.
Mills wild serve out his term in the
House, although it will not be surpris
ing IL he should decline TO again as
: sumo the responsibilities and hare
! work of chairman OF the Ways anC
Il Means Com mittee.,