Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
CONGRESS AND ITS WORK.

The Fifty-hfth Congress. which has just
expired. will take its place in history
as having up 30 this time broken tho
record IN the matter OF depressing the
people IN addition TO passing the rob-
her tariff biz. tho greater part of the
revenues from which IS. in the end,
nlched from the pockets Of the masses
In order go further enrich the favored
few and enable Mark Hanna 20 keep his
contracts with the Mckinley election
syndicate, the body imposed q tax on
tea. levied various and sundry new in
tornal taxes. and increased the bonded
debt S2O0.OOOOO0. Its aggregate appropris-
tons amount 20 some $l60O,O)oo0o, and
with its expiration the country is running
to an admitted enormous deficit.
That a heavy increase in appropria-
tions was necessitated by our war with
Spain goes without the saying. IL also
goes without the saying that fl was ne
cessary to increase taxation, especially I'm
view of the feature OF the Mckinley tariff
net as a revenue producing measure.
But how much of the amount appropri-
ated over and above the normal eX-
penditures Of the government IS lcgiti-
mafely chargcable 50 war account is an
other question.
The deeper the management OF the war
is probcd the more certain IT be-
comes that a large part Of its cost must
be set down TO the account Of incompe-
tehoe, jobbery. corruption, and reckless
extravaganza Despite the efforts Of the
administration TO cover them up, scandal
has been piled upon scandal, and pari
passu with the growth Of its monu-
ment OF national disgrace has developed
evidence of the iniquity that has been
perpetrated upon the people in the way
OF featherng the nests OF army contrac-
tors. propitiating rings, and Investing
the public money where it will do the
most good" for the Republican party in
the future.
But this is not the worst Of it. The Fifty
NTH Congress made President Mckinley
a war lord and in its expiration left
in his hands arbitrary power to consum-
mate an ambition that will augment vast
" the deficit. When the policy Of the
administration regarding the Philippines
IS studied. none but the most gullible
will DO suspected OF imagining for an in
slant that the appropriation for our en-
iarged military establishment will prove
adequate 90 the demands of that estab-
iishment Indeed. while the army bill
was under discussion In Congress the
absurdlty not TO say "fakishness," of the
appropriation was exposed by several
members, Mr.. Hay. among the number.
Then. too, in considering the deficit we
must reckon with the general iobbcry that
may be looked for in the conduct
of affairs in the Philippines. If such
,oobery shall not prove in evidence. verify
the administration and its advisers have
been regenerated.
Yes. President Mckinley is in better po-
tition than ever to push towards the
goal of Imperialism, for which he has
been so ardently striving. and by the
same token is more free handed than
ever TO bring about conditions that will
add 90 the burden of the masses. And
ne can move confidently in these mat
tiers. we'll knowing that he will be able
10 manage" the next Congress even
better than he did the last. In the new
Senate there will be reliable" Republi-
can majority. which was not the case
in the Senate OF the tifty-hfth Congress
and while the Republican majority in the
next House will not be as large as ii
was in the last House. there will be less
danger from recalcitrants. seeing that
the army bill gives Mr. Mckinley an in
crease Of patronage that may be made
most potential as a harmonizer. There
fore. 1t would appear that between Mr.
Mckinley and the Fifty-sixth Congress
the prospect is for a season OF still
greater oppression OF tho people-a sea
son which will continue until tn,
masses raise the banner Of "anti-impe
riaiism and economy" and determine I,
carry that banner 20 successive victories
until the Democracy have gained posses
sion OF. and are intrenched IN. all de-
partments OF tho government In tn
attainment OF this end lies the only hopi
OF the people for relief.
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