The herald., 1897-05-24
AN INSULT TO CONGRESS

The head of the last retiring admin
istration was numerically criticised
and cartooned for having incautiously
remarked upon a certain occasion that
at given time he would have congress
upon his hands" By this remark con-
gress felt that the dignity of its men,
bers had been insulted, and the remark
was resented with great spirit upon the
floor of the senate. But if this trifing
remark was sufficient to prick the
watchful sensibilities of the senate,
four years ago, what may we not expect
in the way of resentment when congress
shall come to realize the slap inflicted
upon the face of it's dignity by the pres
ent executive, acting through the secre-
tary of war?
Congress is informed by the secretary
of war, in language of the most shame
full pretense, that the interest which
controls the administration will not suf-
fer the act making an appropriation for
the improvement of San Pedro harbor
to be enforced, against the protest of
Mr. Huntington. There is no half
way measure about this course
on the part of Mr.. Mckinley.
Hence let the responsibility fall
where it belongs. Alger is mere
satellite. and in this important matter
he merely reflects the will of his supe-
rior. He may and should be dismissed
as unworthy of eration-lacking
as he does, that delicacy of character
that should impel an honorable man to
surrender his badge of office rather than
go down to posterity with the suspicion
that his equivocation will inevitably
brand upon his reputation.
The administration was slow in pro-
claiming its servility. Evidently it was
not anxious to challenge the condemna-
ton that follows upon the heels Of
treachery. Not until the senate resolu-
ton compelled the secretary to act could
the department be induced to file its
travesty upon common sense. And the
logic of the thing! In substance the sem
ate is informed by Mr.. Mckinley, acting
this instance passed law that was un-
intelligble; that the government en-
gineers had furnished plans, drawings
and specifications which, however COM
plete in form, We're still incomprehensi-
BILE; that the bottom of the sea at the
harbor site was of an uncertain geolog-
ical formation, and half score of other
driveling absurdities that might reason
ably insult the intelligence of Digger
Indian. 1t is developed, further, that
he (Alger) was the man whose phenom-
email acumen led to the discovery of all
those Inconsistencies and contradictions
in the work Of congress and of the en-
gineers and navy officers who had con-
tributed TO the harbor scheme.
But it is hardly possible that the sem
ate will pretend to be impressed by the
reasoning that purports 20 emanate from
the war department. Nobody is de-
ceived as to the actual source of the Sec
retary's protest. Whatever else may BIZ
said of the senate, all agree that it is
composed Of men who are jealous Of
their dignity, and it is entirely probable
that when Alger's burlesque comes up
for consideration the secretary will be
admonished that his bushwhackins
method will be taken at its true value.
OF course Mr.. Huntington will count
upon the influence Of Senator Frye, and
Frye will serve him; but whatever may
be in store for the peoples harbor, it is
hard to believe that congress will stulti
fy itself a the behest of Presidents Nc
Kinley and Huntington.