Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-12-31

Inauguration day happens to be clear
and fairly pleasant, the owners of the
street stands reap harvest, but if it is
cold and stormy, the seats on the stands
are almost empty. There is plenty OF
money contributed to the inaugural
committee to pay for the erection OF
stands both artistic and comfortable,
but it all has string tied to it., and
the contributors expect the committee
to return it to them from the receipts
tor privileges and from the Inaugural
ton ball, and woe be unto the commit
tee which should fail to meet that ex-
pectation. As matter of fact, these
loans, for such the contributions are con.
si6ered, are always returned, and a sur
plus is left that is usually donated to
the poor by the Inaugural committee.
In view of the beginning of the tariff
hearings before the majority of the
House Ways and Means committee to-
day, it is interesting to note the geo.
graphical make up of that committee,
which will frame the tariff bill to be
passed at the extra SESSION of the next
Congress. Of the majority, New Eng.
land has two members, chairman Ding.
ley, and Russell, Of Conn.; the middle
states two, Payne, of N. Y, and Dali
zell, of Pa; the Middle West four,
Hopkins, of Ills. Grosvenor, of Ohio,
Deliver, Ct Iowa, and Steele, of Ind;
the Northwest two, Johnson, Of N. d.,
and Tawney, of Mimi; the South one,
Evans, Of KY. The minority originally
consisted of six, all from the South, but
owing to the death of Crisp, of Ca,
and Tarsney, of Mo-, there are now two
vacancies, which will almost certainly
90 to the South, but it really makes no
difference whether they are filled or
not except as a personal honor to the
men chosen, as the minority of the
committee will have nothing to do with
the making of the new tariff bill.
Representative Curtis, Of Kansas,
would be enjoying his holiday much
more than be is if he could persuade
Secretary Francis to sppo;nt the allot-
ing agents for the Wichita reservation,
which the people of the southwest are
anxious to have open to settlement.
Mr.. Curtis insists that there are no le-
gal obstacles to opening the reservation
but Secretary Francis declines to act
until the Department Of Justice has
passed upon some questions he submit
ted toit.
For some reason the Huntington
lobby is much less confident of the pas
sage of the Pacific Railroad Funding
bill which will be taken up by the
House on January 7,h and voted upon
four days later, than it was a week ago.
1t would not be bad idea to compel
all men elected to either the Senate or
the House to show by thorough ex-
animation that they know at least the
fundamental principles Of the United
States constitution. There isn't ses-
sion in which some Senator or Repre-,
sentative doesn't makea conspicius dis
play of his ignorance of the constitu-
ton. The latest offender is Represen-
tative Barrett, of Mass who introduced
a bill making only Senators and Repre-.
sentatives eligible for the President g
cabinet, which would directly conflict
with a provision of the constitution
Mr.. Barrett is college graduate and
has been a successful newspaper man.
Secretary Olneys claim that Congress
has no power tor the recognition OF
new state indicates that Cabinet officers
might also be included in the examina.
ton.
Representative Bailey, OF Tex, siren.
uouslv objected to the bill appropriate
ing $4,000 for Federal building at
the Tennessee Centennial Exposition
and 100000 for IA government exhibit,
and twenty. four other members voted
with him and enough to break quo
rum refrained from voting, but speaker
Reed counted quorum and the bill
passed.
additional Locals.
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