Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-08-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR
Washington, dug. z, 1898.

sion. There are empty chairs in both
House and Senate, but the attendance
Is as large as was expected on the first
day, under the circumstances. The
reorganization of the Senate was ac-
complished in March and that of the
House, with the exception of the min
or officials, was decided by Mr.. Cleve-
land many months ago, SO that there
was really no inducement to cause a
large attendance for the first few days
of the session.
Never did Congress come together
in which the majority in both branch
es was SO divided. There is not one
single important question to come be-
fore Congress upon which the demo-
Gratis are united. They are apparent
ly hopelessly divided on the financial
question, although the strong person
atty of the President, backed by the
patronage at his disposal, may be suf-
ficient to get some legislation through
If the administration managers are
shrewd enough to have a financial
of the republican Senators and Rep
resentatives = overtures have been
made to the republicans, but they will
make no pledges in advance, wisely
reserving the right to cast their votes
for the measure which in their judg
ment may be best for the country,
without regard to it's political effect.
The division upon the tariff among
the democrats is not so sharply de-
fined as that upon finance although it
may become so later on. There are
three tariff wings to the democracy
in Congress-one in favor of postpon-
ing the whole tariff business until the
regular session, without stating ex-
actly what they favor doing when it
is taken up; another favoring the i'm
mediate framing and passing of free
trade bill or, as they are pleased to
call it, "a tariff bill for revenue only"
and the third wing wants to frame
bill that will retain limited amount
of protection, something about mid
way between the old Mills bill and the
Mckinley law. The republicans have
not changed their position on this
question, late events and those occur
ing every day in the Industrial world
having convinced the few among
them who had doubts than an abso
lutely protective tariff is necessary to
the continued prosperity of this coun-
try. Consequently they will resist all
to change the present law,
they may if an opportunity
occur to thereby defeat the free trade
wing-which is the largest-of the
protection democrats.
Other matters upon which divisions
exist among the democrats are, the
proposed repeal of the ten per cent |
tax on state bank currency with it's
consequent flood of wild cat, home |
made money; the proposed income
tax, and the present pension policy of /
the administration.
The republicans are particularly
fortunate in having number of the
ablest parliamentaries and hardest
all-round legislative fighters in the
party in the present House. For in
stance, no twelve democrats in the
House would be able to cope with the
republican big four, of Reed, of Maine;
Burrows, of Mich; Henderson, of
Iowa, and Cannon, of Illinois, are al
ready called in running debate, and
here are number of other hard hit
BIS in the House minority, who have
proven their ability in many hard
'or what they believe to be right.
These men will present solid front
1T all times to the divided democracy,
knowing that it is upon them that the
great commercial and Industrial in
jerests of the country rely to keep the
egislation of the democratic MAORI
" within reasonable bounds.
The plain, straightforward message
Of President Cleveland will commend
Itself to every sound business man of
he country. He recommends the quick
'epeal of the silver purchasing clause
Of the Sherman silver bill and the de-
,laration by Congress that the basis
If values in this country should be
,old dollar. The position he takes is
when it is remembered
hat his party in the last congress by
4 great majority voted for free silver
coinage and the maintenance of the
silver as well as the gold coin as the
American standard. Now let the re-
,ublicans stand by the President and
help him defeat his own party. This
h HI l,1, |