The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-09
REPUBLICAN PROGRAMME.
They Begin to Doubt the Efficacy Of
Their Own Prescriptions.
NAY OPPOSE A MONETARY COMMISSION
PIatt Has Declared lie Would Not 'o'e
for It-Triends of Reed Have Their
Weather Eve on second Term Aspi-
rations-Ianna's Prospects.

that the Inauguration is two days Old,
and the crowds that chcered Mr. McKin-
lev's tourney from the Capitol to the
White House has dispersed, that the re-
eeption of the new President has been
cold one. and that by all classes OF think
ing people the commencement Of the ne"
administration is regarded with more
doubt than enthusiasm.
The cheers that greeted Mr.. Mckinney
when he made his appearance before the
vast throng at the Capitol, ana delivered
his inaugural address, ana lhoae tn~'
came from the crowds as the mighty pro-
cesslon moved up Pennsylvania avenue,
were but the outpOurlng of tnat eAcl'e"
sentiment natural 10 a. crowd Oh l1i7 SC
proportious. and attributable TO BRASS
bands and gaily y-decOrated buildings as
much as TO any real feeling OF siauHoA-
ton. because of the contamination "i
some Important act IN the Ike Ok ths
/ nation.
No REAL ENTHUSIASM
There was no real enthusiasm in the
crowds chat watched the President ) liI-
umphal progress to tho White House Oh
Wednesday. The spectators, for the most
part. had assembled 10 witness pageant
and they got what they came loi' pul
/ the appearauce of Mr.. Mckinney aroused
no more interest than did that OF MI
Cleveland. If as much, and the cneerlhs
was more often done by negroes thah 10y
white men, and was intended Ior l"e
| bands.
AS a fact, If the nation IS passing
/ through that transition period from are
distress to renewed prosperity, there Is no
one who has yet decided what stage t
| has reached. or what steps are necessary
! 10 keep 1t upon its onward course
The Republicans in Congress are more
| pcrplexed by the situation than they We're
Immediately after the election. I"ey nav
come 10 the point where they must deaf
win actual conditions. and they doubt the
efficacy Of their own prescriptions Tor
curing the evils with which the country
Is now besct. 1t is doubtful If, through
the entire list Of Republican leaders, from
AIR Mckinley down. there is one VINO
sincerely believes that the proposed taiit
LEGISLATION Will benefit the country or tend
/ i'm the least towards the restoration OF
| prosperity. Mr. Mckinley, in his inaus-
ural address. urged that not too mucn
| bo eypectad from the immediate result OF
| the performance Of platform promises, !,
| that it would take time TO change eAlsl-
| ing conditions, and that If prosperity is
| to De restored 40 all, it will bee euectea
/ by permitting the legislation when tne
/ Republicans houe 10 enact a tair trlal'
! and by waiting patiently for the develop
mcnt Of public confidence.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The House will De ready TO pass the
l9rir bin by the first Of April and Will
send it to- the Senate but. instead of rest
ing then upon their labors, 70 is thought
now that ID great mass OF general leglsia-
| ton will De started in the House. lt is
understood. if the policy Mr. Mckinley
outlined In his inaugural address is car
r.el into effect. that Congress Will he
called upon. not only 20 consider the
! tariff question. but also the currency and
questions relating t0 Immigration and i'll
dustr.al and commercial conditions.
Tie Republicans appreciate the nccos-
sity Of doing something in the way of a
! general revision OF the currency laws but
| having no general plan ~ currency reform
up0u which they can agree, it is almost
certain that Mr. Mckinley advocacy Of
/ Currency Commission VIII Doe accepted
bv Congress as the easiest way ont of the
| difficulty.
| In this connection the speeches delivered
| IN the Senate during the last night the
/ F.fty-f0urth Congress was in session are
| Of peculiar interest.
Tho bin creating n labor commission
was called mp after mid-night and dis
cusscd at length owing 20 the lateness
/ Of the hour and owing also 20 the fact
that the BIN failed. next 20 nothing has
! been printed concerning it IL was de-
monstratcd. however that among tho
older and most conservative of the kepub-
/ Hcans. there is a strong feeling against
the reference of any question Of lesisla-
| tion To- "a commission.
The argument was advanced by Sena-
! tors Hawloy. Platt and others that noth-
ing can be accomplished by comm s.
sion. which cannot Dee as well done by
committees OF the two Houses. 10 was
contondod that the pressure OF public
sentiment which can cause the appoint
ment OF a commission can also demand
| the enactment of such legislation as the
| commission recommends, whether the
| recommendations be wise or not. TO
| this extent Fl was therefore urged, that
! Congress in referring any public Ques-
! ton which IS 70 be made
the subject OF legislation. TO
n commission. abrogates fits own
! power and surrenders its functions I'm a
manner contrary to the spirit Of the con-
| stitutl0n.
PLATT'S OPPOSITION
Senator Platt. concerning this phase OF
| the matter. said:
II would not vote for any commission
upon any subject which was clothed with
any power. except that OF investigation
and OF reporting facts as the result OF
| that investigation. and when Il comes
to that, the committee of Congress can
obtain those facts and report them 70
| the Congress just as well and better than
! outside commissions. / would not favor
| n tariff commission or any other commits
sion which was TO report 20 Congress q
formulated bill, which Congress was ex,
| pected 10 pass.
TT IS abdcating our power, II Is avoid
ing our duty. and all because there is =
| demand by organized labor or other or.
ganlsations I'm this country that legisla-
| tion shall be passed for their benefit.
some one may as well speak out pain
" and tell the truth These outside COM
missions are contrary 10 the genius OF our
constitution. contrary 20 our system Of
| government They were not intended
when the constitution was formed. They
| have never wrought any good. and they
| never will.
81. makes no difference whether they
/ ARE from the labor interests OF the United
| states or the money power OF the United
ST tes: whether Il IS from the agricul-
| turs,l interests OF the country. or whether
/ from the manufacturing interests OF the
country. whether u Is from the moral
interests OF the country. or the banking
interests OF tAe country: no class OF
f.aIa q af..a