The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-10-12
WASHINGTON x.HTT1R.
WASHINGTON, Oct. s. 1896.

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recent opinions expressed by politi-
clans this question is both pertinent
and important. IT the politicians
have their way the public demand,
which is well-nigh general, regard
less Of politics, that Congress shall
do something for the hetterment Of
the country's finances and for the
prevention Of the issue Of more
bonds for the money sharks, will be
ignored, and congressional legisla-
ton be virtually confined to the
regular appropriation bills. The
argument Of the politicians is that
it will be impossible for Congress
to pass any financial legislation.
because a bill that the republican
House would pass could not get
through the Senate, which will be
controlled by neither party. owing to
next years presidential campaign
and the consequent drawing OF par
ty lines on all important legislation.
To accept that argument is to de-
clare to the world that patriotism
has been driven out of Congress by
craftsmanship, and that the fear Of a
loss of votes in the presidential
election outweighs the demands Of
the people at large for financial
legislation. The great mass of the
people do not care snap for parti-
sanship, although most men are for
one or another reason connected
with political party and during an
exciting campaign become partisans
to certain extent. But when there
is no campaign on the masses are
far more interested in earning a
living than in partisanship. They
have learned to their cost that our
present system of finance imposes
unnecessary burdens upon the earn
ing of that livelihood. They want
those burdens removed, and are not
likely to be satisfied with the politi-
clans excuse-that Congress cannot
legislate because of craftsmanship.
Next year .here will be another
Congress elected as we'll as a Presi
dent. That fact should not escape
the politicians minds.
Officials of the Department of
Justice have never regarded the life
IF a Federal official in Indian Ter
.itory or Oklahoma as happy one,
Is few of them have escaped being
charged with all sorts of heinous
crimes. The judges of the new
United States Court would it was
thought escape, but the thought
vas wrong. Lawyer Davis has flied
charges against Judge Kilgore, once
widely known as the Texas Con-
FRESHMAN who kicked the door Of
he House down when Speaker
Reed had had it locked, charging
lim with ignorance, incompetency.
ayoritism and several other things
rot creditab!e to an occupant oil
be bench. The Attorney General
s now waiting for Judge kilgore to
explain the charges, copies Of which
nave been sent him. Judge Kill
cores appointment has yet to be
by the Senate, the court
lpon which he sits having been or
lered since Congress adjourned.
His friends say the charges amount
% nothing.
Competitive bidding for a govern
nent contract becomes almost far
:ical when the specifications of the
contract are such that there is only
me bidder. A case in point was the
tor making ten thousand of
he new Lee rifles, which have been
by the Navy, that was
his week awarded to the Winches
er repeating Firearms Company
The only bidder-at $3.50 each.
Judging by the retail price of good
.ifles this will be a very profitable
contract. It was doubtless all right
hat the Winchester people should
have it and was probably only IN
with the law that others
we're invited to bid, still it seems
little odd.
Although some Of the members
If the Sons of the Revolution. the
Sons Of the American Revolution
and the Daughters of the American
are inclined to be fussy
and big-headed and to make mon
keys Of themselves upon occasion,
as a whole those organizations are
doing the country good, particular
" in the work they are doing to-
wards increasing and fostering pa
triotism in our schools, a field
which has been, especially in our
large cities, largely neglected before
it was taken up by those organiza-
lions, and which is bound to have
an important bearing upon the fu-
ture of our country. These re-
marks are occasioned by the pres.
ence of the Liberty Bell, which was
allowed to remain in Washington
two hours to-day, after which it re-
sumed its journey from Philadel-
phia to Atlanta, where it is to be
one of the exhibits at the exposition.
A great outdoor public reception,
under the auspices of the members
Of the three societies named and
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