The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-07-30
CONGRESS AND IT'S ADJOURN
MENT.

CONGRESS IND ITS ADJOURN
MENT.
It is expected that the first session
of the fifty-second congress will close
in about a week, says the Chicago
Iaster-Ocean 1t began with last winter.
Two years ago the long session of con-
gress was protracted until almost cleo
tion time. That was serious mis-
take, politically speaking, for it de-
prived the country of the campaign
services of the very men of all others
most competent to discuss the issues of
the day. The-result was that instead
of campaign of education the people
had campaign of misrepresentation,
false alarms, and gross perversions.
Never in the whole history of Ameri-
can politics was the policy of falsehood
carried to such triumphant CONCLUSION.
The opportunities were exceptionally
favorable and we're improved with the
eagerness of starvation appetite.
There is this great difference be-
tween 1890 and 1892, from political
point of view: All was then conjecture
as to the practical effect of the Nc
Kinley bill, while now all is definite
demonstration. 1t is hard to refute
speculation, easy to knock out fiat
lie. Two years ago thai bill was con-
fronted by theory, now it stands
face to face with condition. The
ories are easily spun on both sides of a
question, conditions are fixed and sure.
But facts, however plain, are not self
declaratory. 1t is necessary that the
fires of intelligence should be kindled
on every Republican hearthstone and
hilltop that the people may know just
how the Republican policy is working,
and, withal, wherein the policies of the
two parties differ and wherein they
agree. The adjournment of this con-
gress must precede such comparison,
for it is impossible to toresee what will
be done during the last few days of a
legislative or congressional session.
There is at least one thing certain.
All that viii be SO much as attempted
in the way of tariff legislation was
fully disposed of long ago. There is
no risk in assuming that no further
move will be made. on that chess board
at either end of the capitol.
The senate had no wish to do any
thing. The Republicans were perfectly |
content to leave the whole subject pre-
cisely where the Mckinley bill and the
other tariff acts of the 6fty-frst con-
gress left it. Even if both branches
OF congress had been Republican there
would have been no tariff tinkering.
In one sense, then, it did not make
any difference whether the two
branches were agreed or not. "Stand
pat" would have been the order of the
day any way. Nor does the action of
the house serve as any criterion to de-
termine what would have been done
had the senate been Democratic also.
The recognized fact that no bill on that
subject satisfactory to the Democrats
of the house would meet with favor in
the Republican senate acted as de-
terrent. 1t was thought at the outset
that Mr.. Springer might introduce and
urge to passage general bill, one
rejecting his views and the present
views of the Democracy, and thus be
a companion piece for the Mills and
Morrison bills. But either on account
of ill-health or for some other cause
he did nothing of the kind. The only
tariff bill which he introduced was
trivial, relating to one or two interests,
and making no attempt at general re-
vision. The wool tariff was to be re-
duced and few other unimportant
changes made. There was no point,
apparently, in singing out few in
terests for assault. The explanation
is that it was thought necessary to do
something, and it might as well be this
as that Certain it is that the Demo-
cratic party, as it goes into the cam
paing of 1892, is sweeping in its hos
tility to all protected interests, agrl-
cultural and manufacturing, woolens
as well as wool, iron and steel no less
than binding twine. =
There remain three general appro-
priation bills to be disposed of, two of .
which are absolutely necessary to the
very operation of government. Failure
to make an appropriation for forti6ca.
lions would be very unwise, without l
being absolutely calamitous, but the 6
sundry civil and the general deficiency 4
bills must be passed, and it is not !
thought possible that an adjournment t
;ould be had without their passage, c
Dr.. on the other hand, that final adj S
ournment could be delayed after o
hose bills had been disposed of. 1t
low looks as if the last general ques-
ion of the session to be decided will
'e the clauses of the sundry civil bill .
relating to the Columbian Exposition. =
Fire at Rufus. H
The store Of Mr.. NJ. A. Phelps, at Rufus, q
roe hnrnad IN tho oronpd Sotnrday ofto, | :.