New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-30
QUICK WORK OF CONGRESS.
REMARKABLE CONTRAST BETWEEN RE-
PUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
METHODS.
THE PRESIDENTS OWN PARTY DECLINES TO
COME TO HIS AID. But HIS POLITICAL oP-
PoNENTs MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO
RESPOND TO HIS APPEAL.


RESPOND TO HIS APPEAL.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Washington, Dec. 2s-The LIVth Congress mas
been in session four weeks, the usual and GUS
tomary holiday recess having been sacrificed in
response TO the urgent, not to say frantic, ap-
peal of President Cleveland. Many years have
passed since the first month Of the first regular
session Of a Congress has been marked by such
activity and has yielded such important results
as have distinguished the proceedings OF the
House Of Representatives since II assembled
month ago. One-half of the members of the
majority Of that body were as unused TO National
legislation then as most OF the Union thiee
months volunteers to war when they
shouldered their rifles and marched to the front
in 1861, but il has already become apparent that
the former not only patriotic but able men.
as a rule who under wise and experienced lead
ers. will justify the hopeful expectations OF the
voters who sent them to Washington
The prompt passage without dissenting
voice of the Venezuelan Commission bill, in
response to the Presidents recommendation was
q patriotic act such the country had right
to expect from Republican House OF Represen-
tatives. and the equally prompt response Of the
majority Of that body to the appeal OF the Pres-
dent in behalf of legislation to uphold the Ma
tional credit showed that its patriotism had not
been exhausted by its first effort. Neither the
bill to replensh the revenues nor that TO protect
and maintain the coin reserve and provide means
TO meet current and temporary deficiencies or
revenue was a party measure except as the
opposition Of the Democratic members to both
measures and Of the Administration TO the lat
ter one made ii So Whatever the Senate may
do; whatever the Administration may do or re-
fuse to do the Republican House of Representa-
tives has done its duty in patriotic spirit and
its record is clear
1t il pertinent. and may be profitable. to recall
here certain facts. On August T. 1893 the Lid
Congress was convened in special session by
President Cleveland Both branches were con-
trolled by the Democratic party and in the
House of Representatives the Democratic ma
FORTY was nearly two-thirds. On August Presi-
dent Cleveland sent 10 Congress special mes
sage on the financial situation. in which he rec.
commended and urged the repeal Of so much OF
the silver law of 1890 as authorized and required
monthly purchases of silver bullion. In that
message will be found the following passage: III
is of the utmost Importance that such reiief as
Congress can afford in the existing situation
should be afforded at once"
1t was not until three weeks after the assem-
bling of Congress that the House OF Representa-
tlves favoraby responded to the Presidents ap-
peal. and ii did so then only because the RepuD-
lican minority sunk partisanship in patriotism
and voted to sustain his Recommendation, even
although many Of them believed that the remedy
he urged would not cure existing troubles AT
that time President Cleveland had not discovered
that all the countrys financial woes had their
source in greenbacks. 1t was not until November
l. nearly three months after the Congress as
eembled that the bill finally passed the House of
Representatives and was approved by the Presi-
dent In his annual Message which was sent TO
Congress December l. 1893, the President IN
formed that body that "the recent repeal OF the
provision Of law requiring the purchase OF SILVER
bullion by the Government as feature of our
monetary scheme has made an entire change IN
the complexion of our currency affairs, ana
said: II do not doubt that the ultimate result ole
this action will be salutary and far reach
ing"
sill not a word about the absolute necessity of
retiring the greenbacks Before he sent his next
annual Message TO Congress, however, and only
three months after the enactment OF the mon
strous revenue law Of 1894. President cleveland
had discovered the endless chain, and he sub
n,it.ed and recommended a scheme Of currency
reform which, IL adopted, would have retired
from circulation greenbacks and treasury notes
of 1890 to an amount equal to 80 per cent Of the
total amount of circulating notes issued by'Na-
tional and State banks The Democratic House
OF Representatives disapproved and rejected this
scheme, and ii also steadily refused TO authorize
the Secretary Of the Treasury to issue bonds at
rate OF interest less than per cent to maintain
and protect the gold reserve.
President Cleveland now offers another panacea
for the financial ills of the country. and the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury blunty declares that II
Congress shall refuse TO swallow the prescribed
dose no relief shall be given. The House of Rep
resentatives nevertheless. has proposed and
adopted measures Of relief which 1t believes. as
a majority of the American people believe. Will
be effective and it has not waited three weeks OF
three months before doing On the contrary,
within a week after the wholly unexpected and
altogether frantic appeal OF the President was
read to that body, both measures were framed
and passed. The contrast offered by this prompt
and patriotic action to the tardy and reluctant
action of the last Democratic Congress Is at
least a suggestive one
TO REORGANIZE THE MILITIA