The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-08-16

CoNGREss hiss apparently determined
10 take TO business. very deliberately. 1t
matters butiittle to our distinguished
representatives Wha: may be the cgEdl-
ton Of the country, what the necessities
Of business, what the distress Of the
common people, Senatorial precedenis
must not be disturbed nor legislative
rules be amended. The Senate absolute
" wasted the entire Of last week and did
nothing. while the House, after much
caucussing and bargaining and skirmish-
ing. at last agreed upon terms, and on
Friday actually commenced the discus
sion Of the silver question, under an
agreement that the debate is to continue
for two weeks. The situation in this
bodv Is a queer one. The discussion IS
not on party lines and the unusual spec
tacle is presented of two factions Of the
Democracy dividing time, and absolutely
in control Of both sides Of the question.
The controversy is not between Demo-
Gratis and Republicans but between two
wings of the Democratic party, and as IS
usual in family quarrels, Is bitter and IN
relenting. The Republicans in the House
with one or two possible exceptions,
stand for repeal of the purchasing clause
Of the Sherman bill, and ready 10 vote
for it at any moment. Add to their vote
that Of the Democrats who agree with
them and there is little or no doubt hat
they constitute msjority of that body.
In the Senate as iu the House the divis-
ion is not on party lines and the result Is
a matter Of grave doubt, but as in the
House the Democrats are in control, and
OF the shoulders of that party rests all
the responsibility for the present ruinous
delay. Even should the House come TO
a decision after two weeks of discussion,
there is no telling when action viii be
had in the senate, for there is no meth
cd under its rules by which discussion
can be ended and vote be forced.
The real cause ofthe delay from which
The country will suffer so greatly is TO be
found in the jea!ousies and chickering's Of
the Democratic leaders. Months Of So
called discussion will not alter the views
Of 3 single member Of either house and
they are as we'll prepared to vote to-day
as they will be at any time in the near
future. The majority Of tie speeches
that will be made viii merely be for
buncome, and will make no converts;
meanwhile the business Of the entire
country must stand still and suffer, while
members air their vocabularies.
This untoward state Of affairs must be
Notifying in the extreme to Mr.. Cleve-
land. This extraordinary session was
convened by him for the purpose of dis
posing Of this alarming financial ques-
ton: his views are plainly and suocinct-
ly set forth in his message; the perils Of
the situation are dwelt upon; be truth
fully asserts that "this matter rises above
the plane Of party politics" and reminds
members of the maxim, he gives twice
who gives quickly" and yet, with ali his
newly fedged honors blooming upon
him, with his vast patronage and power,
with his party in absolute control Of the
government, be finds on the very thresh-
old Of his administration that his advice
is coolly @whistled down the wind" by
a majority Of his partisans and his lead
ership set at naught Was ever Presi-
dent before SO lily and contemptuously
treated by bis friends? Procrastination,
defiance and threats meet him at every
turn.