The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-03-10
Washington, D. C.
March I, 1899. {

The ifty-fifth congress has explr.
ed by statute of limitations. 1t did
not 20 up in a blaze of glory. 1t
sizzled and sputtered like a spent
Roman candle. The next one will
probably be worse, but this one was
bad enough. 1t had unusual oppor-
tunities and used them mostly in
adding to the already heavy burden
of taxation that the people bear. Ii
ran we'll be called the 1.-TWO billion
dollar congress-" The on y trouble
about that term is that most of US
cannot stretch our imaginations
enough to get any idea of what two
billions mean.
The closing days were nearly all
spent in passing appropriation bills.
1t means considerable to the tax
payer when he has to help provide
for these dig appropriations, but
the process of making them lawful is
stupid aad not edifying. The most
high minded member is tempted to
Gong rolf when it comes to get.
ting a home improvement that he has
promised his constituents.
1t is too soon to get a good per-
spective and analyze what this con.
gress did and did not do. One can
only comment on the fragments Of
important business that hoated to
the surface in the last week. In a
few days when the atmosphere had
cleared we can figure out how much
campaign material VIC got out of it.
It is certain that the reform forces
got noting else worth mentioning.
But the silvermen made a good
fight and put up a pretty sharp
check on the wild extravaganza of
the administration ard it's followers.
This was all the more creditable be-
cause so many democratic senator's
and congressman are about to be
retired, and when a man does know
whether he will ever come back or
not there is not much to encourage
him in a Fl yht for principle.
About the best thing that happen
ed was the defeat of the Hull army
bill. We need not have u dreams
disturbed by a vision of a standing
army to COW us into submission to
p]utocratic rule, we will only have
the present temporary increase OF
the army until 1901. This was the
best thing that could be done. We
have provided for all defenses and
the next congress cannot very we'll
change it. 1t was funny to e Rep.
resentative Hull and his friends, af.
ter all their buster, obliged tc SUP
port the democratic substitute for
the Hull army bill and do it good
and hard, too, or take responsibility
for an extra session on that ont
point. They made wry faces, but
they had to do it.. A little horse
about the ponular feeling or
the subject Of a big army would
have saved them this particular
humiliation.
No doubt the General Miles in
vestigation into canned and embalm'
ed beef helped to kill the army bill
Washington simply reeks with the
testimony of these poor fellows who
we're starved and poisoned witt
bad beef. Never has there been ;
clearer case of government corrup
ton in order that contractors Nigh
make money. The silence of thu
grave enfolds many a brave fellow
who might have testified wha
shortened his life more effectivel,
than a bullet.
What a spectacle we made OF our
selves getting our little $50, 900, Oo
all voted and tied up in a canva
bag ready to pay Spain for tn
Philippines. And the Spanish put
ting up the bluff of dissolving thei
ministry and taking their time t
decide about ratifying the treaty.
This was our chance to decline t
pay for the islands and just Civ
them freedom. We have no bus
ness out iii that tropical waste. any
how. Then the kind Of warfare j
which the Filipiros indulge woul
make other nations a bit carefl
about burning their paws trying t
rake the chestnuts out of the fir
But here we are, holding out tn