The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-10
NO.. 4
W ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent,


There was time when many repub-
licans who could not agree with what
he did respected Mr.. Cleveland be-
cause they believed him to be con-
scientious and straightforward That
time has passed. Mr.. Cleveland has
shown himself to be trickster. And
in nothing has he shown it palmer
than i'll that hysterical message ap-
pealing to Congress for financial aid.
although that appeal was made when
Congress was ready to adjourn for the
holiday recess-many members hay
ing started for home-the republican
majority at once gave up the idea of
a recess and worked even on Christ
mas day to respond to the appeal, by
preparing tariff bill, not exclusively
for the protection but to increase the
revenue of the country to the extent
of $40, 600, 900, and bill authorizing
the sale of 3 per cent coin bonds to
maintain the gold reserve and of the
Issuing of 3 per cent Treasury certifi-
Gates to meet any immediate deficit.
These bills have been passed by the
House, although not few republican
members voted reluctantly for the
bond bill, rather than have it said that
the republican, House had refused to
aid the President, and forty-seven vot-
ed against it anyway.
1t is now clear that Mr.. Cleveland
did not want the aid of Congress.
That was plainly shown when he,
through Secretary Carlisle, declared
that the House bond bill would not
help the administration unless "coin"
was struck out and "gold" was sub
stituted therefore. That was asking
an impOssibility, for Mr.. Cleveland
knew perfectly well that the House
was stretching things to agree to
bond bill at all, and that bill for gold
bonds could not get one hundred votes,
let alone pass. But that isn't all. Tt
is now announced that Mr.. Cleveland
will not wait to see whether the Senate
will pass the House bills, but will pro-
ceed to make another issue of bonds,
and that it will be made large enough
to carry him through the remainder
Of his administration, and they are
going to that same old syndicate, al
though a pretense is to be made of
giving the public an opportunity to
subscribe for them.
The five reasons which Representa-
tive Henderson, of Iowa, gave for sup
porting the bond bill that passed the
House are weighty. First, the bill
does not require bond issue; only
it, if necessary; second, the
bonds if issued would bear lower rate
Of interest than those issued by the
administration, and those it is now
to issue under the old law;
third, it compells the administration
to give our own citizens chance to
buy any bonds issued before offering
them to foreign bankers; fourth, it
does not retire the greenbacks, but
the Secretary of the Treas
ury to keep them out of the possession
Of spectators when necessary; fifth,
it prevents the administration selling
bonds to meet deficiencies in the rev.
enues, as it has done. This bond bill
is long ways from representing what
believe ought to be done,
but it does represent what can become
a law, if the Senate will consent, and
that is the principal reason for its hav
ing been put through the House. The
already has authority
10 issue bonds and no secret is made
Of its intention to use that authority.
If those bonds could be issued under
the House bill many millions of dol
ars in interest would be saved. That's
the long and short of it; it isn't a
question of principle so much as of
dollars and cents.
The House committee on Foreign
Affairs will report resolution asking
the President for information concern
ng the alleged utterances of En-
Bayard in public speeches.
When that information is forthcom-
ng, if Mr.. Bayard has been correctly
reported, he will hear from the House.
md it will not be commendatory
Message, either. The same committee
will ask for all the papers in the Wal
er case.
It sounds odd to hear men discuss
ng the probability OF half OF the
electoral votes of Texas being cast for
,he republican presidential ticket next
year, but men who know the situation
IN the state are doing that very thing.
Mr.. Frank Welch, Texan who is now
SSSSCCSg
U. S. Govt Report
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