Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-02
NOT A THING DONE
The Democratic House Wastes
Two Months
GETTING READY FOR BUSINESS
The Outlook for frsnsaeting Any Amount
Of Business Is Not chrering-Ths
Democrats Are incompetent

WAsaISGTos. Feb. The majority
Of tns democrats Of the house of rep
Representatives so far ~ they were
present IN the caucus Saturday night,
have accepted the collar prepared for
tnem by the -Gsfma An Hill syndi-
cate. The code OF rules reported BY
the three democratic members of the
committee on ruiss 10 TO se adopted.
These three members are In have con-
troll OF the iegislat.en OF the house. and
to prevent legislation IN tins congress
according % the behest OF the political
managers who are not even members
or the house, TO whom, however, the
dominant faction in that body owes its
power. The young gentlemen who
have come Ia the front in the last few
days in opposition to the vital principle
OF the proposed new rules will tomor-
row hear the crack or the party whip,
and viii be expected 70 remain sileat
on the back seats.
Two Moaths wasted.
Meanwhile two months of the ses-
SION have gone. and the house IS with
cut rules and has transacted no BUSH
meas OF any Importance. The only
measures OF importance that have been
before that body were the ones TO re-
form the methods OF distributing and
printing pubic documents and the
resolution To provide for the transpor-
tafloa - starving peasants OF Russia OF
tie generous offerings of the people OF
this country, And one TO cut OH the
useless clerks OF the house. The print
ing ball, which Was the result OF several
months work OF JOINT committee OF
the house and senate, and was care
fully prepared measure, which would
have saved the government at least
$500, 900 . year, was defeated. notwlth-
standing Il came before the house with
u unanimous report The only sub
stantlal objection agains. 1t WAS that 1t
would interfere with the perquisites OF
the members.
stained the National Honor.
The action or non-action of the
house with regard TO the suffering
peasAntry in Russia 10 a stain upon the
national honor, and will not soon be
forgotten. That resolution was killed
largely because of the prejudice of
some Of the southern members against
Russia for the reason that that country
lprotfered Aid to the north in the critical
period Of the late war. The resolution
Ito cut off the unnecessary clerks came
before the house IN the shape of . MIN
iority report from the democratic COM
rmittee, and 1t was killed because it
would deprive the members of patron
age. That is practically the complete
record of the house of representatives
with more than two-thirds ma jori:y for
. period of two months. Ii this record
shall be contrasted with the record OF
the republican house for the same
period the people of this country will
be able to form their own judgment IS
to the relative positions of republican
and democratic administrations.
Delay Everywhers Apparent.
The republicans. it is TO be remem-
bered, also rarely had quorum IN the
house. Only Friday the democrats
were discussing what committee should
have jurisdiction of the District of Co.
lumbla appropriation bill. Yet, when
the republicans had control OF the
house two years ago the District of Co
lumbia appropriation bill was passed Oh
January 9, three weeks before the
democrats IN THIS mouse IcaCucu tue
decision N to the committee which
should have charge of il. The admin
hstratlye customs bill, which, next TO
the Mckinley bill, was the most I'M
portant measure passed by the last
congress, was sent 20 the senate on
January %. The Oklahoma town-sitc
bill, the census act bill aud number
of other measures passed the house IN
January two years ago. Al this ses-
sion, however. there Is absolutely moth
ing IN the way of legislation to put &c
the credit of the democratic majority
while there 10 already put TO It's dis
credit the defeat of the printing bll
and of the Russian famine resolution
and Of tine resolution to enforce ordI
nary economy in the use OF clerks
The discussion over the rules has made
IL clear. moreover, and the develop
msnts in the committee on ways anc
means, that this - the record which
will De made for the whole of this con
gress, aud that il Is exactly thls policy
of nan-aet,on that the democratic
bosses outside of the house OF represen
tasivcs have deereed for the conduct o.