The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-06
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March 4, '95

President Cleveland certainly had cause to
be glad when the fall Of the gravels of Vice
President Stevenson and Speaker Crisp an
nounced the legal end Of the 6fty-third Con-
press. 1t is not believed that any other
President has ever had as hard a physical
task imposed upon him as has been perform
ed by President Cleveland in the last 48
hours of almost continual work Of toe most
wearing sort. Up to Saturday only two of
the thirteen regular appropriation bills bad
become laws-au unprecedented state Of
affairs-snd eight Of them were still IN con-
ference. Since then they nave all been acteo
upon. To get An idea ofthe enormous amount
of work the President had to perform, 1t must
be remembered that the more important OF
| these appropriation bills consist OF hundreds
of pages of i,emized appropriations, and that
President Cleveland never signs bis name to
anything without knowing just what it is,
although be had in this case TO sign Oils
containing items and amendments that were
decidedly Objectionable, because the bills con-
| tanning them could not be vetoed without
making an immediate extra session necessary,
something ,ha, be had 20 desire to do, If IT
could possibly be avoided. Later on there
may have to be q extra session OF Congress
! called, hut there is at present a good prospect
of escaping it entirely, unless there shall be
another run on the Treasury for gold.
1t is fashionable TO abuse Congress-, out
when one takes the trouble TO go carefully over
| The work of the 6f,y-third Congress, 1t will
be seen that there is little cause for abuse
from anybody, aud none for abuse from
democrats True. this Congress did not
meet the expectations of the President as TO
| financial legislation, but why was it? The
| democratic party has always taught that the
first duty of a Senator or Representative was
to represent his constituents. Well, that is
precisely what the democrats in the Senate
and House of the ffty-tbird Congress did,
and that is why there was no financial legis-
lation. President Cleveland realized this,
aod he has no word of abuse for Congress
men who stood by the views of their constl-
tuents, although be has not besita:ed to ex-
press the opinion that those views were wrong
| and that time would convince those who held
taem of the fact.
II is DOT often that members of the opposi-
ton party pay as high a tribute to the abil-
itv and patriotism Of member Of the cabinet
as Senators Aldridge, of R. L., and Lodge, OF
Mass. Gid to Secretary Herbert in their
speeches in the Senate against a reduction Of
Secretary Herbert's estimates for the Naval
Appropriation. Secretary Herbert has every
right 10 feel prosd of such compliments, de-
served though they were.
One Of the surprises Of the last week of
| Congress was that Senator Chandler, ("Little
Billy'') of N. a., should have dared with his
record. financial and political, TO hare at
tackled the honesty of other Senators. II may
have been unpar.iamentary for Senator Hill,
who gave Little Billy a terrible tongue
thrashing, to refer to him as a "hyena" but
its ap,ness excused its use in that particular
case. Senator Martin after saying that he
had heard it said tina. if Chandler had his de-
ser;s he would be in the penitentiary instead
of the Senate, referred TO Chandler as a ''buz-
gard" who sat in the nest Of an eagle and
'vomited forth its filth on every occasion
While a dispute was going on as to whether
Senator Martins words should be taken down
he said that he would Withdraw the obj ectIona-
BILE words from respect TO the Senate, but his
withdrawal of them would not change his be-
lief in their truth.
President Cleveland and Secretary Car
iisle, Who have been for quite awhile Two OF
the hardest worked officials OF the govern
men,. Will this week start on a-hunting aud
fishing "Trip along The Carolina coast. They
have certainly earned n vacation. and every
BODY hopes they viii >eIoy II aad return wlth
renewed slrength 10 tnelr a:Grous d':.:es.
Ayaora those VINO extended coagr:tn't-
tons TO Postmaster Genera! Wilson, WHO
succeeds Nj. 3issel., was Genera JoAa +.
MulforG.. OF New I3:k. now visiting is on
tire colleague in the arrangements ioF NE
exchanged Union and CONFIDENT paaoaefS.
REPRESENTATIVE HATCH, Of Eo i "ta TIE