The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-07
ITS DYING EVIDENCE.

The manner in which the Fifty-fourth
congress expired is a better witness of
it's disgraceful life than anything
that it's critics might write. AT
ter having been In session since last
December, and having spent days and
weeks in debates both foolish and in
sincere, upon the Cuban question and
political topics not germane to any
business under consideration, 1t ad-
journed with the most important bust
ness of it's session, that which no con-
gress can afford to neglect, uncompiet-
ed. One of the great appropriation
bills, the general deficiency, failed al
together, owing to an inability of the
two houses to agree. Three others
either reached the president at so late
an hour on the Sd or the 4th of March
that he had net time to examine them,
or were 50 villainous in their provi-
sions that he refused to sign them, and
they therefore failed to become laws.
We have had dinned into our ears for
the last two years the tale of Demo-
cratic incompeteney in legislation. Yet
the Democratic congress die not end
its life with four great appropriation
bills lost, by delay or incompetence, or
worse.
OF the three bills which failed to
receive Mr.. Cleveland's signature, the
Indian appropriation bill was not, as
far as we know. open to serious OBJ
lection. MIR. Cleveland probably did
not approve that because he adopted
long ago the eminently proper and only
safe rule of declining to sign any bill
voting away tens of millions of dollars
of the peoples money without exam
lining it's provisions. A congress has
months in which to frame and pass
these bills. The presidents RESPONSE
bility for them, under the constitution
that requires his approval, is just as
great as that of either house. Yet he
is asked, under the wretched practice
to which congressional inefficiency has
reduced US, to pass upon a bill that
would make a volume, and that draws
a huge sum Of money from the public
treasury. a few hours before the life
of congress expires. He cannot keep
his oath of office unless he declines to
sign in blind ignorance.
The other two bills. IT is probable
met. because they deserved, his DELHI
crate disappreval. OF the agricultural
appropriation bill. we know that it
contained a big sum of money voted
for distribution of seeds at the public
cost. This is against the protest of the
president, against the recommendation
and practice Of the secretary of agri-
culture, against the desires of the peo-
pie and against public economy. In
times like these, when revenue is in
sufficient and the people need lighter,
rather than heavier taxes, the pur-
chase and distribution at the public
cost of a lot Of garden seeds, which are
used for no other purpose than to Sc
cure, as the senders believe, the favor
and votes of their constituents, is an
enormous abuse. There is no more
son why a congressman should send
out free seeds to favored. constituents
than there is why he should send
free boots and shoes, or neckties or
kitchen utensils. If this congressional
steal is to be perpetuated, it is well
that it should be without the sanction
of the executive.
The sundryI civil bill was the prize
Job of the session. 1t carried a total
of s51, 600, 900, of which probably nearly
the whole was pure jobbery. Each
member of the committee which franz
ed il received. 1T is said. an appropria-
ton of 100000 to be spent In his dis