Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-23
FREELAND, PA, JULY %, 1894
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. D. G.. July 20. 1894


Washington, D. c., July 90, 1894.
Political ingratitude is so common in
Washington that it seldom attracts more
more than a passing notice, but the apos-
tacy of Representative benson, of Ala
bama, who has written a letter announc-
ing his withdrawal from the Democrats
and his intention to act with the Popu-
lists hereafter, is such glaring case and
his object so plain to all that it is receiv-
ing more attention than it really de-
serves. SAID an Alabama Democrat:
The reason given by benson for leav-
ing the Democratic party-his inability
to support President Cleveland and his
financial policy-is absolutely ridiculous
when the fact is remembered that he
owes his seat in the house to President
Cleveland, who, during his first admin
istration, appointed him United States
district attorney for the northern and
middle districts of Alabama, thus giving
him the prominence which enabled him
to get nominated and elected to congress
two years ago. Now President Cleve-
land, as all the world knows, has not
changed the financial ideas he held dur
ing his first term. 1t is benson who has
changed, and the reason, while obvious,
is not tattering to him. The third party
has been strong in his district for several
years-he only beat his Populist oppon-
ent by |, 800 votes in total of more than
2O,OO0-and benson believes it will car
ny the district this year and is willing to
be elected to congress as a Populist
rather than to chance being defeated as
Democrat. Such men can be spared
by the Democratic party"
Representative Bland, of Missouri,
proposes to put the newly-found friend
ship for silver which so many Republi-
cans are protesting to the test, by getting
a bill for the free coinage of silver report
ed from the house coinage committee, if
he can manage to get quorum of the
committee who are faYorable to the bill
together soon. Owing to the absence of
the members and the nearness of the
close of the session the chances are
against Mr.. Bland succeeding. Another
thing that adds to the chances against
him is that a considerable number of
members of the house, many of them
Democrats, are strongly opposed to any
further agitation of the silver question
at this time, and still more opposed to
the taking of record vote on the
Bland bill.
Representative Bailey, of Texas, was
made happy this week when the house,
by vote of l27 to 81, passed his volun-
tarv bankruptcy bill, He has maintained
ever since the Torrey bankruptcy bill
was defeated that majority of the house
favored national bankruptcy law, and
that it was only because the Torrey bill
bill put it in the power of creditors to
force man into bankruptcy when he con-
sidered himself solvent that it was
defeated. 10 vote on Mr.. Bailey bill,
which n,a&,s man judge of his own
solvenct, i.dicates that his judgement
was CNrret.
Tho senate committee on territories
deciiDl It its meeting this week that al
tho "1Le Utah bill first became law,
Ar2 NJ and New Mexico should be ad-
miAed 10 the union at the same time,
ard d,Iccted that bills therefore should
He ready by its next meeting.
representative Springer, of Illinois,
VAS this week given hearing by
subcommittee of the house committee on
Iabor, on his bill providing for COM
pulsory arbitration of all disputes be-
tween employer and employees, by ma
tional board of arbitrators. Mr.. Springer
claims that his bill coyers every possible
ntingency that may arise, and that if
it be enacted into law a long step has
will be taken towards the solving of
the problem which has been so trouble
some Of ate. y number of bills dealing
with the same subject are being con-
sidered by the subcommittee.
He must be queer so:t of Democrat
who can get any satisfaction out Of the
present tariff situation. The report oil q
general disagreement as the result of
nearly two weeks work on the part of the
house and senate conferees certainly
does not look encouraging, although
some of the gloom is lifted by the
knowledge that while the disagreement
is for reasons satisfactory to the con-