Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-03-21
THE RETIRING CONGRESS.

4th will I've memorable in the history
OF tie 'conn ry. The war with SPAN
commencel during it, first session
and the fruits NJ tie struggle hal tn
be gathered ns Tar Hs pnssIble during
the session winch has just closed
The country has taken new depart
IRE since the late Congress was elect
ed in 1896. Whether the change in
the direction Of orr national progress
shall he for good or evil the future
years must demonstrate. We have
gone in direction from winch we
must pursue to the end, accepting all
of IT. consequences.
What is most striking in tho Con-
gress which has jut adjGmrned il it's
perfect selt- abnega.iOn in claiming
power and in ul'nQ it. The Congress
which adjourned two years ago. at
the cl,se Of President Clevlan,l's nd
minstratinn. was in constant
wrangle with the Executive depart
ment in regard to the extent of its
preroIatives. Repeated IF 'rts wore
made to guide the Diplomacy Of the
country by instructions to the Presi.
don't "n the subject " foreign affairs
and by attempts to legislate di rectly
in rela ion 10 others nations. espec.
tally ~ relation to Spain and Cuba.
The ad ninstra' ion of Presiden.
Cleve' md resented these attempts
TO interfere wi h the di scharge of it's
legit nate duties, md hostile senti.
ments between the two departments
Of the gnvernme 1t wee excited.
Some helted Republican partisans in
Congress threatened the President
with impeac hment because he would
not submit to Congressional usur
patton ~ international affairs. This
attitu Ie NJ opposition on the part of
the Executive and Congress remain.
ed to the last.
The late Congress assumed All re-
tanned decidedly different attitude
toward the President. At first there
were some symptoms Of attempts Mt
nagging Mckinley rs Cleveland had
been ragged. But they we're only
temporary. After the war begun
C'nEress be came almost serviIe in it's
relations to the President. The mob
OF Congressman were not taken into
the confidence o: the President, and
they did not resent the slight. us they
did in the case Of the previons Pree,.
dent. Mckinley conducted the war
through his naval and army boards,
negotiated peace, contiscated Porto
Rico md bought the Philippines for
$4,000 600, parleyed with Gomez and
contracted to. nay him s3,OOO,OOO for
his Cuban soldiers never asking the
opinion. wishes or approval ri Con
gress until he sent the treaty with
Spain to the Senate for rattle ton
and demanded the appropriation OF
the money that he had agreed to pay
for his bargains. TSo different pu-
tons could not have displayed condi-
tons OF greater difference between
the two departments of the govern.
ment than was displayed by this
country under the two administra
tons OF Cleveland and Mckinley.
The late Congress appropriated
fonr times rs much money for the ex-
penses OF this year as any previous
Congress appropriated for any one
year. Ten years ago, whom the nd.
proprintions for two years amounted
to nearly s1,0OO,OO(, 1000, it was regard.
cd as monst rous extravaganza and
prohigary. The appropriations for
the present fiscal year amount to g..
75cOoo,ooo, or rs per cent, moro than
Tor the two years of the "bllion dol.
lar Congress- Much OF this sun,
was for war and other extraordinary
purposes. But that fact does not
tighten the burden nor remove thu
probability that new issues Of govern.
ment bonds will be required to meet
khA nt,1inak;0,,n % A.