Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-01-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 81, '05.
When it comes to breaking emer-
gency legislative records a Republican
House al always be counted upon to
do the business. When Mr.. Cleveland
got ratified and astonished Congress
and the world by sending that panicky
special message just as Congress was
about to adjourn for the usual holiday
recess, urging that instead of taking a
recess Congress stay and do something
to relieve the financial distress of the
Treasury, he thought, he was playing
q trump political card which would
shift some of the responsibility, which
belongs solely to the Democratic party
which fathered the present tariff law,
upon the Republicans in Congress. He
probably expected, as did many other
people, that Congress would ignore his
message and go ahead with its holiday
arrangements, and such would proba-
bly, have been the result if there had
not been a Republican majority in the
House. The Senate had already adopt
ed a resolution for the recess which
only required adoption by the House to
have become a fixed fact, but Repub.
licans never shirk a public duty. 1t is
the duty of the House to originate all
legislation dealing with the revenues
of the Government, and as soon as Mr..
Cleveland's message was received the
leaders of the House determined that
no recess should be taken. and that
30 far as the House could alone do so,
the relief asked for by Mr.. Cleveland
should be afforded, although not in the
way he would have preferred having it.
Then began a week of legislative
work which smashed all previous rec
ords, and which is not likely to be out
done for a long time, if it eve is, not
wi~thstanding that the week included
Christmas day, a day upon which
everybody except the newspaper men
dislike to work-of course your readers
all know that newspaper men love tc
work all the time. To fully appreciate
the work accomplished during thai
week by the Republicans of the House
it muet be remembered that Speaker
Reed did not announce the House Com.
mittees until the day after Mr.. Cleve
lands message WENT Congress Since
then the House Ways and Means Com.
mittee has formulated two bills, and
the House has passed them, which
will, if allowed to become laws, give
the country all the revenu it will
need until the Republicans are again
in control of all branches of the Gov.
eminent, and provide the means to
meet the present deficit in the Treasury
and to keep up the gold reserve.
The revenue is to be raised by the
first bill which provides for an emer.
gency increase in the tar%if-ranging
from sixty per cent of the Mckinley
tariff on wool and wooden manufac.
lures and lumber to an increase oil
fifteen per cent on the present tariff on
| oil artiplnC avnonf ctInar-tn pa ,ntr
effect upon the passage of the act and
to remain in effect until August /, 1898
the gold reserve is provided for by the
other bill which authorizes the issue OF
three per cent coin bonds, r%edeemable
after five years, and to be used for nc
other purpose than the purchase OF
gold. The same bill provides for the
deficit by authorizing the issue of no,
more than $50, 600, 900 in three yea
Treasury certificates, bearing three pei
cent interest. What the Senate will
do with these bills is uncertain, bu
that is not the fault of the Republicans
who have not a majority in that body
The Republicans of the House have
met and called Mr.. Cleveland's bluff
and if they controlled the Senate there
would be no doubt of the action Oh
these bills. 1t is, of course. possible
that Mr.. Cleveland may veto the tariff
bill, if it passes the Senate, but there
is an impression in Congress that he
will allow it to become a law withou'
his signature. The other bill he would
gladly sign, although he would like tC
substitute gold" for coin" but un
less there is a change of opinion in the
Senate he is not unlikely to get the
chance. Prominent Senators have de
clared that no bond bill shall pass tina
body.
While the belief that the coutrovers,
with Great Britain will be settled with
out blOodshed is on the increase both
in and out of Congress, there is a dis
position in Congress to follow the ad
vice of the father of his country abou
preparing for war in time of peace. Ii
addition to the bills heretofore intro
duced for strengthening the militar,
armament, and for coast defenses
Representative Dalzell, of Pennsylva
mia, this week offered a joint resolution
appropriating 1 800, 900 to enable th,
Secretary of the Navy to contract TO
a reserve supply of projectiles for tn
use of the Navy.
Don't you dare to refuse q silver coli
no matter how badly it is worn b,
long circulation. If you do you ma,
oct into trOnhlo Tho ITn;tad Ctoto