The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-01-04
W ashingtOn Letter.
IFrom'our regular Correspondent

Mr.. Cleveland Is not IN Christmas
state of mind. Notwithstanding the
presence of big Christmas tree in
the White House and the glee with
which Ruth and Esther met him
upon his return from a successful
hunting trip. "Peace on earth and
goodwill toward men" is but mean
ingless phrase to him when he thinks
of the democratic members of the
House whe upset his plan for the pas
sage of the crazy-quilt currency bill
before the adjournment for the hOli-
day recess, and Secretary Carlisle has
had a hard time making him under
stand that if Il vote had been forced
on the currency bill in the House it
would have been beaten out of sight,
and still harder time in trying to ex-
plain why a bill which he had per-
suaded Mr.. Cleveland, who doesn't
know any more about finance than he
does about the tariff, to endorse, has
had to be abandoned and new one
substituted for it. In fact, he has not
yet succeeded in the latter task.
While the substitute for the cur
rencv bill is in the eyes of republicans
an improvement on the original bill,
it is not good enough to- receive a sin
gle republican vote. Bat the very
features which republicans think i'm
prove the substitute bill will make it
new democratic enemies. particularly
the clause which makes it optional
with National banks whether they
will continue their circulation under
the present law, or reOrganize and is
sue notes under the proposed system.
Another change contained in the sub
stitute, while it may strengthen the
bill with bankers who wish to issue
currency. will weaken the measure
with the people. That is the striking
out of the clause requiring all of the
National banks to guarantee the cur
rency issued by every national bank.
The very worst feature of the original
bill is retained in the substitute-that
providing for the issue of currency by
State banks. That feature is in
reality the only excuse for the whole
measure, and is intended to placate
the South and keep it from breaking
away permanently from the demOcra-
tic party The very decided failure of
the administration plans has caused
the whole business to he regarded as
farcical, and it is now considered very
doubtful whether the House can lie
forced into passing either the present
bill or one closely resembling it..
The much talked about test of the
constitutionality OF. the income tax is
to be made. A bill in equity was
filed in the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia Saturday after
noon by Messrs Shellabarger and Will
son and Ex-senator Edmonds, on be-
half of John G.. Moore of New York
City, against the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue The object of the
bill is to prevent any steps being
taken for the collection of the income
tax from certain corporations in
which Mr.. Moore is a stockhOlder.
Whatever may he the decision the
case is to be carried to the U. S.
Supreme Court, for which it is hoped
to get decision before the govern
ment begins to collect the tax.
The following quotation from a
speech made by Mr.. McLaurin, dem
ocratic member of the House from
South Carolina, on the currency bill,
bars him from the cuckoo feed trough:
"It is a fraud upon the name of dem
ocracy, and bears upon its face the
moral turpitude that now seems to
dominate that great, although some
what shattered, organization. The
democratic party for years has asked
the people for chance TO bring peace
and prosperity to their doors. Two
ago that request was granted, and
what has been the result? Not sim
gle pledge has been redeemed nor Il
single promise kept, but the entire
machinery of the party has been placed
in the hands of that class of individu-
ais who have been in the past, and are
even now, the curse of the plain peo-
pie of the country, The people had
relief TO expect from the democratic
party, and the results of last Noyem-
ber may be taken as lively reminder
of their disappointment, and venture
the assertion that if the present bill
becomes law, the people at the next
election will wipe out the last vcstige
of the democratic party"
Representative Hit, the first repub-
lican member OF the House committee