Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-16
UPTOTHEIR TRICKS
The Democrats Trying to Make
Themselves Solid.
HOLMAN WILL NOT Be BOSS
In Regulating the Policy Of the Majority
Nor in Fixing the Appropriation
Bill--Silver Bag-He

the house yesterday. the democratic
leaders fear to trust the rank and file
of their party to do their bidding in the
matter of the tive-cent policy that has
been determined upon. and for that
reason an effort was made TO adopt ali
iron-clad rule which would restrain IN
dividusl action and prevent the house
from passing separate measures or
their own merits. The leaders hoped
to obtsin an expression from the honss
which would enable them to carry oui
their pinchbeck policy and to threaten
any members who should chow signs OF
Independence with party discipline.
The movers of the resolution hoped by
adopting it to establish the most srbi-
trary sort OF boss rule, as they feared
to trust the house rs deliberate body.
The debate served one pnrpose. In IN
augurating tho campaign OF m.sfepre-
sentatlon. Mr.. Dockery OF Missouri.
member of the committee on appropri-
aiions, made a sensational speech In
the house in which tie hackneyed
falsehoods as 70 q bankrupt treasury
were reiterated and were given the
sanction OF his own Official position and
of place IN the Congressional Record.
Mr. Henderson of Iowa. republican
member of the committee on appropri-
ations, Notwithstanding an effort to re-
press debate along that line en- the re-
publican side, was enabled to demon
strate the falsity of the democratic ar
guments. The resolution when first
introduced was not an honest express
sion OF the opinion Of the democrats of
the house. II WAS an effort on the part
Of Holman and . few others 10 commit
the house TO a policy as to the general
appropriations III the same mannev as
Springer in his Brooklyn speech en-
deayored to commi: his party to the
policy of smothering the elvcr ques-
tion, the little bosses all around are at
tempting to control the corgruouB mass
which constitutes the democratic ma
jority in the house. II remains TO be
seen what the result will be.
Shocked the Majority.
Springer has made poor progress with
his attempts TO force his party TO q po-
sition Of evading the silver question, as
is illustrated by the almost unanimous
action of the committee on coinage.
which will report 3 bill for the free
coinage of silver without qualification.
and which will characterize the Springer
scheme as y makeshift. Mr.. Holman
showed his resolution in advance OF its
introduction only to two or three of the
democratic leaders who are Of like
opinion A. himself as to the pinchbeck
policy OF the house. The resolution
came IS shock to the great majority
of the democrats many of whom are
radically opposed TO its provisions.
Notable among those who are opposed
to it are the representatives from Lou
isiana aud the representatives frotsi
those sections which are especially in
tercsted in river and harbor improve
ments. The Louisiana men are OF the
op,nion that the resolution 10 directly
aimed against any appropriation for
the payment of the sugar bounties IN
which Louisiana is SO largely inter
ested. Four-fifths OF the vast sum
which is appropriated for sugar bounty
is expended in Louisiana, and for tha,
reason the action of Bother of Louisi-
luton should be amended by the fol.
loving simple declaration, can well he
understood: 1--WE hereby affirm Our
laid down IN the platform of tho party
1885," The southern members who
iarc interested in continuing the river
and harbor improvements Also believe
that the Holman resolution was an
effort to prepare the way for the policy
which Holman has openly announced
of not having river and harbor bill
passed this year.
Beiman May BE Downed
The river and harbor committee have
answered his challenge in that partIcu
lar bv indicating that bill will he re-
ported which w.li not be less than So,
v00, 900 and which may reach $4,000,
0co. So great sum - necessary. the
southern chairman Of the co,smlttet
| says. to continue necessary existing nm
| provements without entering upon
new works. The Holman following il
very small on lts merits IN its onrosi.
ton TO . river and harbor bill. I've
during the recent democratic national
administration did the house refuse Il
| pass the river and harbor bill, and The
cum which would have been expended
for that purpose was claimed hy The
Democrats IN their congressional and
presidential campaigns as an economy
The consequence ives that vast suns oi
money were loet TO the government by
! the deterioration OF public works
| caused by the want of appropriation
even 10 cover unfinished walls witt
boards, and another result was rivel
aud hafbor bill in the succeeding veal
OF more than double the ordinary
amount. There are q few democrat,
| p ho do mt apn-oxe Of the rsottpv oa