Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-03-05


(Author of Dinsey Tariff Bill)
that which is placed in the hands of the
president of the United States. He is
practically the autocrat of legislation.
Knowing things as we understand
them in Washington, you may well i'm
agine that / was shocked when my
cousin from Pennsylvania stated that
he had never heard of Speaker Reed.
Well, speaking of the Fifty-fourth
congress, which is expiring, it may be
proper to state that it has done nothing
worthy of mention. 1t has been a do
nothing congress, and when it has gone
there will be no flowers of memory
placed over its bier. The reason that
nothing was accomplished by the con-
gress is very plain. There were several
candidates for the presidency III the
congress, and all of them inclined to the
belief that it would not be good politics
to make too much of a record just be-.
fore the meeting of the national con-
yention.
Tom Reed, of Maine, aspired to the
presidency. Senator Davis, of Mime
Spltt. WIS IL tIIlllllutltC. lOtllGlOI Nui-
lom, of Illinois. wanted the nomination.
Senator Allison, of Iowa, was regarded
as likely candidate. Senator Quay, of
Pennsylvania, put up his lightning rod,
hoping shat presidential lightning
might strike it. All of them are good
men, and all of them patriotic citizens;
and yet their combined judgment was
,nt No iiftu-f nj n 1nbt n
90 nothing but pass appropriation bills.
Early in their first session President
Cleveland startled these statesmen with
a patriotic message on the Monroe doc
trine, because of complications con-
cerning the Venezuelan boundary ques-
ton; and congress promptly appropri-
ated 100000 for the expense of COM
mission to investigate that subject. The
result has neen an acknowledgment of
the Monroe doctrine by Great Britain,
and the peaceable solution of the Nene-
zuelan boundary question. Beyond
that one patriotic act the Fifty-fourth
congress has accomplished nothing of
value to the country.
Of course you know that every con-
gress exists for two years only. Since
we have had 50 congresses, each being
OF two years duration, we multiply 81
by two and ascertain that this republic
is exactly 1OS years old. 1t is just 10S
years since George Washington became
the first presidentiof the. United States.
Inasmuch as the president serves four
years, and each congress lasts but two
years, every president must deal with
two congresses. President Cleveland
dealt with the Fifty-third and Fifty
fourth congresses; and President Mic
KinIey viii deal with the Fifty-iifth and
Fifty-siXth congresses.
The I'ifty-fourtf congress, which eX-
pires at noon on the fourth day of
March, did nothing of practical value
for the country, but much is expected
Of the Fifty-ffth congress, whose eN-
igtgnce begins at noon on the fourth
day Of March. That congress is eX-
plcted to enact revenue bill, or y
tariff bin, which win bring relief TO
cur depleted national treasury. No
congress within a generation has been
confronted with such grave RESPONSE
bility. win they SOW the wind and
reap the whirlwipd? Win they SOW
good seed ON fertile soil? And in addi,
ton to questions of that character con-
corning the portents Of the future
everyone win be inclined 10 ask:
| 'Whut shall the harvest be?'
/ Politicians of adverse beliefs and de
/ sires viii hope for confusion to the in
coming congress. Patriots. reUartllp=s