Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-26
The President to Veto the River and
Harbor Bill.
ALSO TO GIVE i REBUkE TO CONGRESS
The Republicans Will Charge the
Empty Treasury to Him.
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATION

If it is true, as reported, that the Presi-
dent will veto the river and harbor bill,
and in doing so improve the occasion to
administer ''stinging rebuke'' to Congress
for the large appropriations of the session
In the face of an embarrassed treasury
situation, some fun is ahead. There are
two sides to the question, If not three and
II the President challenges Congress, Con-
gress will accept.
The republicans will be the first to re-
spOnd. They are in full charge in the
House, and partially in charge in the Sen
ate, and the Presidents criticism will fall
principally upon them. And yet, as they
ask, what is the record?
% An empty treasury at the beginning
of the session, and as the result of demo-
cratic legislation. The democracy is re-
sponsibIe for the Wilson bill. The Presi-
dent did not sign it, but for no reason that
applied to its capacity to raise revenue.
He was urging a still further enlargement
of the free list by abolishing the duty on
iron and coal. He approved the Wilson
bill as it passed the House. But it is now
admitted, even by many democrats-Mr.
German heads the list-that the bill in that
shape would have caused deficit of $780,
OOO,OUO per annum.
CD One of the first acts of the republi-
cans at this session was to pass a bill pro-
Eiding for an increase of revenue. This
was drawn on protection lines And why
not? Had not the country at two elections
declared Overwhelmingly for protection?
Had not the present House. with it's un-
precedented majority, been elected on that
issue? Had not it been instructed as to
Its duty? Could it disregard those instruc-
tons! 1t brought in an emergency bill ac-
cordtng to those Instructions The bill was
opposed by the democrats, who gave two
reasons for their course: First that IT
carried with it the principle of protection,
hot ~B. d.
sign it. The bill passed the House, but was
Killed IN the Senate by a vote including
every democratic member of that body.
To- IN the master of the finances the Pres
lGtHt mas mad to lean the republicans in
thlS Congress as in the last His own
party is in no sort cf agreement with him.
Ihe democratic leader in the House Judge
LISP, IS Ior free silver. The majority of
inc democratic members of the Senate are
Tor free silver. The purchasing clause of
the sherman act was repealed by republi-
can votes, and the step was advocated by
MI sherman before the President was
heard from on the subject. The reDubli-
cans are his SUPPORT in maintaining the
PUBIC credit. The pending Butler resolu-
t.on In the Senate is considered a menace.
us principal support there Is democratic.
Hut the republicans will kill it. The White
House doesn't enter into the EQUATION The
path.
This Is the republican case in part The
eTergy with which it is stated in Congress
will Of course depend on the length and
quality of the sting in the Presidents
message The republicans are in no humor
to be lectured by the President on the SUBJ
ject of having made provision for the sup
port of the government. They hold that to
have been their duty. The responsibility
for the condition of the treasury they Ak
on the democrats
Precisely what stand Mr.. German and his
friends VIII take in the controversy re-
mains to be seen. They differ from the
President on the subject of the revenue.
but they hold with him, and really are
ahead of him, on the subject OF economy.