Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-12-03
LETTER
From our regular correspondent.

poor old Democratic party is GER
tainly in an alarming condition,
caused directly by the action of a
majority of the people in voting it
the power TO carry out the "reforms"
of which it has so glibly talked.
So far the number of suggestions
concerning what the Democrats
ought to do does not differ widely
from the number of Democratic
Senators and Representatives who
have come to Washington since the
election, and the oldest thing about
these suggestions is that DO two Of
them entirely agree as to the pro-
gram which should be followed by
the new administration and Con
gress, which indicates in advance
the harmonious working of the new
zeal.
A few of the most striking Of
the suggestions are worth enumerat-
ing as specimens of craftsmanship
from a Democratic point of view.
Ex-Congressman Cable, 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 issuing a new loan
of a hundred or two millions and
charge it up to "Republican extrav-
agauce." Congressman Catchings,
who is close to Speaker Crisp, says
the first thing that ought to he done
at the extra sessioH-DemocratIc
feeling in favor of an extra session
is rapidly growing here-is to re-
peal the Mckinley tariff law, which
would restore the tariff law of
1888, sugar clause and all, and add
fifty or sixty million dollars to the
anuua! receipts Of the government.
Mr., Catchings forgot to add 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. Rep
reseulatlve Bynum, of Indiana, says
there Is no danger that the tariff
will be SO low as to iujure anybody
wonder if Bynum really knows?
and that a new tariff schedule
could be prepared in a month and
should become a law before May,
but not to 60 into effect until one
year afterwards.
Senator Vest evidently distrusts
his party for he thinks the coming
session of Congress ought to pro.
vide for the financial necessities Of
the government and not leave it for
the party which has just been voted
into control of the government.
Mr.. Vests opinion is very fattering
testimony to the financial experience
and craftsmanship of the Republi-
can Senate, but all the same no
Republican hands will pull those
Democratic chesnuts out of the fire.
Senator Cockrell says his party must
tackle the tariff at once or be ac-
cused of deceiving the people, and
that it will be just as ready to do it
in April as in December. Inter
state 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 complete
lines, or forfeit the confidence of
the people. Congressman Wike, of
Illinois, who introduced at the last
session a bill providing for a gradu-
ated income tax, modelled upon the
English law, says the passage of
that bill will solve the problem as
to revenue for the new administra-
ton, and be proposes trying to get
it through at this session of Con-
gress. 1t will, however, be but a
waste of time, as the Republican
Senate would never in times of
peace agree to such a bill.
The claim that Mr.. Cleveland
made no promises previous to his
election is being knocked out by
Democratic testimony. A Demo