The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-09-14
THE LATE CONGRESS.


man Law FEDERAL EDocel0o Law 0nd
Mckinley Law All Repealed Espsssss
Greatly Rsduesd.
The Fifty-third congress ON Aug %
ended one Of the longest sessions in the
history Of the country and one that will
be remarkable. 1t 10 fashionable to
abuse Legislative bodies. both for sins Of
omission and commission. and the late
congress is no exception to the rule.
Much. however. Of value has been &C.
complished and. still better. much Of
evil has been prevented. As the Demo-
cratic party will be called on for an &C.
count OF its stewardship. it will be well
to summarize briefly the work Of the
party during the year past. The three
things which the Democratic party 60.
pecially promised to do have been done.
The Sherman law, the federal election
law and the Mckinley law have all been
repealed. This work has been done In
spite Of much powerful influences ar
rayed against it. the Democratic party
being compelled at many points
to fight the solid Republican party, as
sisted by traitors in its own ranks. In the
darkest days Of the republic the Repub-
lican party placed on the statute books
law Of most dangerous tendencies, des-
ignated to retain itself in power ut the
expense OF violating one Of the most sa-
cred principles Of the constitution. Il
authorized United States supervisors Of
elections and deputy marshals to be ap-
pointed by the federal courts wholly in
dependent Of the states where the cleo.
tons were 70 he held. BY this revolu-
tionary and unconstitutional act the Re-
publican party for years dominated and
controlled many elections in its own in
terest. Thousands Of men were arrested
without cause and imprisoned within
the states Of New York, Ohio and Indi-
ana IN single election and thus pre-
vented from voting. The Democratic
party promised. il placed in power, that
this abuse should no longer continue. It
kept its pledge and elections throughout
the Union are now free from federal in
reference. The Democratic party in
congress has repealed the law which.
unconstitutionally a. they claimed. an.
thorized the president TO levy and remit
taxes. This great right has been restored
to the peoples representatives where
alone it rightfully belongs. Another
valuable reform effected by this con-
gress Is embodied in the bill Of Mr..
Cooper OF the Fifth Indiana district au-
thorizing the states to tax greenbacks
and other United States currency. This
class Of money has been used for many
years as a means for escaping Just taxa
ton. Indianians escaped it by having
their funds in bank nominally invested
in greenbacks or United States treasury
warrants on the day for assessment.
Banks accomplished the same object in
the same way. This crying abuse.
which enabled the dishonest 70 shift the
burden OF taxation from those most able
10 pay, has been finally abolished.
Representative Sayers, chairman Of
The appropriations committee, publishes
an official statement showing that this
congress has reduced appropriations 10
The extent Of geo, OO0, 900. In addition
% this il has abolished several hundred
useless offices and greatly reduced the
expenses Of the treasury department.
without injuring its efficiency. An
,ther great reform, which has escaped
yeneral notice, is embodied in an amend.
nent to one Of the appropriation bills
which carries into law the most effective
means yet devised for controlling and
urbing the power of trusts. Il Is. in
act. the most stringent law against
rusts ever enacted In this country. It
eplaces the law Of the former conRress
which had proved ineffective.
Another invaluable reform accom-.
lished by this congress IL the income
AZ law. the most effective measure 20
AXE the taxes OF want and put them
n wealth. 1t IL confidently expected
hat the benefits derived from this az.
eriment will result in making the in.
ONE tax q permanent feature Of orr
evenue system. a. Il always has been
the most enlightened countries OF
Europe.
While Democrats do not claim that
he new tariff law Is all that they a..
ected and demanded, il is generally Al.
lifted that Il Is q vast improvement on
le Mckinley measure.
The full measure Of tariff reform. -
well known, was defeated by nm.
ward causes. against which the wisest
nd best Of parties cannot guard.
reachery Is . crime that Is not dis.
'vercd until Il has done iA deadly
ork. and the best appointed army 4
slpless II IT. commanding officer proves
ntrue TO his trust But McKinleyism.
least. Is gone. and the country by the
Nv bill Is placed several removes from
at hideous commercial nightmare.
he new bill enlarges the free
Il. reduces protection on nearly
articles. some very greatly. and
every point improves on its
edecessor. 1t is proud consola-
IN to sincere Democrats to reflect low
lllantly the battle for revenue reform
~ fought by the entire press Of the
rty. by its membership in the house
representatives. by its president and
all Of its senators except a handful.
re latter. aided by a solid Republican
alanx, were able In some measure 70
ock Democratic intention by treashery
Democratic principles. but their con.
Ict only serves TO bring out in bold re.
( the fidelity Of the rank and Ale OF
Q party.
In short. while much Of the work Of
Q late congress was positively good,
{ little Of Il was bad. On full re-
w u will be found that, despite the
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