The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-15
Circulation Statement.
The Fifty-sixth Congress.

The Fifty-sixth Congress.
As the days of the Fifty-siXth Congress
draw to a close evidence unhappily ac-
cumulates to show that it will live in his
tory as the most extravagant, lawless, and
corrupt of any up TO the date of its death.
The Fifty seventh and Fifty eighth Con-
crosses may equal or exceed il in waste
fulness and disregard of law and the Con-
stitution, because the first. already elected,
will be strongly Republican, and the Sec
ond may be unless the American masses,
meantime, shall become more alive TO the
dangers of national control by the trusts
Just at the present moment the country
stands aghast at the prospect of not a
billion dollar Congress, but a billion dol
lar session. In a time of profound peace
only qualified by a small municipal re-
bollion In the Philippines. which General
Otis crushed to powder, afterward used by
the insurgents against his successor, our
standing army has been increased and i'm
perialized in way that friends of our
old plain, simple. democratic institutions
view with iustifable alarm. And that is
not all that can be said on the subject.
for ii has been shown that our military
establishment costs more today than Ger
many and Russia severally pay for the
maintenance of standing armies seven or
eight times the size of ours. It IS true
that the military budget OF the United
States includes the enormous annual ap-
preparation for civil war pensions; but the
The European army estimates also include
soldiers pensions in exactly the same way.
The River and Earbor bill passed ny
the Forty-seventh Congress appropriated
less than nineteen million dollars. On
the ground that it broke all records ard
was scandalously extravagant, it was
vetoed by President Arthur; and the bad
impression it made upon the country re-
suited in securing Democratic majority
in the House of Representatives at the
succeeding elections. The Lord only
knows what the present Riyer and Har-
Dor bill may wiring from the r ople il it
become a law. AS it stands today, the
money called for by it, directly and in
directly, would probably amount to not
far from eighty million dollars.
Certain Republican leaders, for parlia-
Subsidy steal be not submitted to by the
Senate-the House not counting-there
shall De no river and harbor appropria-
ton this year. Ordinarily that would be
terrifying admonition; but the remarks
Of Senator Gallery on the subject show
that it does not brighten all of the body
There still are United States Senators
who would not trade a vote for a bare
faced loot of millions from the Treasury
prove the creeks and mud banks OF their
native States. Possibly there may be
others who, like the cynical general pub
lie, are unable to believe that a Job as
vasteful and wicked, and as full Of cam
paign debt liquidation. as the River and
Harbor bill VIGOROUSLY is would be al
lowed TO fail IL success or failure de-
pended upon the subsidy grabbers. Pos
sibly the exorbitant appropriations it car
ries may be cut down to an extent, but
on some outrageous basis 1t will be sur
prising If it be not jammed through
amid the orgies Of the sessions last
hours
The Fifty-sixth Congress Is not only the
champion spendthrift of all its kind; 1t
has built up a reputation for Indifference
30 oaths and duty, for willingness TO sur
reLder its prerogatives, rights, and priyi-
ieges the like of which has never been
seen before. 1t has not the courage to
insist upon an accounting for the fifty
million dollar war emergency fund. II
cheerfully and consciously violated the
Constitution in taxing the domestic trade
of Porto Rico with other parts of the
country at the behest Of the Administra-
zion, REINFORCED by powerful oil, sugar,
tobacco, and rum lobby. 1t has permitted
the President TO engage in a foreign war
and conduct it to the end without refer
ence to the war-making power although
the executive action referred TO was in
violation Of the Constitution according to
great Republican lawyers like ex-Presi-
dent Harrison and ex-senator Edmunds,
and without a word Of protest. 1t has
abandoned TO the President it's right to
name the size OF the Regular Army. 1t is
getting ready to surrender its right of
legislation for American Territories to
Mr.. Mckinley and to make him emperor.
high priest, general, and the sole judicial
authority over the Philippines, and In the
exercise Of that despotic power he is not
20 be hampered by our laws or Constitu-
ton.
Much more might be said, but the fore
going Will serve to indicate the reasons
why at this iuncture the American people
ought TO take pause and time TO examine
the nature OF the political goods they
bought with their votes at the polls last
November. The viii have 10 wear them
for two years i5nger in whole. and four
years longer Ia part, in The most favor
able circumstances. Some OF the evils
which are crushing the life out OF our
most cherished institutions, and some Of
the corruption and jobbery which are
stealing the Treasury poor may be ended
gTess in 1862. In the interim there
will be only TOO much leisure to realize
the monumental mistake of the year 1900.
The Development OF Individuality.
il has been noted that during the last
fifty years there has been rapid progress
IN what may be called indiyiduaiism-the
maintenance Of the rights OF the indiv;d-
uai IN separation from, or, II necessary.
IN opposition TO. the general tone of the
community. People nowadays can do as
they like. in civilized lands, and still meet
x1,aAv fali,