Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-18

America Tor Americans, American inter
ests First.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., February H.
Special Correspondence. There are
left but 70 days for the present con-
gress, if the houses meet and work
every day that is left. The whole mass
of appropriation bulls, now in the SEN
ate committee, remain to be acted up
on. Should the senate improve every
hour available between now and March
4, it will have its hands full To get
these through. They take precedence
of everything else, but their considera-
tion cannot fail to be attended by more
or less discussion, and any senator who
chooses may cause loss of time which
might be fatal to some of them. If il
appeared that they were advancing so
rapidly as to afford time for the con-
sideration of any other measure, a sin
gle opponent of that measure could
waste enough time TO prevent its APP
pearance on the floor.
SO far as the present congress is con-
cerned therefore, the arbitration treaty
the Nicaragua canal bill and all other
measures beside the regular appropri-
alton bills are as good rs dead. The
immigration bill has been passed by
both houses, and is now in conference
committee To have the amendments
the house attached TO it dealt with. 1t
is doubtful if even that measure can
be disposed of by the present congress,
as the least opposition in the senate
could throw it over.
Many will complain because of the
failure of their favorite measures, that
congress is so dilatory, that it wastes
too much time in discussion, and that
it does not spend enough hours every
day in session, nor days enough every
week. But there is really no serious
cause to grieve. The value of Il ses-
sion of congress to the country cannot
fairly be measured by the number of
bills it enacts into law. 1t depends
much upon the character of the bills.
Many sessions would have been much
more serviceable to the country than
they were, had they passed no bills at
all but the appropriations Nor is
there any occasion To criticise the ma
tional Legislators for the time they
spend 10 apparently idle debate. No
harm is done by debate, even though it
be unmarked by extraordinary elo-
quence, wisdom or interest. Much
harm is frequently done by the enact
ment Of laws If "A measure be OF gen
uine importance to the country, and if
the people be resolved upon its enact
ment, the popular demand will be made
sufficiently manifest in course of time,
and soon enough for the general well
fare, to force its passage.
Neither the arbitration treaty nor the
canal bill is IA measure of eXtraor-
dinary urgency. They can wait. The
next administration and the next con
gress will be quite competent To deal
with them. Had the canal bill passed
at an early day in the session, in what
a ridiculous position our government
would now find itself in the light of
Minister Rodrigue's letter declaring
the contract upon which the bill was
based long ago abrogated. Had the
arbitration treaty been ratified as
promptly as some OF its friends de-
manded, not only would the senate
have neglected its constitutional duty
and privilege to scrutinize such mat
ters, but we should have found our.
selves now bound to submit some OF
the most vital questions that may arise
in our national affairs to the arbisra.
tion of an European king, Indifferent
to US and particularly, and with good
cause, sympathetic toward Great
Britain. The idea suggested iron
some quarters that the British govern
ment may not like it or care TO accept
IL as the senate may amend it, neeC
not frighten any one. They will take
it in any shape. As Olney and Sails
bury made il. 1t was unquestionablN
much more valuable TO them, but, as i
is not and cannot be made Of any value
whatever to US, they will not reject IL
however harmless it may be made.
One of the most peculiar features o
the present political situation is th'
determined effort being made To per
suade the Republican party, that M
matter what else ii does, it must aban
don protection. 1t is contended tina
adherence to that policy would be al
atfront to gold Democrats who mad
such "a manful stand for honest none.
during the recent campaign and as
sisted materially in bringing about tn
election of the presidential candidates
This journal has already discusses
the attitude of gold Democrats, VIII
J. supported MIR. Mckinley, have give
no indication that they expect or eve
hoped that their support OF the Re
publican candidate would induce hi
party to abandon one of the cardina
!. points of its creed
Nor viIl IL If ono thing il plaapl