The Penn's Grove record., 1896-05-15
Washington Letter.
Washington, May 18th,

and Congress shall authorize their pay.
ment. But it will not become a law,
for various good and sufficient reasons,
n of which is that it could not COM
mand the two thirds vote that would
be necessary to pass it oyer the Presi-
dents veto.
The investigation of the several bond
issues by this administration which is
authorized by Senator Aliens resclu-
ton, adopted by the Senate last week,
is 10 be made by a sui. cOmmittee OF the
Senate Finance committee which will
sit during the recess.
Although nothing official can be OBJ
tanned, it is known that Secretary Olney
has protested against the execution OF
the Americans captured % the Compe-
titor by the Spanish until an investiga.
ton has been made by this government
as to their guilt.
Congress talks economy, but contin-
ues to pile up the appropriations just as
though the government was enjoying
an income which provided a surplus.
instead of the yawning deficit which
the end of each fiscal year shows. Re-
preventative Dockery came very near
to sizing up the situation when he said
that every member wanted economy,
but he wanted it to begin next door.
Without entering into the necessity or
justice of allowing members of the
House 500 a month for the employ.
ment of clerks when Congress is not in
session, which has been decided upon
by the House by a vote of 1870 to los, it
cannot be denied that this expenditure
of nearly a quarter of a million dollars
a year will be regarded by most people
as an extravaganza not justified by ex-
listing circumstances. 1t is no valid ex-
cuse for a member of the House who
voted for this allowance to say i've
have as much right to yearly clerks as
Senator'S" The country has long known
that the great prepOnderance of wealthy
men in the Senate has made that body
luxuriant and ~eXtravagant in its ex-
expenditures for its own ease and com.
fort, but it doesn't expect the House to
follow in that line, and that 500 a
month grab is likely to cost many MEM
bers of the House their seats.
Senator Teller remarked when asked
if he knew anything of the alleged
scheme to begin a financial discussion
in the Senate for the purpose OF forcing
the National conventions to take de-
cided stands in their financial planks,
and of prolonging the session until the
conventions had been held: 1--WE can
do nothing if we stay here, and every
body is so anxious to get away that we
could not keep a quorum here after the
appropriation bills are passed." That
tells the story.
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, has Civ.
EN- notice of his intention to try to get a
vote on the resolution providing for a
constitutional amendment authorizing
the election of Senators by direct vote
of the people, before Congress adjourns.
1t is believed that the resolution would
be adopted if a vote could be had, but
very doubtful about getting a vote.
There is much uneasiness among the
more conservative men in Congress, re.
CARELESS of party, because of the appar-
ent certainty that Gov. Mckinley will
be nominated for President by the Ie
publicans. The older members of Con.
gress have not forgotten the scandals
which tloated around Washington when
the Mckinley tariff bill was being pre-
pared by the House Ways and Means
committee of which Gov. Mckinley
was then chairman. 1t was charged
that a clique Of wealthy manufacturers
absolutely controlled the making of
such portions of that bill as they we're
directly interested in, which resulted in
making the duties on many articles
ou%trageously high-much higher than
was needed for legitimate protection
and finally resulted as everybody knows
in the defeat of the republicans and the
repeal of the Mckinley law. These men
fear that Gov. Mckinley is still under
the domination of those greedy manu-
tacturers, who are for nothing but
their own profit. If Mckinley doesn't
get that nomination, it will be largely
because of this conservative element
working quietly against him.
Congresses will come pretty neal to
averaging the same in election years.
Two years ago the republicans were
jumping all over the democrats who
then controlled the House by nearly as
large a majority as the republicans now
have, because of the difficulty in keep
ing a quorum in Washington after the
differentiation campaign opened.
This year the democrats are jumping
on the republicans for the very same
thing. The member of Congress who
doesn't look out for No. l ahead of
everything else is a very rare bird in
deed.
RESOLUTIONS OF CONDoLENCE.
WHEREAS it has pleased our Heav.
anly Eotboc - coll h.