The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-12-18
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c. 18th, 1896

please be in order" at noon TODAY an.
nounced the opening OF the last session
of the fifty-fourth Congress. Every
seat was not filled, but more than q
quorum of the House was in attend
ance. Ditto the Senate. The prin-
cipal business of the first day was the
alleged listening to the reading of the
Presidents message. Under the most
favorable conditions, there are few
members of either House who really
listen to the reading of the message.
because they all have printed copies
of it. but today when they all knew
that the recommendation of the
message will not amount to row of
pins as factor in influencing legis-
lation, there was scarcely pretense
of listening. There are many points Of
resemblance between the message and
that sent to Congress one year ago
the same ideas are stated in different
language.
While none of the numerous repub-
licans Senators and Representatives
who have recently been to Canton are
willing to quote President-elect Nc
Kinley to that effect, their general
manner of talking leaves not the
slightest doubt that an extra session
of Congress will be called together
within few weeks after the inaugura-
tion, to pass tariff bill, regardless of
whether this session passed any re-
venue legislation or not.
The substitute for the House I'M
migration Bill, which provides that
no immigrant shall be admitted who
is unable to read five lines of the U. S.
Constitution in some printed language
is the unfinished business" of the
Senate and as such has the right of
way in that branch of Congress. The
bill is in charge of Senator lodge who
expresses confidence that it will pass.
There seems no logical reason for op-
posing it. Certainly no man who is
so illiterate as to be unable to read in
any language can be considered a
desirable accession to our country.
Senator Dubois, of Idaho, isn't half
as sure that he will be reelected to the
Senate as some other people have as
sumed to be. He said on the subject:
"Those friends who have been saying
that I would certainly be reelected
don't know anything of the situation.
1t is the democrats who are bothering
me. They have united with the popu-
lists and are engaged in still hunt
for an original silver man to represent
them in the Senate" And, while
Senator Dubois didn't say so, it is evil
dent that he fears they will find the
man they are hunting for. There is
no truth in the statement that the re-
publican National G Committee is trying
to prevent the reelection OF Senator
Dubois, to punish him for boiling the
st Louis Convention.
Representative Blue, of Kansas, who
has made more of name for himself
than most members do in their first
term, and who was a victim of the
combine, presents this word
picture of the elements that carried
his state this year: "The leaders of
the populists in Kansas are at heart
socialists-every one of them, and
they welcomed Bryan's candidacy be-
cause they believed it was in its
socialistic, as indeed it was.
The unrest and discomfort in this
country and Europe are but manifesto
tions of socialism. Every man who
had failed in his professionor business,
whose life had been unsuccessful, was
on Bryan's side; so were those who
contend that one man should not have
any more property than another; that
all citizens should stand on an absolute
equality regardless of industry or
natural ability, and that it is the busi-
ness of the government to support the
people rather than the people to sup
port the Government"
Commissioners Of Pensions Murphy
has had several unpleasant interviews
with Republican Congressman who
accuse him of having during the cam
paign purposely delayed answers to
calls they made on the Pension Bureau
in behalf of their constituents, for the
purpose of injuring them and prevent
ing their getting votes. Mr.. Murphy
denied the accusation in every case,
but that didn't prevent the indignant
Congressman having their say. and it
will not prevent their workeng ITO have
Mr.. Murphy's head be among the first
that falls after the Inauguration of
President Nc Kinley.
Reward! Reward!