Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-12-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regnlar correanondent.

Mr.. Cleveland is not in Christmas
state Of mind, notwithstanding the pres
ence of big Christmas tree IN the
White House and the glee with which
Ruth and Esther met him upon his re-
turn from successful hunting trip.
Peace on earth and good will toward
men" is but a meaningless phrase to
him when he thinks of the democratic
members of the House who upset his
plan for the passage of the crazy-quilt
currency bill before the adjournment for
the holiday recess, and Secretary Car
Isle has had hard time making him
understand that if vote had been
forced on the currency bill in the
House it would have been beaten out
Of sight, and still harder time in trying
to explain why bill which he had per
suaded Mr.. Cleveland, who doesn't know
any more about finance than he does
about tariff, to endorse, has had to be
abandoned and new one substituted
for it. In fact, he has not yet succeeded
in the latter task
While the substitute for the currency
bill is in the eyes of the republicans an
improvement on the original bill, it is
not good enough to receive a single vote.
But the very features which republicans
thing improve the substitute bill will
make it new democratic enemies, par
ticularly the CLAUSE which makes it OPP
tional with national banks whether they
will continue their circulation under the
present law, or reorganize and issue
notes under the proposed system. An
other change contained in the substi-
tute, while it may strengthen the bill
with bankers who wish to issue curren-
cy, will weaken the measure with the
people. That is the striking out of the
clause requiring all the national banks
to guarantee the currency issued by
every national bank. The very worst
feature of the original bill is retained in
the substitute-that providing for the
issue of currency by state banks. That
feature is in reality the only excuse for
the whole measure, and is intended to
placate the South and keep it from
breaking away permanently from the
democratic party. The very decided
failure of the administration plans has
caused the whole business to be regard
ed as farcical, and it is now considered
very doubtful whether the House can be
forced into passing either the present
bill or one closely resem milling it.
The much talked about test of the con-
stitutionality of the income tax is to be
made. A bill in equity was filed in the
supreme court of the District of Column
bia Saturday afternoon by Messrs. Shell
labarger and Wilson and ex-senator
Edmonds, on behalf of John g. Moore,
of New York City, against the commits
sioner of Internal Revenue. The object
of the bill is to prevent any steps being
taken for the collection of the income
tax from certain corporations in which
Mr.. Moore is a stockholder. Whatever
may be the decision the case is to be
carried to the U. S. Supreme court,
from which it is hoped to get decision
before the government begins to collect
the tax.
The following quotation from a speech
made by Mr. McLaurin, a democratic
member of the house from South Caro-
lima, on the currency bill, bars him
from the cuckoo feed trough: at is a
fraud upon the name of democracy, and
bears upon its face the moral turpitude
that now seems to dominate that great,
although somewhat shattered. organiza-
ton. The democratic party for years
has asked the people for a chance to
bring peace and prosperity to their
doors. Two years ago that request was
granted, and what has been the result?
Not single pledge has been redeemed
nor single promise kept, but the en-
tire machinery of the party has been
placed in the hands of that class of indi-
viduals who have been in the past, and
are even now, the curse of the plain peo-
pie of the country. The people had
relief to expect from the democratic
party, and the results of last November
may be taken as lively reminder of
of their disappointment, and venture
the assertion that if the present bill be-
comes a law, the people at the next cleo
ton will wipe out the last vestige of the
democratic party"
Representative Hit, the first republi-
can member of the House committee on
foreign affairs, and former chairman, is
not satisfied with Secretary Gresham's
answer to his resolution, adopted by the
House, enquiring why the Secretary
recommended an appropriation of
$425, 900 to pay for damages arising out
of the seizure of Canadian sealers in
Behring Sea. Mr.. HIT says the answer
of Secretary Gresham ignores the val
idlty of the CLAIMS for prospective
damages, and explains nothing, and
that he proposes to take other steps
towards getting the explanation he
asked for, when Congress re-assembles.
The gold in the treasury continues to
rapidly decrease. apd the prediction has
been made by members of the admins
tration that another issue of bonds will
be made before the first of March.
The Ball Is Open-Let the Band
Plau