Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-04-04

U. 8. Supreme Court than was con-
tanned in a news paragraph printed in
a Washington daily several days ago.
The paragraph stated that President
Cleveland. who was at one time very
much opposed to the income tax,is now
strongly in favor Of the tax. because it
will furnish the government a large
amount of revenue and prevent raising
tariff rates. This may or may not be
true. but the paper in question often
gets advance information concerning
the attitude of the administration. The
insult, however, was in the tail Of the
paragraph, which said that this change
of opinion on the part Of the President
had made it certain that the Supreme
Court would uphold the tax, because Of
it's desire to decide in accordance with
the Presidents wishes. If that were a
true statement what would be the need
of having Supreme Court9 1t would
be cheaper to lot the President decide
everything. However, it was not u
true statement, and God forbid that
such condition of affairs should ever
exist. The Supreme Court has made
unpopular decisions, but they haye al
ways represented the conscientious
opinions Of its members, and not Pres
idential or any other influence, and its
decisions have been respected to a great
er degree than those Of any other Court
in the world. 1t is said that the Court
stands against and 3 for the constitu-
tionality of the income tax. Ordinarily
no attention would be paid to such a
rumor but rumors gave in advance three
of the most important decisions made by
the court this year hence many believe
that there may be something in this one
which even gives the votes OF the mem.
bers of the Court.
Speaking of the Monroe doctrine,the
United States, in sending its own engi
neers, in accordance with an act Of the
last Congress, to make an official in
spection and survey of the route Of the
proposed Nicaragua Ship Canal, makes
the most practical demonstration of that
doctrine the world has yet witnessed
And one that cannot fail TO be under
stood by those European countries which
have been casting covetous eyes at this
continent.
There have been no new develop
ments in the diplomatic line during the
past week, although there is correspon
dence enough on the various tangles tc
make the State department clerks I'm =
aglne themselves oyerworked and tc
prevent Secretary Gresham having any
time to go fishing. The new ministry
in Spain has not apologised. but it has
taken action that has greatly pleased
the administration, and the apology will
also come; Spain would do almost any
thing to retain the good will Of this
country just now. That Cuban rebel
lion is getting troublesome.
There are several reasons which make
it doubtful whether the Senate will be
reorganized when Congress comes to-
gether again. For time 1t looked as
though the republicans could count up
on the votes of enough populists to give
them the majority needed to reorganize
but it is not considered a certainty by
any means at this time. One of the
reasons which made populist support OF
republican reorganization doubtful was
the announcement that Senator Morrill,
of VT, who would be entitled to the
craftsmanship of the Finance committee
has renowned his right to the position
in order that it may be given to Senator
Sherman, who is the next republican or
the committee. There is little or nc
difference between the financial views
of Senators Morrill, and Sherman, but
the latter is more dreaded by the pop
ulists. Another reason is that the re-
publcans have shown no disposition tc
give the populists committee assign
ments commensurate with the import.
ance of their woes in making reorgani
cation possible. In politics something
is very seldom given for nothing, ane
unless the populist Senators can ge
acme benefit out of reorganization they
are not likely to vote it. Other things
being equal they would prefer Senator
Voorhees, to Senator Sherman as head O.
the Finance committee.