The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-03-22
Hill on the Recent Congress.


| In answer 10 s request for his views o
The work Of congress. Senator Hi
furnished Tie World the following
/ statement:
I'VE hare ieit undone those things
xhicL we ought 20 have done. and We
have done those things which We ough;
DOT to have DONE This declaration
pretty correctly describes the situation.
II applies with more or less force 10
every congress where expectations OF
great things have been aroused, but
which have not been wholly fulfilled.
This congress has been no different from
any other in that respect. Il ought 10
have done many shings whicl, il omitted.
among which are the following:
The senate shonld have revised its
rules fer the more speedy transaction Of
public business.
"2, Congress should have provided for
the retirement and elimination Of the
greenbaek currency. and thereby re :
lievei the treasury from the constant
strain upon it involved in their never
ending redemption in gold.
"S. Il should have provided legislation
whereby cur national securities could
be floated at less rate OF interest than
is now permitted by law.
~. It should have passed an act for
the submission of constitutional
amendment providing for the election Of
senator's by the people.
IS. II tshould have completed the re-
vision Of the tariff by providing for free
raw materials necessary for our manu-
factures, and tie elimination of few
Objectionable provisions therein.
Among the conspicuous things which
ought not TO have been done was the
enactment of an inguisitorial war in
come tax in time OF peace. That act of
itself largely contributed to a loss Of
confidence in the party on the business
community. Il was folly to surrender
democratic principles in exchange for
popuii' and socialistic doctrines.
'Yet, notwithstanding these just
criticisms, it may be iairly asserted that
the Fifty-third congress accomplished
much good for the country aud vindi-
Gated certain elementary principles OF
government. The establishment of the
policy OF tariff Tor revenue was &C
comp'ishment enough for e decade, even
if nothing else was do1e. The vindica-
tion of the doctrine that there ehould be
mo public taxation except for public
purpose was glory enough for any one
especially in view o: the OBJ
stac.es to be overcome, the opposition
and the influences, cor
rupt or influential. which had to be sur
"The repeal Of the illogical and in
furious Sherman Silver Bullion Purchase
law was boon to the country, as has
already been demonstrated
"Civil liberty was upheld and state
rights approved In the repeal of the
odious Federal Election laws.
'In short, while there have been some
disappointments, upon the whole the
wisdom of democratic administration
has been made manifest.
"More you'd have been accomplished
except for the fact that the senate was
vexatiously close, and many compro-
misses were rendered necessary to secure
practical .esults. The present congress
will compare favorabIs with it's republi :
can predecessor.
Upon the whole, fair record has
been made, and the republicans could
have done no better.
Business will now adapt itself 10 the
existing conditions, and we may reason
ably expect q revival of national pros
perity."