Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-16

statute books as soon as possible.
Gen. Grosvenor. of Ohio, made q
significant remark when, in discussing
the trust problem, he declared himself
to be a better States rights man than
Bryan. G~rosvenor would have the
States deal with trusts, while Bryan
recognizes that the federal government
alone is capable of going TO the bottom
of the question. The Ohio mar is not
the first to point out that Bryan is
not a Democrat Of the old school. One
Of the great secrets of his strength is
that he is not. The radical forces be-
hind Bryan are not composed of States
rights men. That dogma appeals with
little effect to
The Democracy of To-day.
! The ~shibboleth of modern Democracy,
In this country, as elsewhere, is the in
| crement Of governmental functions, and
in this country it is impossible to deal
| effectively with industrial and social
problems without greatly charging the
| range and power Of the federal govern
ment. That Bryan is not afraid of in
voking the power of the federal gov
| eminent to accomplish the pubic well
fare shows him a product Of the times.
| Much of the old fear of the %encroach-
ment of the federal power upon the
| rights of the States and of the people
is passing away. At all events the plu-
! tocratic forces of the country are nj
slow to take advantage of the federal
| power, so that the real question is
whether this power shall be welded
for the benefit Of the whole people, or
only in the interests of the few.
1t is worthy of remark that most of the
| radical measures thus far introduced in
Congress are amendments to the Con-
stitution. The limitations imposed by
that document are the most serious
obstacles to the progress of radicalism
in the domain of federal power. 1t is
true that when plutocratic interests
are at stage, as in the case Of the in
come tax, the Constitution
Can Be So Stretched,
not to say altered, as to serve the
ends of rlutocratic justice, but that
| should net be the way of reformers If
our paper constitution is to be pre-
| served. The trouble with interpreta-
ton is that it is apt to be all one way,
or is dependent upon the temporary
whims of judges or legislators, and
there is nothing fixed or uncertain
about it. Liberty may be thing to-
day and another thing tomorrow.
We are leaving the amendment OF the
Constitution too much to destiny and
the federal judiciary. Mckinley, as we
all know, has read into the instrument
the power to govern subject races at
long range. Senator Plat, of Connec-
ticut, found it conferred sovereignty
on Mckinley, and federal judges have
recently discovered that it contains a
clause forbidding municipalities to
dispose of their own franchises as they
see fit. Such extra-constitutional tin
kering of the Constitution is like to
make that venerated document a thing
of ehreds and patches before long. 1t
is about time for the sovereign people
to have a hand in the amendment of
the Constitution. This ought to be-
come n of the great issues of the
future. If the people do not take it in
hand, we may be sure that the Consti-
tuition may be sure to be tinkered, and
not in the public interest, either.
The treasury estimates should be
kept steadily in view
By the Taxpayer.
For the fiscal year 1901 the Secretary
of the Treasury estimates that $685.
S53, 44S will be needed to pay the ex-
penses of the federal government, ey-
elusive of the sinking fund. The rove-
nues he estimates at S667, 773, 253, leav-
ing a deficit of $500 coo to be made
up, which the secretary hopes will he
done by reducing the estimates sub
mitted. But there is apparently no dis
position on the part of Congress as yet
to reduce anything. Bills have been
introduced providing for the construc-
ton of a Pacific cable at a cost of SILL
600, 000, of the Nicaragua canal at a
cost of $40, 00O 900, and for the pay
ment of at least $4,000, 900 annually in
steamship subsidies. Besides this,
there are pending several bills which
will enlarge the pension roll, and the
Spanish war claims, amounting to
many millions. must be provided fer.
Thus the estimated deficit of Secretary
Gage is much more likely to be increas-
ed than to be wiped out. NJ.