Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-07-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Congress has great opportunity.
1t is in session when the attention
of the country Is focused upon the
mammoth railroad strike with its
bioodshed and destruction of life,
property and commerce. There
will probably never be q time
when legislation which would
make strikes upon interstate rail.
ways an inpossiblllty would be
more faYorably received by the
country at large than nov. But
candor compels the admission that
the outlook tor such legislation is
not encouraging. Bills galore on
the sabject have been and proba-
bly, will continue to be introduced
in both House and Senate, but q
little commlngling with Senators
and Representatives, will soon
convince even the least observing
OF men that the great majority of
them are arrant towards when it
comes to dealing with subjects in
vOlvlDg the interests OF the wage
earners aud of the wealthy cor
poraliOns of the country. Some
are afraid of one, some of the
other, but a majority OF them-a
great majority, too-are afraid to
tackle the subject. Many of them
are actually afraid to express an
opinion one way or the other on
the action of the administration
and on the news as 1t arrives in
Washington.
There is one man, however, who
isn't afraid. Right or wrong,
Grover Cleveland has the courage
OF his convictions, and even those
WHO opposehIs policy IN employing
the United States army, without
the application of the governor of
any state, to open and operate
the tied up Pacific railroads as
military post roads, and to shoot
down directors, are compelled to
admire his nerve, which presents
such striking contrast to the
weakened Senators and Represen
tatlvcs. 1t is inherent In the ma
ture of an American to admire
courage whether it be used against
or for him, and Mr., Cleveland has
certainly displayed courage in
carrying out his policy IN the face
of objections and protests from
governors OF state and members OF
Congress who belong to his own
party, even through that policy
seems to encroach upon the doc
trine of states rights, so long up
held as a fundamental principle Of
the democratic party.
When 173 votes are cast in favor
of a measure and only 43 against
it., the sentiment may fairly be
called overwhelming. That was
the result of the vote in the House
OH the bill taking away the priYi'
legged character of green backs and
making them taxable by states and
territories which tax other kinds
of money.
The House has passed a bill
authorizing the officials of the
General Land Office to sell ID
open market after thirty days
notice by the land officer OF the
District isolated or disconnected
tracts of land less than one.
quarter of a section in area at not
less than $3.50 an acre.
negie's superintendent says
that the naval inspectors sent to
Homestead to inspect the armor
made fJr the government have all
been Ignorant of what they were
there TO do, and no end Of cor
roborative testimony has been
h card by the House committee.
A travelling preacher, at present
ia Washington, says the world Is
about to come to an end. He may
be IN earnest but somehow there
exists a suspicion that he is trying
to play upon the vanity of the
House who have not been and Go
not expect to be renominated, they
being quite ready to believe that
their retirement from Congress
will bring Oh great calamity of
some sort.
The failure Of the Grand Jury,
which indicted the stock broke RS
and the newspaper men who re-
fused to answer questions a ked 0y
the Senate Investigating committee
to find indictments against lave
myer and Searle, the bosses OF the
gar trust, is beng unfavorabl>
commented upon. 1t may be that
no body is to blame and that the
indictment will ia due tlm3 be
found but that is not the general
impression here. Friends Of the