Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-04
.CAUSTIC COMMENTS.
But Few Words of Praise for
the Presidents Message.
And Most of the Biting Criticisms
Are from Democratic Lips.
Even Mr.. Crisp Cannot Agree With the Presi-
dents Recommendations

Washington, Dec. 3 The following are
comments of some of the members of the
House on the Presidents message:
Ex-Speaker Crisp said: Il heard with
some surprise and great regret that part of
the message relating to our finances.
That relief Is needed no one doubts That
it can be found in the direction indicated
in the message | do not believe. The
President makes as strong argument us
can be made in favor of a single gold
standard, but l do not think fairly states
the case. am opposed to the retirement
of grcenbacks and Sherman notes. because
1t would Iuinously contract our currency.
Neither can ] approve the propositions
recommended to enlarge the privileges of
the national banks l have no doubt the
President honestly believes he is right, and
| know that | as honestly believe he is
wrong
Mr.. Dinglcy (Rcp.) of Maine, said
The most astonishing feature of the
message was the fact that it entirely
omitted to inform Congress whether there
was or was not the necessity of providing
more revenue. This was an omission the
mure amazing in the face OF the fact that
for 90 months there has been DIT ficiency
of revenue amounting in tie aggregate to
$3.50, 600, 600 and of $lS2 600 900 obtained
by selling bonds ostensibly for tbe pre-
scvatiGn of the Grcenback redemption
fund
g The inference from the general tenor
of the message was that the President did
not dt sire more revenue holding that by
and by the revenue laws would WELD
enough revenue and that he proposed to
continue to use the $40, 600, 900 cash in the
treasury, which represented the balance
oil the proceeds of bonds already sold, to
pay future deficiencies in the treasury. as
the administration had done in the past
The Presidents reference to the pro
tcctivc policy under which the country
Frospcred so sigually from 1861 to 1893.
as one designed for the protection and
benefit of favored classes at the expense of
the great mass of our countrymen, and
as one inefficient for the purpose Of
revenue Is singular disregard of the
fact that during the time in which this
policy was in effect, the revenue was al
ways in excess of the peace expenditures
and the masses Of the people of the coun.
try were never before so prosperous
The effort of the President to divert
attention from the real causes of the
financial stress of the government nv
charging the responsibility on the presence
OF the greenback in our currency. will NOT
prove success
The salient features of the Republican
policy were, first, a revenue in excess nf
current expenditures; second, a rigid
maintenance Of the old REDEMPTION fund
or reserve at minimum of 500, 900 900
hn ,fnv,u IL
tective policy that would encourage HON,
production and the conseqent preserva-
ton of favorable balance of trade. with
resultant domestic prosperity that in
sures revenue and confidence.
Inc Democratic party reversed this
poicy' nrst, by announcing its purpose to
overthrow the protective policy; secondly.
ny failing to meet the current expenses of
the government; thirdly. by allowing the
redemption fund to repeatedly fall far be
low the 500, 600, 900 safety line and USING
redeemed greenbacks to make up the
deficiency. -
MIR. Boutelle, Rep of Maine, said that
the whole significance Of the message as
relating to the financial situation was 10
he found in the Presidents refusal to
recognize the question of revenue as
material factor. His Indifference to the
relations between our income and our ex
penoitures was as pronounced as his
theory that we could become more pros
porous by borrowing money on interest
bearing bonds than by raising revenue
at the expense Of foreign competitors with
our own wage earners. The issue raised
by the President is fundamental, it was
the same issue between promoting Ameri
can and foreign prosperity raised in the
elections of 1894 and 1895, and was de
cided by tremendous majorities In favor
OF the American policy, under which the
United States became the greatest manu-.