Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-12-06
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Correspondent,

TO-DAY tue QaveiS OF Senator Frye. tut
new president of the Senate, and o.
Alexander M. Dowell. Clerk of tn,
House called those bodies to order and
the opening session of the Fifty-seventt
Congress was thereby inaugurated. In
the Senate Senator Hanna was prompt
ly recognized by he-Chairman, and in
a few well chosen words, informed bis
colleagues of the death of President
Mckinley and moved adjournment
out of respect to the deceased. The
motion carried unanin ousIy.
In the House the members were
sworn in, the Speaker Henderson and
the other officers elected, seats chosen
by lot. AS soon as Speaker Henderson
had taken possession of the chair be
recognized Representative Grosvenol
of Ohio. who formally announced the
death of the late President and moved
that the House adjourn out OF respect
to the dead until Tuesday, his motion
of course, carving unanimously.
The De mocratic minority, which
completed it's organization in caucus
on Saturday, though small in numbers
is prepared for vigorous action anl
strenuous opposition to the extrava
CANT expenditures of public funds
which is characteristic Of the republi
cans when in control of both Congress
sional chambers.
As have already predicted in these
letters. REPRESENTATIVE Richardson. of
Tennessee, was nominated for the
sneakership, a purely complimentary
nomination but one that carries with
if the leadership of the democratic
forces in the current Congress. Mr.
Richardson's ability AZ parliamentar
ian his ouiet INIT determined methods
Of warfare and the gentle and dignified
manuer with which he can exocriate
his ounonents when their Indifference
to the public welfare demands it. all
combine to render him exceptionally
well onalified for the responsibllities
Of his nositiOn
Republican maiorities in both House
and Senate are large to permit of tn,
democrats taking the initiative in the
introduction of needed legislation but
thew will persistently and consistently
nrce the reduction of the tariff, Al
Least in so far as it's provisions are pro
bihitive. whether thew see that such re
duction will be most surely accom-
plished by the ratification of reciproc
itv treaties or by a change of the tariff
schedules.
An especial effort will be made to Sc
cure the abolition OF the war revenu,
tariff. 1t will be remembered that the
original war revenue bill, justified Only
on The ground that the country was a.
war with Spain. aimed at providing
an extra income of 800, 200, 900 per all.
having announced that the war was
over. an effort was made to secure the
repeal of the law, the democrats using
every means in their power~tO relieve
the people of this unnecessary burden
but thew succeeded only in so far az
they compelled the republicans to pass
g. measure which reduced the revenues
by S3O.OOO,OOO The remaining $40,
O0O. 600 a wear has continued to &C.
cumulate In the Treasury until the
surplus has assumed proportions which
the republican Secretary of the Treas
ury has been forced to admit are in
imical to the welfare of the country.
A constant effort at retrenchment in
expenditures and the curtailment oil
extrayagant appropriations will be ex.
erted and it is hoped that unity OF &C
tion under the direction of an able
leader NAV accomplish much along
these lines
legislation calculated to control or
suppress the trusts will be demanded
by the democrats and the anti trust
measure. which the republicans buried
in q Senate Committee last session,
will be resusitated and many republic
can congressman will be placed in a
nosition where thew will be compelled
to vote for it or absolutely stultify
themselves and violate the pledges
which they made In the recent cam
paiqn. The democrats realize that,
small as may be their numbers, they
have the American people back of
them in their fight on the trusts and
they will leave no stone unturned in
their efforts to force the republican
maiorities to heed the peoples wish.
At the democratic caucus held Sat.
urday morning. after Mr.. Richardson
had been nominated for speaker, Mr..
Kerr. of Pennsylvania. for clerk, ETC.,
a number of resolutions were present.
ed and eventually referred to a com.
mittee which was instructed to report
TO caucns to be held on January 10th.
The resolutions includes a condemna.
tion of the highly protective features
of the tariff. a condemnation of the
trusts. and of all legislation which en-
ahled American manufacturers to sell
to foreign producers more cheaply than
to American consumers: and expires
sion fayoring lust and generous treat
ment of Porto Rico and Cuba, and ar
EXPRESSION. of opposition to the shiI
subsidy bill as presented at the last
session. and to all measures designed
to nse the public funds for the 5enefi
of private interests.
Atthe republican caucus which was
held on Saturday afternoon and which
was attended by one hundred and forty
ed' and then IN ne ceon eei pe