The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-29


ADJOURNMENT or CoSGREss.
Congress has adj0urnsd after protracted
session which has made the people long
ago repeat the cynical scotchmAn's advice
TO his wise. 'ssiop your talking and go on
with your dying"
This congress makes a miserable show
ing compared with the Republican con-
grsss which gave the country the Nc
KsnIey tariff. The Fifty-first congress
under the foreeful leadership OF its
speaker, Thomas b. Reed, passed l,27S
pablic acts, many OF them measures OF
first class importance and far-resehing in-
euence. IL also passed !, $40 private acts
About 5000 bills were introduced In the
house Of representatives at the session OF
congress Just risen and about 200 IN the
senate, and OF these about 200 public and
100 private ellis have become laws. The SEN
ate tariff bill, the repeal of the election laws,
the admission of Utah, about exhausts
the list OF important public measures
that have become laws. The act creating
q national holiday out of Labor day Is,
according TO eminent lawyers, practically
imperative ou tside of the District Of CO.
iumbia. The act giving the states the
right TO tar greenbacks and national bank
notes is measure Of doubtful virtue. The
act giving the national battlefield com
mission adequate powers to care for Get
tysburg field Is an excellent measure. The
South voted for this act, because Gettys-
burg was the scene of the most glorious
military exploit in her history, the mag
niHcent charge Of Piekett's column on the
third day Of the battle.
1t has been q barren session, but ID might
have been fruitful in more hurtful legisla-
ton. The senate tariff bill is bad enough.
but II is far more conservative than the
Wilson bill. This congress did not enact
the outrageous Texas bankruptcy bill
passed by the house. The Hill anti
anarchist bill, an excellent measure, was
defeated by Democratic Congressman John
d. Warner, who Is angling for Populist
votes in his district. The bills TO create
states out of the territories of Arizona and
New Mexico passed tho house and wall
probably become laws next session. The
tariff balls passed by the house placing
coal, iron aud sugar on the free list were
smothered in the senate finance committee
for the present. The income tar. it Is re-
ported. cannot be collected because con-
gress failed to appropriate the $500, 600
necessary for its enforcement.
And this il the lean, mean and stupid
record of Democratic congress which
was elected in November, 1872. when, by
vote of $3.50. $50 Democratic 10 5,l75.577
Republican. the people decided the tariff
issue against protection and in favor of q
tariff for revenue only. The legislation OF
this congress, however. has not given the
people a tariff for revenue only, but has
given them a tariff which continues pro-
lection 20 manufactures. and places wool
and lumber on the free list, while
il protects Southern rice and sugar
This is Of course protection to favored
industries and Is sectional tariff
The income tax was not demanded
By the Democratic party in November.
1892. it was voted tor only by the Popuiist
and Socialist parties whose united vote
was bat 1.o62. coo. The Democratic party
in November. 1902. voted 70 uproot protec-
ton, but tins Democratic congress has
voted 10 perpetuate IL. The Democratic
party has hitherto always been opposed 10
the eommunisric principle of an income
tar; il did not vote for il in November,
1872 and yet this Democratic congress has
enacted this Populist plank of eommun-
ism. In other words, this Democratic
congress has given the people exactly
what they voted against in November.
Is92
The worst Of the whole business is that
the frightful legislative hlunders COM
milted by this congress can not be righted.
even If control Of The next congress should
be obtained by the Republicans. SO long
as Cleveland remains president Il will be
impossible 70 cure any Of the Ills of Demo-
cratic tariff legislation. The German
Brics tariff act can not be gotten rid Of
before ls9s. even Il the Republicans are
victorious in November, IS96 Neverthe-
less the election OF Republican house in
November next will put stop to any
further tariff legislation Of the sort
favored by President Cleveland and Chair
man Wilson. The letter of the president
to Congressman Catehings Includes the
following:
at Is not only . barrier against the re-
turn Of mad protection. hut Is furnishes =
vantage ground from which must be wsged
further aggressive operations against pro-
farted Ynunnnoly and GOVERNMENTAL favor
itiSm."
Thls means that President Cleveland in
tends 20 urge another assault upon the in
dustgies Of America at his first oppor-
ssnity. To defeat this parpose. . victory
in November t. absolutely essential.
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