Huntsville gazette., 1892-08-27
THE END At LAST.
Some Of the Scandalous Proceedings Dur
ing It's Session,

Some Of the Scandalous Proceedfngs Dur
ing It's session.
At last congress has adjourned, and
the whole country draws a breath of
relief. There have been democratic
houses before that have been incompe-
tent, but never one more disgracefully
incompetent than this. There have
been demagogues in the house before,
but never so many as in the session
| just closed. Time and money have
been wasted in former years, but never
so recklessly as the year now ending.
| Democrats have been for many wears
exhibiting their utter incapacity to con-
| duct the government, but never before
have they exhibited it more ludicrously
| than in the last house
When this congress began there were
three things especially that it was
pledged to do. First, it was to enact
rules that would allow freedom of de-
liberation Second, it was to repeal
the ''robber tariff" Third, it was to set
a shining example of economy and re-
trenchment.
! Has it allowed freedom of debate,
and given opportunity for deliberation?
Look at the record Every important
bill has been passed under the closure
rule. The legislative, executive and
judicial apportionment bill was put
through on the 9th of June, under
whip and spur-a bill carrying s22,-
600. 900 and containing $50, 900 words,
with fifteen minutes debate on each
| side-"a minute" as Speaker Reed
says, Ito every ten thousand words,
and forty seconds to every million dol
lars"
The bill to admit New Mexico as a
state was railroaded through at the
same pace-ifteen minutes of debate
allowed on a question that has for
years puzzled our wlsest statesmen!
| The bill to admit Arizona was passed
in the same way. To crown ALL the
| Hatch anti-option bill, a complicated
measure involving the entire business
interests of the country measure
against which protests were made by
| thousands of level-headed business
men-was taken up under suspension
of the rules, without any previous con-
sideration or debate, and passed, after
allowing fifteen minutes for remarks on
either side. The federal elections bill
was passed by the house in the Fifty
first congress after six days Of debate,
and the democrats filled the country
with their vociferations about gag
law" The anti-option bill passed the
house in the Fifty-second congress in
half an hour, under rules adopted by
the democrats on purpose to render the
house deliberative body!
As for the tariff act. so far from at
tempting to repeal it, the democrats
have simply passed (under suspension
of the rules) few little tentative eff
forts to tinker few of its provisions.
Afraid to meet the issue squarely, they
squirmed and lodged, and simply made
themselves ridiculous.
But the great purpose of the session,
after all, was to show to the whole
country an example of democratic ''re-
trenchment and reform" in the matter
of expenditures. The epithet of bill
lion-dollar congress" had been applied
by them to the body over which
Speaker Reed presided, and they had
held up their hands in horror over re-
publican extravaganza. Now they
have made their own record, and how
does it compare with the other? They
have cut down necessary appropria-
tions for the military academy, for for
tifcations, for the navy and for the
diplomatic service; they have rendered
big deficiency bill necessary in the
next session; and yet, notwithstand-
ing all their cheese-paring, the total
appropriations for this session exceed
the total appropriations for the first
session Of the Fiftyfrst congress by
nearly $4,000, 0Ol! Here is economy
and retrenchment with vengeance!
With majority of three to one the
democracy of the house has gagged it
self, has refused to take the RESPONSE
bility of power, has allowed whole
days to be utterly wasted in frivolous
| filibustering. Not single promise
made has been kept. Money has been
withheld with a niggardly hand where
it was needed, while where it was not
needed it has been squandered with
reckless extravaganza.
On this record the democrats must go
to the country. They have done their
worst to prove to the country their
utter unfitness to be intrusted with
power. We leave the result to the in
telligence and patriotism of American
| voters.-N. Y. Mail and Express.