Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 6, 1899.

The extravagant appropriations, more
than a billion and half-made by the
Fifty-Fifth Congress, now happily dead,
would few years ago have been sufficient
to drive any political party from power.
Only ten years ago billion dollar Congress
drove the Republicans out and put the
Democrats in Bot it is easy to educate
men into not only cOndoning public extra
vagance, but into com mending it, especially
if some of the money be spent IN way to
give them some personal profit The war
is the excuse for the large total of the
appropriations, but it is not valid one,
and it should be the duty of every man
opposed to public extTavs gance to appoint
himself committee of one. to see that no
man with whom ne comes in contact shall
accept that excuse for lack of the actual
facts. With every appropriation con-
nected with the war deducted, the appro-
priations made by the ffty-ffth Congress
would still be largely 10 excess of those
made by any Congress in our history.
Keep this fact in your own mind and in
the minds of Others, and a Congress and
President may be elected next year to
check the era of extTavagance into which
we have drifted
There has been more or less talk in GER
tain quarters about the anxiety of Secre-
tary Long TO get rid of the cares of Office,
but it should cease now. His acceptance
of the humiliation MIR. Mckinley placed
upon him when he compelled him to do
justice to Schley by preparing an en-
tirely new list of naval promotions,
which made Sehley Rear Admiral.
two numbers ahead of Sampson,
Instead of two numbers behind him, as the
original nominations had been, was proof
enough that he will not willingly relin-
quish the Naval portfolio. Mr. Mckinley
acted because he saw the administration
was catching it in all directions for its
attempt to jump Sampson over Schley's
head, and that the Senate had baked on
the nominations. The new nomination
were confirmed by the Senate, as soon as
received, just as was that of Dewey to be
Admiral.
In refusing to take up the resolution
unanimously reported from the Judiciary
committee, declaring that the four mem
beers of the House who accepted army com
missions, thereby forfeited their seats iD
Congress, the House merely accepted an
opportunity to pay General Joseph
Wheeler big compliment, by lodging
vote that must have been in favor of the
resolution had it been taken. Representa-
tive Bailey, however, declined to see in
that light and formally announced that as
the Democrats had declined to follow his
leadership in enforcing plain clause of the
Constitution, he would not be a candidate
for that leadership in the next Congress
Senator Plat, of Conn, struck the bulls
eye of truth when he told the Senate few
hours before final adjournment that the
session of Congress just then closing would
90 on record as the most extFavagant ever
held, but be started too late. if he really
expected to stop any of the extravaganza
A carefui consideration of number of the
appropriation bills will show that s con-
ceTted grab game was played from start to
finish. In the wind-up, when the bills
were in conference, and some things had to
be thrown overheard to reach an agree
ment, the appropriations of those having
the weakest pulp had to go. Senator
Warren, of Wyoming, Wilson, OF Washing
ton, Carter, OF Mont, and several others,
who had been admitted TO the game in its
early stages, publicly protested when they
found themselves buncoed by the Confer
ence report, but that didn't do them any
good in the Senate, and will probably not
do them any good at home.
Senator Morgsn's attack upon Gar Reed
from the floor of the Senate was unpre-
cedented, bat many think it was deserved.
He started by saying that the action of the
ruler of the House in working through
what has several times been referred to on
the floor of the House as the Hog Com
bine'' for public building legislation was
fraud and an outrage and concluded
BY saying | want to protest against that
sort of legislation. know where the
incentive OF this performance comes from
l know the origin of that wrong. / know
the mau who inspired it. His will and
pleasure was to make fair weather for a
particular set of men who are favorites of
the particular ruler of the House.
Alger and Algerism received slap 10
the face when Senator Foraker's amend
ment was added to the army bill, declaring
that no property franchises should be
granted during our military occupancy of
Cuba. Alger recently created board,
which it was officially announced, was
created for the express purpose of passing
upon applications for such franchises, and
which It was publicly charged was really
created to see that everything of value was
given TO Ayers friends The larger num-
ber Of Republicans who voted for this
amendment was another hint to Dir. Nc
Kinley that prominent members Of his
party would like him to get rid of Alger,
bat there are no signs that the hint will be
taken. Hrnna didn't vote for il, and
Hanna is still king, and is preparing to
take Alr. Mckinley TO Thomasville, Ga,
where be owns house, for a rest.
The Military Court of Inquiry is going
West TO take testimony at The big meat
packing establishments, although IL would
b difficult 20 say why.
HOOPS PILLS cure Liver Ills, Bill