The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
THE NEEDED REFORM OF THE DAY.

The last issue OF Harper's Weekly con-
tains a very pointed and clever review
Of the representatives Of the great States
Of New York and Pennsylvania in the
United states Senate. together with an
examination of what it supposes to be
a figure in that most important body.
The following extract from 1t is little
long, but it will well repay perusal.
The greatest States Of this Union, in
point Of population and wealth., are New
York and Pennsylvania. Their Industrial
and commercial interests are immense In
magnitude and variety. In their great
cities are the financial headquarters
of a majority Of our most important cor
porate enterprises. More than any
others they are interested in
national economic policy. ard especially
in a sound monetary system. Their
spokesman in the highest law-mak-
ing body Of the National government
should be men Of such ability character,
knowledge, and statesmanike views that
their follow scnalOrs mUuid iuStlncuYely
look to them in such things for advice
and guidance. But what do we behold? 1t
is no eXaggeration to say that neither
New York nor Pennsylvania has a single
senator whose opinions, II he has any, on
economic or financial subjects, or, for
that matter, on any other problem OF
craftsmanship, carry the slightest weight
with the legislative body In which he
sits, or with the community at large.
except as the vote he casts counts one
this way or the other. AS to the intellec-
tual business of law-makng, the four
oh
The Oldest of them IN years Of service
is Senator Cameron, from Pennsylvania
He speaks very rarely, and when he does
break his habitual silence 1t becomes at
once apparent that he has nothing TO say
that would be missed If it had not been
said. He recently read to the Senate some
remarks against the repeal of the Sher-
man law so fun OF absurdlY homogeneous
propositions that those who listened TO
them must have marvelled how a sane
man corld have jumbed them together.
They may have excited some speculation
as TO the motives which had prompted
them and induced him 10 set himself so
cynically against the interests of his con-
situency. Thus his utterances may be
taken notice Of as curiosities. Beyond
this they will not be considered as Of
any Importance whatever. for he has
neither any Influence to risk nor any re-
putation for craftsmanship to lose
His colleague. Matt" Quay. is well
known to the country. AS nobody ex-
| poets from him any opinion of value on
any question of public concern, nobody
is disappointed when he falls TO express
any. Even If he did say anything sensible
on matters of that kind. nobody would, on
| account Of his reputation as a wre-pul-
| Ter. take IL as an honest argument be-
4
| quire what sort OF political tugelery
| there might be at the bottom Of H.. OF
! course, Mr.. Quay's vote counts one; but
that is all, Whether he will cast that
vote one way or the other will always
wholly depend upon his view as to how
| II will affect the fortunes OF his party
| In his State or rather his own fortunes
| as the manager of his party in his State.
The senior senator from New York
| MIR. David Il. Hill, possesses a certain
kind Of mental agility, and also some
fiuency Of speech But ne is an incurable
victim of the idea that he ought to be
| President Of the United States, and that
he would have been nominated and elect
/ ed to that high office had rot the bet
| ter element" embodied in the person
/ of Mr Cleveland. robbed him OF his
! dues. The whole activity OF his intel
4 10
and, unfortunately for him, this is uni
versaiiy known. Mr.. Hills doings and
sayings with regard to public questions
have. therefore. to the Senate and gen
! eral public only a pathological interest.
When, for instance. Mr.. Hin recently
| made a speech on the repeal Of the Sher-
man act nobody expected from him any
argument OF value, for he had on for
mer occasion. by uttering some borrow
/ ed phrases Of occult meaning. sufficient
| ~ demonstrated that the monetary ques-
| ton kNas entlrely beyond mis- mental
| range
There was. indeed. some curiosity TO
| see how he would manage 10 infuse into
| his speech on silver the accustomed
| devlltry against Mr. Cleveland. and 10
balance his imaginary Presidential pos
| sibilities between the free-silyer-coinage
| men Of the West and the ''gold-bugs'
| OF the East. AS his attacks on Mr..
| Cleveland as well as his strategic ma
| noeuvrings for the Presidency have be-
| come wholly innocuous. tsey serve To
afford some melancholy entertainment
| Ike the pranks Of a maniac who is
| full of sinister purposes and making
| savage faces while really incapable OF
| doing much harm; but man
| So situated before the public cam
! not exercise any influence whatever upon
! the opinions OF Congress of of the coun-
| try.
As TO orr junior senator, Mr. Murphy.
the story was told that when. at the be-
ginning Of the present special session