The silver star., 1897-04-22
'RzpuB11oAr FOLLY.
It II Amply shown in the Ding
ley High Tariff Bill.

0oPuDllChu OfotOf9 n8Vet otnCe tue
November election, been assuring the
country that the one obstacle to univer-
sal and eternal prosperity ID the deac-
iency which exists between the revenue
Of the government and it's expenditures.
For the mere sake Of argument. ad-
mitting this statement to be true, one
would expect the most careful consider
alton Of every proposition looking to the
reduction Of this deficiency.
One cause Of the deficiency has beer
extravagant appropriations. 1t is not
too much to say that the entire deficit
might be made good by reasonable
curtaiIment Of expenses.
But the Republicans refused to con-
slider every such proposition. On the
contrary. in two days they passed, with.
out considering any item. five appropris.
tion bills. The Republican chairman OF
the committee on appropriations ad-
mitted on the floor Of the house that
therc was 100000 in one Of the bills
which he had no doubt could be ruled
ont on point Of order. 1t is safe to say
that several times s5.OOOOOO could be
ruled out on point Of expediency and
honor.
The Republicans, instead Of consider.
ing these matters, refused to consider
them; refused to permit the Democrats
to vote upon them, and sneered at every
man who objected to the course marked
out by the steering committee. Tho
bills under consideration have no bear
ing upon this years expenditure; they
relate to the fiscal year beginning July
]. and there was no necessity for haste,
Under the Republican control the
house Of representatives is no longer q
deliberative body. 1t is merely great
machine under tho control Of two mon
Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Dingley. This ma.
chine exists to record the conclusions Of
the Republican bosses.
The next subject that came up for
discussion was the Dingley bill. Failing
to cut down appropriations one would
expect great care in preparing the bill
which would yield the revenue required
without imposing any hardships upon
taxpayers Of this country. A bill Of this
kind cannot be constructed In few
weeksi II requires great deal Of knowl.
edge Of the subject. and great deal Of
knowledge Of public Affairs generally.
The house Of Representatives comes di.
rect from the peoplej it il supposed to
b. familiar with their necessities and
their power Of bearing unusual burdens.
, 4 bill Of this kind certainly should 70.
ceite . most careful consideration.
Every schedule, one would suppose.
would be subject to deliberstive action;
arguments. pro and con. should be caro-.
fully considered in order I'd adjust tho
now burden - carefully o. possible to
the backs OF the distressed people Of tho
United States.
But We have no such deliberation.
Not over one-third Of the bill was ever
read In the house; not one.tenth Of the
members Of the house know how that
bill will Affect their constituents. It
represents the aggregate greed and ig-
norance Of tho ways and means commit.
tee. Il has been written. not by the
representatives Of the people. but by the
representatives. OF trusts. It is not .
bill the 6rat object OF which 10 to provide
revenue; II u bill. the only object Of
which is to provide protection. Consid-
GRAFTON Of the bill has been cut down In
all directions. and by every device known
to Mr.. Dingley and Fishy Reed. Amend.
ments have been ruled out. speech has
been sti6od. arguments have been OF.
cluded. The house existed, according
to Dingley and Reed. merely to record
the agreement made between the Repub.
lican party on the ono hand and the
representative Of the plundering trusts
on the other. The result 10 bill Of un.
known powers and menace to business.
Il has passed the house. but directly ap.
proved by only two men-Reed and
Dingley.
While tho house has been leading In
this reckless manner with the most seri.
Gus question Of the hour. tho senate has
been delibernting over the arbitration
treaty. It has been trying to devise
some method OF defeating the treaty
without allowing the American people
to suppose that that was the conclusion
>: thcir deliberations. Thc rcsuls has
becn favorable report on tho amend.
ment Of Mr.. Hoar. II was not 10 much
an amendment Of tho treaty " rejec.
tlon. The cowardly senators Of New
England and tho south. fear to reject
this great treaty; thcy resort, therefore,
to the subtsrfuge .of putting into tho
form Of 40 amendment section that 10
absolutely an annulment Of the whole
treaty, and which. II adopted. will bring
the country into contempt with the civ.
illsed nations Of the world.
That 10 the action Of the Republican
house; this b the action Of tho Republi.