New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-17
THE CAL1BRE OF THE SENATE
.,r.N1yr POLITICS" CHIEFLY OCCUPY
rt1Ar DIGNIFTED BODY'S ATTENTION.
COME REASONS WHY 1T HAS FALLEN IN POPULAR
rsrIMATIoN-MAKING THE COUNTRY PAY
FOR ITS JEALOUSY OF SPEAKER REED
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

fpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
Washington Feb l6--Some Of the performances
., The United States Senate since the LIVth Con-
cress assembled have been such as to convince
Ill careful impartial and intelligent observers that
the majority Of that body as now constituted Is
canable of doing and willing to do almost anything
that an overwhelming majority OF the people Of
the United States is opposed to- For the last two
months and a half the men who control the Senate
have been diligently engaged in peanut politics"
and have honestly earned the hearty disapproba-
lion II not contempt of all conservative and patri
o,ic citizens Of the Republic
If this were not 1t would severely tax the
credulity of anybody TO believe that a consider
able If not formidable element OF opposition in
the Senate to the Revenue bill is due to a belief
or fear that 1.-THE enactment OF that measure
would contribute entirely much to the prestige
of Speaker Reed who is candidate for the
Presidential nomination And yet, incredible as IT
may SEEM many persons in Washington. whose
opportunities for obtaining trustworthy nforma-
ton are excellent. have become thoroughly con-
vinced that there has been and is much quiet man.
oeuvring to prevent action upon the Dill ior no
other or better reason than the one mentioned.
OF course ii is silly and absurd. but not more so
than some other performances in which the SEN
ate has recently INDUCED 1t is all the more silly
and absurd in view OF the fact that the Repub-
lican House OF Representatives and Its Speaker
have made record of patriotic endeavor ana &C
complishment which all the unpatrfotic eHorts Oh
the piebald majority that rules the Senate this
winter can neither efface nor tarnish-a record
which s all the brighter and more conspicuous
when contrasted with that OF the co-oruihdtc
branch of Congress.
When the President appealed TO Congress III De
cernber for help TO maintain the National creoit
and honor. the House of Representatives proinpli''
courageously and periodically RESPONDED. Inc
Speaker did all that he properly ana ies'ii".e'
could do 10 make the response prompt and suitaoie'
and everybody comedies that his influence was
powerful and that he deserved large shdre Ua
credit for the action taken 1t Is iact w han the
hll TO protect and maintain the coin redeinptioni
fund and provide against temporary deHciehSles oi
revenue was believed by many OF us illeIus any
advocates be in danger OF oeiea.' . factIv.v
end successfully exerted TO avert the uahset, WY.
the result that the bill not only passed put INA. te
maiori,y for IL was larger than 1t wouio o'her"se
have received .,.,or >,.har onen
mt there was no factious OPPOSITION eitner open
or covert 10 the bill In the House OF ftepleseIi.a
tives on account OF belief or fear tnai us
.world contribute entirely too much 10 the prestse
If Sneaker Reed Among the members VIM So s
nosa the majority Of that body are frlenos ana az
ryocates OF the nomination OF each or the hepuo
ilcar "a ndIdates for the Presidential NOMINATION.
Ia the Ree5 men the Mckinley men. the Allison
men me Harrison and the frlends OF other
actual or potential candidates supporte1 tne
edia legislation without regard 10 'nei, ns or de-
sive 70 promote or the prospects OF any CdHui-
date for the Presidential nomination ana soiely ~
remove the difficulties and emoarrassi ii ,rnas
heset the National credit and the National lreas-
urv They did all that the country couIo eApect Vi
desire Of the peoples representatives ana the
thew made is a bright and mperishab!e one NE
oftener and more firmly Senators may s'rlVe, 70
Sacrv that record the more firmly will II be fxed IN
the minds of the American people ana the hishei
will II stand in their estimation