Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-01-02
WASHINGTON LETTL-, .
From our regular correspondent

"AFhtN0HbNs ~ O.s DtCs ~. Ao0o.
When it comes to breaking emer-
gency legislative records a republic
can house can always be counted up
on to do the business. When Mr..
Cleveland astonished congress and
the world by sending that panicky
message just as congress was about
to adjourn for the usual holiday re-
cess, urging that instead of taking a
recess congress stay and do some
thing to relieve the financial distress
Of the treasury, he thought he was
playing trump political card which
would shift some of the responsible
| ity for the governments lack Of
money upon the republicans in con-
gress. The senate had already
adopted resolution for the recess
which only required adoption by the
house to have become fixed fact.
| 1t is the duty Of the house to origi-
nate all legislation dealing with the
revenues of the government, and as
soon as Mr.. Cleveland's message was
received the leaders of the house de-
| termined that no recess should be
taken, and that so far as the house
could alone do so, the relief asked
| for by Mr.. Cleveland should be af-
| forded.
To fully appreciate the work ac-
| haI dt1rifrr Ine CT tu0nL nv fha
republicans Of the house it must be
remembered that Speaker Reed did
not announce the house committees
until the day after Mr.. Cleveland's
message went to congress. Since
then the house way and means COM
mittee formulated two bills, and the
house has passed them, which will,
if allowed to become laws, give the
country all the revenue it will need
until the republicans are again in
control of all branches of the gov
ernment, and provide the means to
meet the present deficit in the treas
ury and to keep up the gold reserve.
| The revenue is to be raised by the
first bill which provides for an emer-
gency increase in the tariff-ranging
from sos of the Mckinley tariff ON
wool and wooden manufactures and
lumber to an increase of 1875 on the
present tariff on all articles, except
sugar--to go into effect upon the
passage of the act and to remain in
effect until August /, 1896. The gold
reserve is provided for by the other
bill which authorizes the issue of 396
coin bonds, redeemable after five
| years, and to be used for no other
purpose than the purchase of gold.
The same bill provides for the de-
felt by authorizing the issue of not
more than $50,000,000 in three year
treasury certificates, bearing 3e6 in
terest. What the senate will do with
these bills is uncertain. The repub-
| licans of the house have met and
called Mr.. Cleveland's bluff, and if
| they controlled the senate there
would be no doubt Of the action on
these bills. 1t is, of course, possible
that Mr.. Cleveland may veto the
tariff bill, if it passes the senate, but
there is an impression in congress
that he will allow it to become law
without his signature. The other
bill he would gladly sign, although
he would like to substitute gold"
for "coin," but unless there is a
change of opinion in the senate he is
not likely to get the chance. Promi-
nent senators have declared that no
bond bill shall pass that body.
While the belief that the contro-
versy with Great Britain will be
settled without bloodshed is on the
increase both in and out Of congress,
there is disposition in congress to
follow the advice Of the father OF
his country about preparing Tor war
in time Of peace.