Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-12-29

script will afford the people Of this
county an opportunity they have never
had before. They can now send copies
of an issue that will contain complete
representation Of Morrison county and
all its towns, industries and advan.
tages. You surely want copies to send
to friends in other localities. In or
dering use the coupon on second page.
M'KENzIE'S WASHINGTON LETTER,
American Congressman Compared with
Those of Foreign Countries Possibly
Not SO Classically Educated, But They
Have Better Kind of Knowledge.
Although there is general belief prev
alent that congressman as rule are
wiser in the pursuit Of Office than in the
practical experience and book knowl-
edge which go to make up the best legis-
lators. A careful review of the leading
members Of the house and senate will by
no means reinforce this theory. There
have been, no doubt, times in the his
tory Of the British parliament when
there were more members distinguished
in letters than there has been at any
time in the American congress, but it
must be recollected that the membership
of the house Of commons is nearly twice
as large as that Of the house of repre-
sentatives, and besides the manner of
selecting candidates is somewhat differ
emit. The constituencies that they repre-
sent are often, learned bodies, such as
universities, which would naturally
choose men distinguished for learning
rather than those wise in the affairs Of
practical life. It is conservative to say,
however, that, for knowledge of prac-
teal life and Of the art Of governing. or
statecraft in the best sense of that term,
no legislative body in the world sur
passes the senate and house of the United
States congress. There is q kind of
worldly shrewdness, hardness of fiber
intensely practical in it's manifestations
which peculiarly marks the American
legislative body. There is less of the
t'bookish theoric" about them than any
foreign body of the same kind. All
questions are mainly discussed from the
practical side and in the light of past
experiences. The visitor seldom hears
quotations in congress from authors with
a theory, and if looks are quoted they
are practical, economical or statistical
reports or dry law books of precedent.
Nothing will show this clearer than the
manner in which tariff bills are con-
structed. The men who are in the
business Of manufacture in the various
branches to be dealt with in the tariff
changes furnish the basis i'll sworn testi-
mony for all tariff schedules, although
the facts are sometimes ignored as thus
presented for the benefit Of the con-
sumner and to carry out party pledges.
s The question has furnished an i'm
mense amount of discussion in almost
every congress since the time Of Alex
ander Hamilton, the founder of orr
tariff system, and those who now take
part in this discussion, which will prob
ably drag its slow length along In this
session of congress will show great
familiarity with this literature in such
a way as to disprove the theory that
American congressman are only poll
ticians little more successful than
ward heelers.
The extraordinary session broughtlto
light in clear way the learning Of the
American congressman in all the litera-
ture of political economy connected with
the mo aey question and national fnan-
ces, It has also called attention to the
fact that the congressional library IS
drawn on very extensively by about tWo7
thirds Of the members Of congress. II
is said by Librarian Spoford that never
at any former session was there quite
such great demand for lite IA
ture dealing with the silver ques-
tion and with financial sub
jects. Senators AMI representatives
have studied the subject Of raising rev,
.enues by the diifarsas governments, and
Of banking, state, natsaatl and foreign.
The mo *hods Of raisings anil the history
Of In. ONE taxes hive furnished the
Democrats ment;,i Tod Of a very brac-
Liz. G8ud t141tkt3 -ts&l ~ now 4OI S6V0IeAA
months. Yet ssiep sss,sn .le1ah in doubt
as to whether it IS better TO make up the
estimated annual dist in our revenues
by an increased il efnal revenue tax or
by a system OF taxes on the revenues Of
incomes and i,lilerisa aeas. This miscel-
laneous stu il and the spseches
that have been ilat.e upon the silver
question have cert linly served to en-.
phasize the fact that our congressman
can not bs DUBBED professional
politicians, but on thu contrary,
are wise and ssudious for the best
interests of this country in the light
that the best literature Of the past sheds
upon all economic questions. This
country has yet produced no epoch max
ing books on political economy, bat tho
demand during the present session for
such works as those OF Professor Thomp-
son O. Pennsyl vania university, 81. q.
Carey. Professor Perry, Francis Is.
Walker and Henry George 60 to show
\ that they have left their impress upon
subsequent legislation. or course, such
works as John Stuart Mill, the text book
Of modern political ECONOMY and Adam
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES seseseeNsssz