The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-12-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
SYNOPSIS OF CONGRESSIONAL
ACTION.
Frauds to be Inyestigated-The Pa
cific Railway Steal.

Washington, Dec. 26.-The immi-
grafton bill is the most important
measure that has passed Congress at
this session. The practical effect of
the measure will be to apply an edu-
cational test to all immigrants, ex-
Guiding those who can not read and
write. This bill is in the right direc-
ton, but scarcely goes far enough.
One Of the treatening dangers to our
Republic is the unloading OF the idle,
worthless, vicious class of foreigners
upon our people in such constant and
increasing quantities. 1t not only
swells the number of vagrants, tramps
and criminals but has generally de-
moralzing effect upon our society and
Republican institutions. In gov.
ernment directed by the popular suf-
frages Of the people, like ours. it is
highly important that we should filter
this mass of immigration and allow to
land only those who would make the
best citizens. Whenever large per
cent as our voters are men who have
not the true American spirit and in
Stinct, then our government is in dan
ger Of being corrupted. if not de-
StrOyed.
TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION FRAUDS.
Following the line Of investigation
already started by Chairman Butler, to
turn the light on the election frauds
in the Central Western States. by
which it seems evident that the cleo
toral vote of more than one state was
either bought or stolen under Hanna's
methods, Senator Allen has intro
duced resolution providing for a
committee to be appointed to official
ly Investigate these matters. It is
thought that the resolution will pass,
and certainly it should pass and this
whole matter be officially probed to
the bottom.
REPUBLICANS ABANDON THE DINGLEY
BILL.
The Republicans have formally
given notice that they will abandon
the Dingley tariff bill, and are now at
work preparing a ne " measure. which
they probably intend, however, not to
introduce until Mckinley is inaugur-
ated and an extra session called. The
Populists will no doubt offer amend
ments to this bill, and may offer sub
Stitute to it in order to prevent dis
elimination in favor of certain indus.
tries, which this new Republican bill
will no doubt contain, as all Republi-
can measures in the past have con-
tained. The Populist Senators and
Congressman will make fight to have
the raw material Of the South and
West properly protected, and also to
have just and proper amount of rev.
enue Of the government raised by
tax on luxuries. They will also no
doubt make special fight to have
protective duties reduced where ex-
perience has shown they are already
trusts. If they fail in getting just
such amendments as this engrafted,
then the policy no doubt will be to al
low the Republicans to pass their bill
and attempt to restore prosperity
with it under the gold standard, il
they possibly can. The Republicans
in Congress are now taking the posi-
tion that they are satisfied with CIeve-
lands financial policy, as it will he
handed down to them by him, and
that they will have no further finan-
cial legislation for the present to offer.
1t is clear that if the most righteous
and just tariff bill imaginable were
enacted into law that it could not re-
store prosperity under the present
financial system. Therefore, the
quicker the Republicans can be forced
to try their remedy and the country
can see its utter incompetency, the
better it will enable the people in the
squarely for financial reform and
against monopolies and trusts.
THE HUNTINGTON STEAL.
The Pacific funding bill will proba-
bly, be the most important question
that will come before Congress after
the holidays. 1t is set for special
order early in January. Huntington
and his allies, who for a long num-
ber Of years had the use Of the Peo-
ple's money, and have meyer yet paid
cent Of principle or interest, are now
trying to force Congress through this
funding bill to make them a present
of the whole Indebtedness. The duty
Of Congress in the matter is clear.
The mortgage which the government
similar business transactions. This
done, and the government will have
possession of this great transcontin-
entail railway line, and then it should
proceed to operate it in the interest
Of the Republic. Those who SO bitter
ly oppose government ownership Of
railroads, ii they are correct when
they charge that it would be failure,
should not object to the government
taking charge of this road and operat-
ing it to prove that it would be fail
ure. They know that government
ownership and operation of this COM
peting line would be a tremendous
success. They know that it would not
only reduce freight and passenger
rates by operating it at cost, but
would also expose and remove hund-
reds Of other evils that have grown up
under our transportation system.
Therefore the monopolists will bitter
ly fight the proposition for the govern
ment to take charge Of this road, and
run it, for they are afraid to see the
experiment tried. The Peoples party
Senators and Congressman, and all
other true friends of the people and
republican institutions will make
great fight on this question when it
comes up.
CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
The Senate committee on foreign
relations on Friday morning, Dec. 1S,
passed the Cameron resolution recog-