Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-08
THE REPUBLICAN POSITION
Senator Platt Speaks Of the Policy Pur-
sued in the Senate.
He Thinks That Too Much VIII BE
Expected of the Next Congress-
Bimetallism the Solution.

the Senators who still remain in the city.
He is kept here by. the necessity of
Strengthening out some of his affairs, whic h
he was compelled, in a measure, 10 neg
lect on account of the pressure of public
business, which occupied so much of his
time during the last session. This was be-
cause he was one of the republicans upon
whom devolved the responsibility of pre-
venting general legislation in accordance
with the decision reached by the republi-
can Senators at an early day in the ses-
sion. This task fell largely to Messrs.
Platt, Aldrich and Chandler, and how they
succeeded has been indicated from day to
day in the reports of the proceedings.
While he did not address the Senate quite
so frequently as either of the trio of CO.
workers, he was often on his feet, and
played a very prominent part in the pro-
ceedings on the floor, while his ripe expe-
rience and mature judgment proved him
invaluable in counsel.
Being asked for the reasons of the re-
publicanS for pursuing this policy, Mr.
Platt said:
'Disclaiming any right to speak for the
republican party, many republicans 1elt
that no good could come from any leglSla-
ton which the democrats might attempt
with reference to public matters. To con-
sent to any tariff legislation was to fur
ther imperil the industries of the country,
and other measures which they were de-
termined to pass We're very objectionable
from the standpoint of the public interest.
The republicans, therefore, determined that
as, in their judgment, there would be no
wise legislation there should be as little
legislation as possible on important sub
jects. Those who did not believe in the
free coinage of silver were ready at all
times to aid in the passage of any safe
and wise financial measure which might
be brought forward by The majority, but
a.
of prevention of bad legislation, and I
think 1t has been pretty successfully ac-
complished."
The Democratic Majority.
But it is urged that you proposed moth
ing" was suggested
ut was not" he replied, "a time when
anything was to be gained by proposing
legislation, for, with a democratic ma
jority In Congress and democratic Presi-
dent. nothing that the republicans might
propose would be adopted. So the session
has been necessarily devoted to routine and
local business and to the passage of the
appropriation bills"
Asked as to how the work was accom-
plished of getting all tine appropriation
bills through and of preventing other gen.
eral legislation, he said:
sometimes we have in the estimation of
the public, skated on thin ice as it were
making it doubtful whether the appropria-
ticn bills could all be passed and an extra
session avoided. The public can scarcely
understand how difficult it was to accom-
plish the work. 1t is, perhaps, not too
much to say. however, that although the
republicans were in a decided minority
in the Senate, they were, during the whole
session, in practical control of the order
and conduct Of business"
He declined, however, to particularize on
this point.
The Senator thinks the public is liable
n tbo
the next Congress. 1.-The next House will
be republican," he said, but we shall not
have republican majority in the Senate
and there will be a democratic President
Much will doubtless be expected in the
way of proposing legislation to relieve the
distressed condition of the country-I fear
too much. We shall be almost as powerless
for the promotion Of action in the next
Congress as we have been in the past. The
opportunity for democratic mischief has
passed, but that is all. Very little can
be accomplished until after 1896, when we
hope the republicans will be in power in
all branches of the government. The pub
lie must not expect the republicans to ac-
complish impossibilities in the next Con-
gieSS.
Hope for Bimetnllixm.
''If the measures the consideration of
which has been blocked should be brought
forward in the next Congress they will
doubtless come in a shape less calculated
to do mischief. The financial situation
may improve. We hope for bimetallism,
and we also hope for improved business
conditions. If we should succeed in Sc
curing bimetallism that would settle the
trouble, and improved conditions of bust
ness would do much to diminish the fric-
ton which now prevails with reference to
the silver question. So, we are living in
hopes of better times and of republican
harmony on the silver question:.
nypin f0 Foo hot fba
will be in the minority in the Senate, he
thinks it extremely doubtful whether it
will be possible to do anything with the
tariff or the income tax.