Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
wAsnIseros. D. G.. Nov .. ,ss.


CONDITION of the patient. the poor old
democratic party Is in an alarming
condition, caused directly by the ac-
ton of majority of the people In vot-
ing It the power to carry out the IRE
forms" of which It has so glibly talk
ed. So far the number Of suggestions
concerning what the democrats ought
to do, does not differ widely from the
number of dem ocratic Representatives
and Senators who have came to Wash
ington since the election, and the odd
est thing about these suggestions, Is,
that no two of them entirely agree as
Ito the programme which should be
followed by the new administration
and Congress, which indicates in ad-
vance the harmonious working of the
new deal.
A few of the most striking of the
suggestions are worth enumerating as
specimens of craftsmanship from a
democratic point of view. Ex-con-
gresham Gable. who wants a cabinet
position, and who claims the exclusive
credit for having swung Illinois into
the democratic column, thinks the
proper thing to do is to begin by issu-
ing new loan of one or two hundred
| millions, and charge IL to republican
extravagance. Congressman Catch
ings, who is close to Speaker Crisp,
says the first thing that ought to be
done at the extra session-democratic
feeling in favor OF an extra session IL
rapidly growing here's to repeal the
Mckinley tariff law, which would re-
store the tariff law of '83, sugar clause
and all, and add fifty or sixty million
dollars to the annual receipts of the
government. Mr.. Catchings forgot to
add.t that it would also add much more,
through the raise In the price of sugar,
to the expenses of the twelve million
or more families In America. Repre-
sentative Bynum, Of Indiana, says
that there is no danger of the tariff be-
ing so low as to injure anybody--won-
der IL he knows2-and. that a new tar
iff schedule could be prepared in a
month and should become a law be-
fore May, but not to go into effect I'M
I'll one year afterwards.
| Senator Vest evidently distrusts his
party, for he thinks the coming session
of Congress ought to provide for the
financial necessities of the government
and not leave it for the party which
has just been voted into the control OF
the government. Mr.. Vests opinion
is very flattering testimonial to the
financial experience and statesman.
ship of the republican senate, but all
the same no republican hands will pull
Those democratic chestnuts ont of the
fire. Senator Cockrell says his party
must tackle the tariff at once or be nc
cused of deceiving tn. people. and
April as in December. Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Morrison,
who earned the name of Horizontal
Bill" BY preparing the first democratic
tariff reform" bill, in the House some
years ago, says that Congress must
deal with the tariff on broad and CON-
plete lines, or forfeit the confidence of
the people. Congressman Wike, OF H.
linois, who introduced at the last SEES.
sion bill providing for graduated
income tax. modelled upon the English
law, says that the passage of that bill
will solve the problem rs to revenue
for the new administration, aud he
proposes to get IL through ut this SEES
sion of Congress. 1t will however b.
a waste of time as the republican Sem
ate would never In times of pence
agree to such bill.
The claim that Mr.. Cleveland made
no promises previous to his election If
being knocked out by democratic tes-
tiInony. A democratic congressman,
now in Washington, says Ex-Governor
Gray, of Indiana, told him that he
held Mr.. Cleveland's promise to make
him his Postmaster General If the dem
ocra:s carried Indiana.
Secretary Foster is becoming little
tired of the continuous revival of that
threadbare old story about the Treas
ury of the United States being on the
verge of bankruptcy, etc. He has
stated time after time, and now reiter-
atcs that the u. 8. Treasury will meet
every legitimate obligation that will
mature during the term of the present
administration. Beyond that lie does
not think 1t his province to speak,
The democrats are trying to renew this
scare in order to shield themselves
when the real deficit, made possible by
their recent victory, comes during tho
next fiscal year. Had Mr.. Harrison
been reelected there would have been
no falling off in custom duties and no
deficit. because there would then have
been no fear of upsetting business by
democratic tariff tinkering. The peo-
pie will know without any democratic
assistance where to place the response
bility for the additional burdens soon
L 4 A - A