The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-03
SOME THINGS THAT SHOULD BE
DONE.

Importance Of new tariff legislation and the
paramount duty of Congress to pass the
pending bill at the earliest possible mo-
fare and national honor requires that this
be done. The bill should not be damned"
through the Senate, but it should be put
through as rapidly as possible consistent
with proper elaboration. JAS many amend
ments will be made to the bill in the Sen
ate it will nave to be returned to the House
and await the action and report of a COM
mittee of conference. This VIII take some
days, though it should not require many.
All things considered, it is hardly probable
that the bill will pass before the middle
of June, and that will be remarkably quick
work.
In view of the fact that it will probably
be six or seven weeks before the tariff bill
is disposed of, the policy of postponing all
other legislation or action on any subject
by either branch of Congress until that
time seems unwise, and especially in the
case of matters demanding early action.
1t ought not to be assumed that Congress
has not patriotism enough to take up and
dispose of any matter of national impor-
lance while the tariff bill is pending with
out e~ndangering or retarding the passage
of that measure. This is particularly true
in regard to the House, which is now doing
absolutely nothing but meeting and ad-
5ourning twice a week pending action of
the Senate on the tariff bill. There are
some matters which this Congress ought
by all means to act upon and which the
House could advance towards final passage
by acting on in advance of the Senate.
Foremost among these is the appointment
of a monetary commission in accordance
with the earnest recommendation of Pres
ident Mckinley in his inaugural message.
The Journal believes it will be a great mis-
take and very damaging to the administra-
ton and Republican party if this is not
done at this session of Congress, and it
is unable to see any reason why the House
should not act promptly in the matter. In
fact, it should have acted before this. The
passage of a joint resolution providing for
the appointment of a commission to investi-
gate and report a plan of monetary reform
OCS ~ 10y AAHN -
action. If such a commission were ap-
pointed Congress would not be obliged to
adopt it's report or follow it's suggestions.
Congress could reject the whole thing and
adopt a plan of it's own. But public sem
timent demands the appointment of a COM
mission, the President has recommended it,
the country would approve of it, and why
cho,,JJ II not ~. IOoo0 Jf IT, JC,,eo boJ
acted in this matter several weeks ago it
would have escaped much sharp criticism
and would stand in a better attitude before
the country to-day. y
Another matter that should have been
acted upon before this is providing for the
proper representation of the United States
at the Paris exposition of 1900. The Pres
ident sent a special message on this subject
to both houses of Congress on the 18th of
April, yet nothing has been done. The
President urged the necessity of early ac-
ton both as a matter of international
courtesy and business. He said to neglect
it any longer would operate to the disad-
vantage of the United States, 'in view of
the elaborate preparations already making
NY ONlAC SONCln lllClllcy dllQ VI IliG udllSGI
that further delay may result in an in
adequate allotment of space to this coun-
try, as we'll as an incomplete organization
of the American exhibit" Yet neither
branch of Congress has taken any action
on the subject.
Still another matter that should have
been attended to before this, and in some
respects the most pressing of any, is pro-
vision for the international postal congress
which meets in Washington May 5. This
congress will be attended by delegates from
all parts of the world, many of whom have
already arrived in Washington. 1t meets
there by invitation of the American dele
gates to the last congress held in a Eu-
ropean capital. The delegates will be the
guests of the Nation, yet up to the present
time Congress has not appropriated a cent
for the congressman there is no fund out
preparations can be paid. There has not
been a day during the present session when
this matter could not nav been taken up
and a special appropriation bill passed pro-
viding for the congress. Perhaps it may be
done to-day or tomorrow, but it should
gates began to arrive in Washington.
are sample cases of business neg
lected which could have been attended to
by one or both houses without in any way
interfering with the passage of the tariff
bill. In the language of the street. Con-
crraCS cho11ld ffoat a OooNa on itself -