The herald., 1898-10-07
THE CONTROL OF CONGRESS

VdE CVN16OA OE SON0"G0S
This is what the Republican party is
especially striving for in the present
campaign. Governors, state officers and
legislatures in states where senators are
not to be elected, are subordinatedto the
one great object. Having the president,
the Republican party wishes to retain
majority in the house of representa-
tives and gain enough seats in the senate
to give control of that body. This ac-
complished, the party will be able to
enact such legislation as 1t may desire.
The session Of the present congress,
which begins on the 5th of December
next, will have less than eighty workin Z
DAYS in which to do all the absolutely
necessary work, even if it take no holi-
day recess. The appropriation bills
must be passed, which will consume
good deal of time. Laws will have to be
enacted for the government of our new
acquisitions, and, as conditions are dif-
farent from any that have heretofore
measures proposed will inevitably be
discussed at no inconsiderable length.
REORGANIZATION and increase of the army
and navy Is proposed, and doubtless bills
for that purpose will be introduced,
which will take up much time. The
senate will have to pass upon treaty
with Spain, If one shall be agreed upon
by the commissions of the two nations.
The work before congress in the ap-
preaching session will be much greater
In volume than usual, and action upon
the subjects stated will likely consume
the entire session, without taking into
consideration the small matters which
demand action under all circumstances.
There will be no time to consider reve-
nue. or financial legislation on any gen.
eral or comprehensive principle.
The evidence is convincing that the
administration designed to dispose of the
money question during the life of the
present congress, although the senate
was not nominally in its control; but, by
pressure and dragooning, it was hoped
that that body could be induced to as
sent to the administration projects.
Secretary Gage was prompt in present.
ing his plans to congress, which en-
braced the retirement of the greenbacks
and treasury notes through funding
into interest-bearing bonds, turning
over to banks the power to supply cur
rency, and, finally, the retirement Of the
silver dollar, by putting it on a parity
with gold, in obedience to the declara
tion in the St. Louis platform. The
president in his message did not commit
himself beyond commencing Mr.. Cages
measures to the consideration of con-
gress. The conspirators against silver
and the greenbacks were not satisfied
with that attitude, and hence they
planned the Astorian banquet, which was
held on the 18th of January ultimo, and
at which sat thousand men at cost of
SIS per plate. At that banquet the pres
ident was seduced into declaring that
the gold theory should be put into pub
lie law"
From that time the syndicates, the
bankers alliance, the trusts, and the
gold hoarders and spectators put their
shoulders to the wheel for the purpose
Of disposing of the money question ac-
ocrding to their liking, during the last
or long session. But the war interviewed
and put a stop to legislation on that
subject, though they did succeed in
forcing through their bond issuing
scheme. The issue of certificates was
defeated because the larger the volume
of government paper the greater would
be the embarrassment to their financial
plans.
With all the work before congress at
the coming session, and the right to de-
bate without limit under the senate
rules, it Is impossible to accomplish
what they want to have done by the pres
ent congress. Hence, to control the
next congress is to them a life and
death struggle. 1t is this which drew
from Hanna note of alarm, and an
appeal for extraordinary effort on the
part of his party.
The president wants the money uues-
tion out of the way, for he is not less
ambitious for a second term than any
Of his predecessors We're. 1t would
have been better to have had the Gus
tion disposd of earlier but better late
than never, for fait accompli is not so
disturbing as an issue still under dis
cussion before the people. If congress
should be adverse to the administration
president would feel obliged to veto, and