Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-26

WHAT CONFRONTS CONGRESS

ELf5r Democrat.
II there was any significance In the
elections Of lS9i. they expressed want
OF confidence I'm the administration of
Grover Cleveland. ard the iuCapACity oi
the Democratic party 20 provide suitable
legislation for our people. Having en-
joyed for a quarter Of century seat
son Of unparalleled prosperity after the
close of the war under Republican adj
ministratiOn. the old secession element
in the Democratic party seized the OPP
portunity OF the INDIGESTION OF the Re
publican party on certain vital queS-
tions, aud with the aid OF the disaiiected
Republicans who did not vote the an
archistS, the socialists, the salooniSJS-
succeeded IN electiug congress over
whelmingly opposed 70 the Republicans,
but with no fixed policy Of their own.
The Fitty-third Congress was a product
OF anarchy, and lis legislation was anti
American; and lis attempted legislation
was vicious. Hence the rising of the
people IN 1884. electing q Republican
congress aud emphasizing that election
In lS95.
The house Of representatives elected
in l>94 will assemble next Monday.
They will promptly elect Thomas b.
Reed for speaker Of the Fitty-fourth
Congress. and he should promptly name
the various committees. His long con
gresSiODal experience enables him 10 I'M
dersJanG the wants Of the people and
the men best fitted 10 DC al the head OF
committees 70 shape legislation.
An empty treasury, an increase Of the
rHnF. -. IL.
1r.d 8iiiiD8s. an insufficient revenue 20
meet the current expenses of the gov
eminent, the gold reserve twenty mil
lions short, confront him; hence the
committees OF WAYS and Means, Of Coin
age, and of Banks aud Banking, with the
committee on Appropriations, are the
most important.
The WAYS and Means Committee has
charge OF the revenue or tariff legisla-
ton. Protection has been the policy OF
our government from its foundation
The Democratic party stands for pro-
lection for rgrsgHe o8iY. The Republic
can party stands for tbiS and aiore-tO
protect home industries and promote
home market. Tax everything we can
raise or manufacture in sufficient guam
titles for our own necessities. and the
luxuries enjoyed by those who desire
them, and admit free those things We
need or cannot raise or manufacture in
sufficient quantities to supply our needs.
The present tariff fails 10 protect our
industries or give sufficient revenue 70
meet the expenses of government. hence
the WAYS AID Means Committee is the
most important. As Maine furnishes
the most competent man for speaker, so
in NV judgment she furnishes the most
competent man for head of this commit
tee, in the person of Nelson DingleY, Jr
Having been careful observer OF the
debates IN congress for the past half cent
ury. and always prOtectiOnist of
American labor, without disparaging
any other of the able men of congress
believe Mr.. Dingley understands the leg
islation needed for the whole country, 10
build up its industries and protect its |
labor, better than any other man in the
Fifty-fOurth Congress; and should be at |
the head of this committee.
am aware that differ in judgment |
from large majority of the expressed |
opinions in the daily papers, but never
theless INV experience and observation /
/ will give for the consideration of
others.
The Mckinley tariff was in the inter-
ests of labOr-not perfect, but in the
right direction. New industries came
into existence under il. Our own peo-
pie were supplying our needs. Labor
was in demand. Agricultural products
found home market. Reciprocity Open
ed the foreign markets.
Now, taking that bill az a basis,
changing its schedules as the necessities
of the times demand, bill should be
presented 10 the house and promptly
passed and sent TO the senate. Ii the
senate passes il, il will go TO the presi-
dent. IL he signs il, il then becomes a
law. IL the senate refuse to pass IL, or
The president refuses 20 sign il, is no
of the house. Their business is
70 pass the bill, and if it fails to become
! law the people will know where the :
lies, and we enter the .
of 1896 with the prestige Of
what we will do when we have full con- .
rol of the government.
In my next article 4 viii give history
4 tariff legislation, aud Of coinage and
'anking. Z. w. WOODBURY..
Bethel, Nov. y, 1895. IL