Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-01-02
DoINGs AT WASHINGTON.
WAshlngton. &c. p. So.

land got ratified and astonished Con-
gress and the world by sending th
panicky special message just as Con-
gress was about to adjourn for the
usual holiday recess, urging that in
stead if taking a recess Congress stay
and do something to relieve the finan-
cial distress Of the treasury, he thought
he was playing a trump political card
which would shift some of the re-
sponsibility, which belongs solely to
the democratic party which fathered
the present tariff law, for the govern
ment' lack of money upon the repub-
licans in Congress. He probably ex-
pected, as did many other people.
that Congress would ignore his mes
sage and 90 ahead with its holiday
arrangements, and such would prob
ably have been the result if there had
not been a republican majority in the
| House The Senate has already
adopted a resolution for the recess
which only required adoption by the
| House to haye become fixed fact,
but republicans never shirk public
/ duty. It 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 so 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 IL.
There began week Of legislative
work which smashed all previous rec
ords and which is not likely to be
outdone for a long time, if it ever is.
Notwithstanding that the week in
cluded Christmas day, a day upon
which everybody except newspaper
/ men dislike work -of course Your
readers all know that newspaper men
love to work all the time. TO fully
appreciate the work accomplished
during that week by the republicans
OF the House il must be rememb ered
that Speaker Reed did not announce
the House committees until the day
| after Mr.. Cleveland's message went to
Congress. Since then the House
Ways and Means committee has form
ulated two bills and the House has
passed them, which will. if allowed
to become laws, give the country all
the revenue it viii need until the re-
publicans are again in control of all
branches Of the government, and pro-
vides the means to meet the present
deficit in the treasury and to keep up
the gold reserve.
The revenue is to he raised by the
first bill which provides foi an emer-
gency Increase in the tariff-ranging
from 60 per cent Of the Mckinley tar
III on wool and wooden manufactures
and lumber to an increase of Is per
cent on the present tariff on all artic-
les, except sugar-to 60 into effect
upon the passage of the act and to re-
main in effect until Aug. /. 1898; the
gold reserve is provided for by the
other bill which authorizes the Issue
of three per cent coin bonds. redeem
able after five years and to be used
for no other purpose than the pur-
chase Of gold. The same bill provides
for the deficit by authorising the Is
sue of not more than $4,000, 600 in
three year treasury certificates. bear
ing 3 per cent interest. What the
Senate viii do with these bills Is un-
certain. but is not the fault OF the re-
publicans, who have not a majority
in that body. The republicans Of the I
House have met and called Mr.. Cleve-
lands bluff, and If they controlled +
the Senate there would be no doubt
OF the action on 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 ii to /
become law without his signature. I
The other bin be would gladly sign. /
although he would like to substitute +
gold for coin. but unless there /
y q change Of opinion in the Senate
he is not likely to get the chance.
Prominent senators have declared
that no bond bill shall pass that BODY.
While the belief that the contro-
versy with Great Britain will be set
tied without bloodshed is on the in
crease both in and out of Congress.
there is disposition in Congress to
follow the advice OF the father Of his
country about preparing for war in
time OF peace In addition to the
bills heretofore introduced for
strengthening the military armament,
and for coast defenses, Representa-
tive Dalzell Of Pa, this week offered
4 joint resolution appropriating ST.
800, 600 % enable the secretary az the
navy TO contract tor revenue supply
Of prolectiles for the use Of The navy.
Don't You dare to refuse silver
coin no matter how badly tits worn
hy long circulation. IL You do You
may get into trouble The L, s Su-
preme court, by a decision handed
down This week. settled q ease that
has been contested through AN the
courts 8 aeeiding THAT $ man who
Was p0t OF a train because conduct I
$50 81 a. Isl