The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-11-09


and on radical lines. Tho house commit
tee has heard an immense amount OF tes-
timony and formulated comprehensive
measure known as the Reilly bill for re-
funding the debt and greatly extending
the time for its payment, but four of the
committee have submitted minority re-
port for much more radical measuro and
one, Mr.. Harris of Kansas wants the gov
eminent to foreclose, take the road ana
run 1t as government property, sort OF
object lesson OH government management
of the railways.
When the administration is defeated at
the middle term elections, as it nearly al
ways is--thcre have been but two excep-
tions in 60 years-thero is always great
cry that its policy has been condemned by
the people and prophecy that said policy
will DO changed, but the oldest politician
cannot remember a case when the proph-
ecy was fulfilled. The party in power in
variably goes straight on, and If it changes
ut all it is only to become little more ag-
gressive. Its leaders always assume that
the last election was mere freak on the
part of the people and reason like that sim
ner in the old story who was up a tree
when Noah IS ark floated by: go on with
your derncd old scow. This is only big
freshet anyhow" AS Lincoln grew more
radical after losing the close states in 1869
and Grant more eager for resumption aft
er tho landslide of 1874, so it may be
taken for granted that Cleveland will urge
his views more forcibly next winter than
last
AT the close of each long session there is
the Same cutlery that this has been do
nothing congress; that the majority is in,
competent; that expenses have increased
and the general tone of public life has de-
clined, and we have tho Same old house
clerks bill for popular orators to make
fun with. The impression is created that
congressman just wallow in lemonade and
rosewater, with whisky on the side, and
an army of servitors. Some Of the bills
rendered for expenses at the capitol do look
odd. Thus tho wash account indicates
that congress uses about 600 towels per
day, and that So, 500 to SO, 900 per year is
paid for laundryaccount. Some years ago
it was proved that the contract was let to
lady of considerable social standing, and
that she got the work done for half what
she received.
The report also indicates that soap,
sponges, combs, brushes, cologne, bay rum
and scissors are bought in enormous guam
creates great fun, and the rural orator
points out the particular members who
wear them. AS u matter of fact, they arc
used for fastening together the successive
numbers of The Congressional Record and
other publications which members keep
on their desks for ready reference. Pocket
knives are bought sufficient to supply
5000 men. The member can get them at
cost from the stationery clerk, and the
rural constituent calling on his represent
ative usually receives one as present
Each member is allowed 1926 per year for
stationery, and If he draws less he takes
tho cash. There have been many cases
where members used each less than So
worth and took cash for the remainder.
Some never use the congress paper at all,
but buy paper with no printed heading.
The cost of burying member is ordi-
narily about 81, 500, paid for the fare of the
escort party to his homo and back and
their expenses en- route. The burial of Vice
President Hendricks cost the house 81, 437
and the senate q little over 81, 600. Charges
for meals and personal services for the
nine men on the route to and from In
dianapolis amounted to $S4 per day. The
story goes that when member from the
northwest was buried several years ago
one of the escort telegraphed ahead: "Meet
us at Detroit depot with four cases cham
payne, gallon best whisky, four boxes
partagos and so pounds of ice. The corpse
is doing well.' These are items for the
rural orator to have fun with, but let
no one imagine that congressman will
worry thereat in this short session. When
it is considered that our capitol is by far
the largest legislative building in the
world 751 feet 4 inches long, covering four
acres and containing over GOO rooms, the
bill for taking care of it and paying sal
aries of all the members and employees
seems small. 1t is only 8 cents q year for
each citizen of the nation, and we love to
think that our lawmakers are well fixed.
There will be this winter about the usu-
al racket on silver, and if Mr.. Walker Of
Massachusetts, succeeds in getting his
comprehension bill" for general curl
rency system before the house the discus.
sion thereon will be well worth hearing.
AS to all those able measures from Mr..
Hatchs committee on agriculture and all
those bills for education and labor-bills
drawn with SO much care and the subject
Of so many prayers-well, most of them
have been put to sleep for this congress.
They will appear in the next probably, as
tney nave III CdCn congress IOr, 10, CncSe
many years. The bankers have recently
met ut Baltimore and prepared bill for
congress to pass, the chief provision of
which is that no moro bonds are to be de-
posted, but each bank issue notes to tho
amount of one-half or three fourths of its
paid up capital and the government guar
antec said notes. If any man should dream
that this congress will listen patiently to
such proposition, that man should take
salts in the morning and consult physi
clan at once.
Senator Morgan will make his usual
effort to get favorable consideration for
his Nicaragua canal bill, the chief feature
of which is that the government guarantee
the interest on the company's bonds to the
amount of $S7, 900, 600 or thereabouts, but
otherwise the canal is to be a private en-
terprisc. In other words, the company is
to take no risk of loss and make as much
as it can. 1t Is claimed that by this guar
anteo the company will be able to market
per cent bonds at par. How long it will
take to bring members from the farming
states to the support of such q measure as
that will probably be learned about tho
time we solve the long standing conun