The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-15

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ously made, during the next fiscal year,
there is quite strong feeling in Con-
gress in favor of emitting the usual
River and Harbor appropriation bill at
this session. No agreement to that eff
feet has actually been made, but it will
not be surprising should that be the re-
suit of the exchange of opinion on the
subject now going on.
REFERRING to the recent comments
of the WATCHMAN on the cases against
DIR. Giddngs the Rutland Herald says
1--WE fully agree with the Waterman in
its opinion. But what has changed the con-
temporary? When the investigation was
in progress the Herald was entirely alone in
pushing it and printing the news. and GER
tainly the Waterman upheld the powers
that were for all it was worth"
The contemporary appears to be con-
sulting his imagination for his facts.
Will he put in the evidence to sustain
his statement that "the WATCHMAN up
held the powers that were for all it was
worth ?"
THERE is a growing feeling that the
elements of patriotism and of a willing
ness to give the party in power an OPP
portunity to test its proposed princi-
pies which caused the passage of the
tariff bill may result in drawing to-
gether a sufficient number of votes in
the Senate to pass bill based upon the
proposition in President McKinley's
message, in which he recommends a
system by which it will be impossible
to embarrass this government by con-
tinuance of the use of greenbacks to
draw gold out of the United States
treasury. -
The more conservative element in
Congress is strongly in favor of making
this session as short as possible. This
sentiment was voiced last Thursday by
r. preventative Heatwole of Minnesota,
when he said: SIN my opinion this
Congress should get through its routine
work by May l and adjourn. The
smallest amount of legislation will be
of the greatest benefit to the country
and if we can finish and go home by
that date, good many millions of our
countrymen will rise up and call us
blessed" Speaker Reed says he sees
no excuse AT present for making the
session very long one.
THE activity in certain quarters in
efforts to make the public believe that
there is some doubt about the annex
alton or Hawaii would indicate that
some money is being spent for the pur-
pose of creating anti-annexation senti-
ment. If 30, it is being thrown away,
as annexation is absolutely sure to
come before the close of this session Of
Congress. Two-thirds Of the Senate
are ready at any time to vote for the
ratification of the annexation treaty,
but the rules of the Senate put it in the
power of the opponents, not more than
twenty at the outside, to delay the vote.
Should it become apparent that this
power is being used for filibustering
purposes, annexation will be secured by
Legislation which will only need ma
jority vote. -
THE currency problem which looked
80 large and alarming few weeks ago,
assumes very different aspect in the
light cast upon it by President McKin-
ley's message. Simple as his PROPOSE
ton is, many people see in it an open
door to final solution of the currency
problem, and one through which the
government may walk without danger Of
disturbance. The feeling which existed