The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-01
THE WORK or CONGRESS.

The Fffty-thsrd congress CT the United
States win adjourn At soon NEXT Nou-
day. The time remaining b 80 short
that II - doubtful II I'll the axproprfa-
tloz bills even WIN be passed. ard II is
certain that no othHr important meas
IRE viii be voted UPON Consequently
II may be szlsx that the work OF con-
gr~ss 10 practically con1psesed. and the
history Of this extraordinary lawrak-
ing body is ready for review
TIE Democrats party went into ONCE
pledged 10 repeal the Federal election
law: 10 rrpnal the sNcKsnley law and
enact tariff for revenue only: TO ahoi-
ssh recisrocity: % legsssate against
trusts: 10 restore unearned railroad
land grants 40 the public domain: 10
upheld the silver uon<y OF the coun-
try: 10 repeal the state bank tax; TO
maintain 9 vigoruus foreign policy and
a Strong navy: TO favor just admins
traston OF the pension laws: 10 encour-
are the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. and 20 admit the territories 10
statehood. Let Us see how these prom
ises have been fuifiiled
Congress assembled In special ses-
SIGN August :. at the call OF the presi-
dent. FOR the stated purpose % repeal
Ing the law that provided for the pGr-
chase each month or soc 600 ounces OK
silver bullion. Immediately after the
election. Ira December, 1889. Of q con-
Eress and president pledged 20 the over
throw OF the protective tariff. the gen.
eral alarm felt by business men and
capitalists was shown by the calling In
OF loans. closing of factories. reduction
~ wages and business failures. These
business failures finally led 20 a panic
among the depositors In banks. who
withdrew their mooney. and In the sum-
naer OF 1888 hundreds 81 hanks, In ali
parts If the country. we're compelled to
close their doars. The English papers
stated that the panic was due to fear
tIrat the continued purchase OK silver
would result In the practical denone-
tszation OF gold and the placing Of the
counsry's finances on q silver basis
Foreign investors threw their securities
back on the American market. and re-
fused 10 extend or renew loans made in
the United States.
The president took the view that the
silver purchase law, and not the
threats contained In the Democrats
platform. was rcsponihie for the bust
ness depression. and he elaborated this
opinion In e message 60 the special ses-
SION OF congress. The Democrats had a
Republicans. and . majority over all
OF S.. In the senate the Democrats had
d majority CT over the combined OPP
position. 1t became evident on the
first day or the session that q large
number OF Democratic senators and
representatives. almost a majority. were
opposed 20 the presidents financial
policy. All the power OF the admins
tratlon was exertsd TO secure the repeal
Of the silver purchase Law. and enough
Democratic votes were finally scared
10 Cooperate with the Repubiis---..sz lid
pass the repeal hsll. On November i.
$3.50.
The first regular session OF the Fifty
third congress began December 4, 1924
one OF The first acts was repeal OF the
Federal election law. at the request of
the Sosssh. This piece Of legislation
MAS the only ono that faithfully re-
deemed a ponaise made in the platform
The frat 10 the repeal is seen today
IN the fact that Alabama. Tennessee
and South Carolina each has two sets
Of state officers
The Kgfty-third congress viii be re-
rnesnhered as the one that enacted the
sugar t:sist tariff When the ways and
means committee OF the house made
pulls its proposed tariff bill there was
surprise snss indignation among Demo-
Gratis. for II in m way fulfilled the
/ promise az the platform, II was In no
sense a tariff for revenue only; It WAS
| quite as objectionable as the Mckinley
law - those wsao believed. with the
| Democrats platform. that protection
was Unconstitutional. for the hsli CON
tanned sree list. ard retained pro-
| iecttve duties ou hundreds ef articles.
! iTader . tariff for revenue oaly there
/ would have been no free ilst. and every
/ arsicle Imported wsssala have paid us
/ share OF The duty. Gal. humber. iron
and wool were placsd lapsen The free list
! 80 far from trelng a tariff for revenue.
/ it, authars admitted that II would rot
| produce sufficient revenue. and q rrovI-
sion for a repuliSs Iscorse tax was
| PLACID sn the fiii Every citizen 81 the
| rnissd States - familiar with the tariff
/ fight Ia the house and serate: how II.
/ q. Havegneyer. president ~ The sugar
/ trust. revised the sugar schedule: how
/ TIE Teus>cratEe senator's. after buying
sugar tgast shares ca tho stock ex-
/ change. znaSfe refined sugar dut1aA!e.
| ard sent sugar shares fsstEw upwa ard.
| - their own PERSONAL rnasit: how thu
tariff bill WAS finally passed. after rsrcsi-
/ aeaS Cleveland bad publicly consisxnnea
| II. and how he refused o. sign x.
/ The oaesvthNaS - tie ncw tariff have
| T1ssre TRAN realised tie fears thai wesss
| fels IA lSs9. No uae had any idea that
/ Ay car discriminating tuty On sugar
/ imported frs,as hsuasy-aay3ns e,uatrses
/ our FsseAt ard esssts would ~ excluded
frNua Germany, Es3g:ans ana France.
| ea@akltag a soSs 80 nssssaonx ~ dollars a
| American ssexskzxscF. TIE revenue nas
been sseoxwss~r Inadequate ~ pev TIE
/ expresses 81 The seye-nsssens. 80 that n
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