The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-11
TRYING TO FOOL THE PEOPLE
Democrats Begin in Very Suspicious
Way to Make a Record for Economy.
House Bills That May Contain Steals or Jobs Are
Not to Be Printed, in Order that $2.4O Nay
Be Saved-Far from Being Unanimous

TO make 1t the most conspicuous Draucn
and its antics the most entertaining
feature of this Congress, has undeniably
spent the first week of the new year in dis
tinguishing itself in a most unhappy man.
ner.
This is not partisan statement. Demo-
Gratis themselves have been shocked ana
erieved by the infinite lack of self-control
displayed by disorganized majority
utterly without leaders who have thus far
given the slightest sign of capacity to con-
troll tumultuous mob. The Republicans
are saying little. 1t is the Democrats them
selves who bewail the lack of discipline.
the disagreements the chickering's and the
political blunderIngs which have thus lar
marked the brief history of the one branch
of government under their control. and for
which conduct they must be held RESPONSE
ble Therefore 1t is only inst to repeat that
these statements are not partisan. and that
the jud gment which any disinterested OBJ
server will be forced to pass upon the pro-
ceeOings of the Democratic majority thus
far cannot be called prejudice.
The division and disorganlZation among
the Democrats In the House have been
markedly shown twice this week, although
the House was In session only three days.
The disruption each time was on the Ques-
ton of economy, which the nickel House"
has decided must be made an issue in con-
trast to the sO-called "billlon-dollar Con-
gress" If the Democrats keep on as they
have begun the term nickel" will become
far more Odious in the eyes of the American
people than the term "billon dollar"
The first and most marked episode OF the
week, as showing Democratic division, oc-
Cured in the overthrow of the committee
on rules on its first proposition, which was
to print no copies of private bills. The
folly of such plcayune economy, as well as
its danger, was clearly shown by dozen
Democrats. and Mr.. Catchings. who, as a
member of the committee on rules had
charge of the resolution, was forced TO
yield and TO allow private bills to be print
ed as heretofore
This defeat, which was accomplished by
Democrats themselves. the Republicans
taking no part in the controversy. would be
In itself OF little consequence, as 1t IL
vOlved all told, sum or barely S6O Tor the
entire session. It's significance lies in that
it made conspicuous the failure OF Mr..
Catchings as Q leader OF the House. When
Speaker Crisp made tins representative of
the infamous "Shoe-strlDg" district of Mis-
sissippi a member of the committee on
rules it was perfectly understood that his
promotion was in the nature of reward
for his engineering of MIR. Crisp's campaign
against Mr.. Mills. Many old members,
however, expressed their wonder that Mr.
Crisp should place Mr.. Catchings in q pO-
sitiOn of such dangerous prominence Tho
political record OF Mr.. Catchilgs was OF
itself enough TO invite criticism from the
minority, involving as it did the writing
OF letters suggesting In thlnly-dls-
gulsed language the murder of witnesses in
his contest for seat In the last House.
Aside from that, however. Mr. Catchings
had never proved himself a man of such
ability In the House as TO warrant placing
him in q position of leadership. The wis
dom of these comments has been fully vim
dicated by the utter confusion and defeat
nf Enfn frat ~ nj
The folly, moreover. of his proposition to
save the government $50 by printing no
private bills is shown by the nature of such
measures. Decisions made by Speaker Car
Isle himself are authority for the state
ment that all bills for the benefit of indi-
viduals and corporations are private billV
Measures of this character are more likely
than any Others to contain schemes to rob
the government. The folly, therefore. of
attempting TO deprive the House of in
formation about such measures Is evident.
INVITING SUSPICION.
The second demonstration of Democratic
dlsunIon occurred over the proposition TO
print no river and harbor bills. The Demo-
Gratis had O fierce wrangle over this resolu-
ton, which was advanced by MIR. Blanch-
ard. OF Louisiana, the chairman of the
rivers and harbors committee. The Re-
publlcans again held aloof from the war
ring majority. but the proposition was car
ried. AS has been pointed out. the nickel
House," by this action, saved the United
States treasury the enormous sum of s.. 40.
The danger of a rule that bills. each of
local interest. to be sure. but all together
involving a limp sum of enormous mag
nitude, shall not be made public, is so ap-
parent as to warrant the suspicion that
some other motive than economy lies back
OF this unheard-of proceeding. There Is
no insurance against legislative stealing
rl,ly oil NAT
BILE that any sane human being would I'M
dertake TO save $40 by riskIng the mlsap-
preparation of tens of millions of dollars
The inference Is natural that there is a
more malodOrous individual In this wood
pile than general economy.
In o third instance of economy the DEM
ocrats of the House were not divided.
They succeeded with q fairly united front
in saving Uncle Sam o possible expense of
100000. although probably much less
would have been expended. in transporting
the 5000. 900 bushels of wheat contributed
by the generous formers aud mlleIs
the starving peasants of Russia.
The motive underlying this act. not of
parsimony. but of inhumanlty has already
been shown. BY defeating this charitable
project so far as enabling the government.
through the Navy Department. to take part
as q national almoner to the subjects of an
historical ally. the confederacy found be-
lated revenge for the part which Russia
LOOK III preventing EDSidnQ fTOlu IccOkuiL-
ing the rebel States AS q belligerent power
and from raising the cotton blockade. The
motive for this inhuman action is so appar-
ent and the spirit of revenge which would
snatch pr0ffered plenty from thousands Of
starving human being stands out with such
cruel distinctness that the Democratic
leaders themselves are aghast at the folly
| of the mob they are unable TO control. 1t IS
| political blunder which must be regarded
| as colossal. 1t can hardly fail TO offend the
| spirit of liberalIty. of charity and of ma
| tional courtesy which pervades the people
| as O whole, irrespective of party. 1t is
| noteworthy that Senator German himself,
| who is supposed to be the chief leader and
| directing spirit Just now OF the national
| Democracy caused the limit of an appro-
| priatlon for carrying this grain to Russia
| to be fixed at 500. 900. and that he voted for
| the passage of the resolution in the Senate
| Indeed, had it not been for the efforts of
| Mr.. German, considerable portion of the
| Democratic side Of the Senate would prob
ably have voted against the resolution.
| The narrOw-spirited Holman, of Indiana,
| shuddered with horror at the idea of spend
| ing money ont OF the national treasury for
| the relief of human suffering. 1t will be-
| worth while TO notice later on whether Mr..
| liberal appropriation for the geological sur
| vey. out of which his son Paul derives an
| income that would satisfy the hunger of
many hundreds of Russia's starving peas
ants.
1t is no wonder then that the principal
| Democratic leaders are perplexed and
alarmed at the close of this week by the
extraordinary capacity displayed by the
4 HoQee of making ont of itself n nafion al