The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-04
THE RECORD OF THE REED CON
GRESS.

The responsibility for the failure on IN,
part OF the present congress 10 pass any
kind OF sound or beneficial legislation
this session. certainly does not rest with
the Republican majority in the house OF
representatives. Nor is it their faull
thar NIr. Cleveland win either be obliged
to call an extra session. or again resort
to the expedient OF issuing bonds In order
to carry on the government On the
other hand, II the Republican majority in
the house had done no other service 10
the country. the certainty that il may
be depended upon 10 Kill the infamous
and unpatriotic resolution OF the silver
senate TO prevent the administration from
selling any bonds during the ensuing
vacation to replenish the public revenue
and maintain It's credit, the value OF the
houses service 10 the country in the pres
ent emergency becomes absolutely inesti-
mahle.
In summing up the record OF the Re
publicans in congress it is necessary to
remember that they found an empty
treasury at the beginning OF the session.
as the result Of previous Democratic
legislation The Democracy is RESPONSE
bic for the Wilson bin The president,
II Is true. did not sign II. but for no rea-
son that applied to its capacity to raise
revenue. He was urging a stin further
enlargement OF the free list by abolish
ing the duty on iron and coal He ap-
proved the Wilson bill as 1t passed the
house. But it is now admitted. even by
many Democrats-Mr. German heading
ehe lisi--that the bill in the shape in
which It was passed by the Democratic
house would have caused deficit OF
sloeeoa.eoo per annum-
one OF the first acts OF the Republicans
at this session was TO pass bill provid-
ing for an Increase OF revenue. This
was drawn on protection lines And
why should it not have been? Had not
the country at two elections declared
overwhelmingly for protection? Had
not the present house, with its unprece-
dented majority. been elected on that
very issue? Had not 1t been instructed
as to its duty? Could it disregard those
Instructions: 1t brought in an emer-
gency bill according to those instruc-
tions. The bill was opposed by the
Democrats, who gave two reasons for
their course: First, that 1t carried with
It the principle Of protection. and. sec
ond. that the president would not sign
IL The bill passed the house. but was
killed in the senate by vote including
every Democratic member OF that body
In the matter of the finances the presi-
dent had to lean on the Republicans in
this congress as in the last. His own
party is in no sort of agreement with
him. The Democratic leader in the
house, Mr.. Crisp. is for free silver. The
majority Of the Democratic members OF
the senate are for free silver. The pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act was
repealed almost entirely by Republican
votes. and the step was advocated by
Senator Sherman before the president
was Aeafd from on the subject The
Republicans have all the way through
been his support in maintaining the pub
Hc credit The Butler resolution, before
adverted to, received its principle sup
port from Democrats. But the country
relies upon the Republicans to kill it,
1t is not Blr. CIeveland's veto that will
prevent this vicious, mischievous legis-
Ation. 1t is the house OF representa-
lives that is the Hon in the path.