Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-12-12
THEY'RE ALL EDWARDS.
Republican Congressmen Afraid OF
Initiating Revenue Reforms
Why the Entire Majority Arc Dodgina
Around Corners In Order TO Escape
from Their Own Little
Shadows.

the republican party does not know
what to do with power now that it is
in possession of both branches of con-
gress. In the house of representatives
the speaker, Tom Reed, who has all
ways heretofore been known as an ag-
gressive man, tells his followers from
the platform and in private political
conversations that they must do moth
ing, and must not undertake to do any
thing whatever. Over in the senate
where there is clear republican ma
iority. with the aid of the Nevada SEN
ators who have always been re-
publicans, the republican leaders are
pushing power away as though it were
concentrating. They will not reor-
ganize the senate if they can possibly
avoid doing SO.
President Cleveland has plainly ex-
planned to congress in his annual mes
sage the situation and unfortunate con-
tlition of the treasury. He says that
the government must raise $30,000,O00
or more of additional revenue in order
to make the resources of the govern
ment equal to the necessary expendi-
lures of economical administration.
The deficit of the treasury is known to
have resulted from the decision of the
supreme court on the income tax and
the universal business depression. With
these facts before congress and before
the country it is incumbent upon the re-
publican majority of the house to in
itiate legislation. Under the consti-
tuition all revenue laws must originate
in the house of representatives. It
would be unconstitutional for the SEN
ate to initiate such legislation. There
is big republican majority in the
house of representatives and it was I'M
doubtedly sent there to do something.
Large as the majority is on the repub-
lican side of the house it will be as
putty in the hands of Speaker Reed.
The house will do exactly as he tells it
to do.
It is painfully palpable, however,
that just as all men preceding him
became towards when they dreamed
the dream of the white house, so has
Tom Reed become timid, if not coward
ly, and he has no aggressive policy to
outline to his people.
Congressman John Allen, the witty
statesman from Mississippi, says: tom
Reed reminds me now of q niger down
in Mississippi who got a tail hold of a
bear and did not know whether to hold
on or to let go. Tom Reed has got a
tail hold of power and he is in an equal
ly embarrassing situation
The representatives of the people
have had ample time to consider the
message of President Cleveland and
views now expressed are more mature
and less crude than when they gave
expressions of opinion on the after
noon of the reading of the message.
The consensus of opinion in the house
of representatives is that the policy
outlined by President Cleveland will
not be adopted by the republican lead
ers either: in the house or in the SEN
ate. It is apparent that the republic
ans do not desire to cooperate with the
executive, on the plans suggested by
Mr.. Cleveland.
Men of affairs know very well that
sufficient revenue might be raised to
meet the treasury deficit, if the states
men in the house of representatives
were aggressive and fearless, by tax
ing whisky and beer, or either one
of them. But there is a lobby main
tanned by the whisky men and another
by the beer men, and both OF them arc
fighting legislation of that character.
The whisky men are anxious to have
tax put on beer of about one dollar
per barrel. and the beer men are anx-
ious to have an additional tax put on
whisky of from ten to twenty-five
cents per gallon. It might be good
policy for the republican leaders to
put small tax on each of these arti-
cles and thereby raise revenue; but
it is palpable that the republican man.
ayers do not intend to antagonize
either one of these great trusts, COM
monty called industries. It is not like
ly that an increase of tax on whisky
and beer would cause any increase in
the price charged to consumers. But
the heavy dealers would feel the
weight of the hand of the government
upon them. and they would undertake.
by the use of money and by every pos
sible meanG to wreak vengeance upon
the party which brought about such
legislation. The republican leaders
appreciate this fact. and Tom Reed
has lively understanding of its por-
tents. NO DTc0Il0uGidl CttHulO1t0 ID
likely to secure an election who runs
counter to such concerted opposition.
no matter in what good trim his party
may be at the commencement of a
campaign. Thus. you see, with his
presidential aspirations overshadow-
ing his patriotic purposes as speaker
of, the house. the man from Maine is
handicapped and surrounded by hob
COLLINS and bugaboos of a personal
nature.
Moreover, before the present session
of congress shall be concluded. it will
be necessary for the republicans in
every congressional district to nomi-
nate men to succeed the representatives
now in congress. Every man who
speaks for or votes for tax on either
beer or whisky will be marked for the
slaughter. There are keen and ambi-
tious men in every district looking for
flaws and foibies which can be used
to tear down the incumbents of the
high places. and they will use such
speeches and votes for all they are
worth against the statesmen.
Personal ambition is playing an inn
portant part in bringing the republics
ans. now in the majority. to condi.
tion OF abject and groveling cowardice
THURMAN
DRnHIlH1S or the CRnl1Nn