The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-09
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Congress adjourned and the presi-


Congress adjourned and the presi-
dent was inaugurated all in due form
last Saturday. There is one thing that
the dailies have not published in all the
columns of panegyric with which they
have burdened their readers. Not one
of them has told the amount OF money
this session of congress has appro-
priated In the old days, when there
was an opposition party, that was one
of the first things that the people were
informed upon as soon as congress ad-
journed. There is no opposition party
any more and the plutocrats have
everything their own way. That was
assured when the democratic party was
surrendered to Wall street at st. Louis.
A close watch upon the columns OF the
financial papers reveals the Tact that
the appropriations of this congress ex-
coed $600,000,000. This congress has
been the most wasteful and extraya-
CANT body that ever legIslated in Wash
ington, but we have no press and no
leaders to tell people about it.
The Inauguration of Roosevelt was
made a great commercial affair for the
benefit Of the railroads and the Wash
ington hotels. Its vaudeville features
were extensively advertised and the
whole venture was managed after the
same manner that crowds are induced
to patronize worlds fair. The things
that were relied upon as the greatest
drawing cards were rough riders, cow
BOYS and Indians. If Buffalo Bill had
not been engaged in a divorce suit, 1t
is likely that he would have been there
with his whole show.
The president has re-nominated all
his old cabinet, including the cele-
brated reformed traffic manager, Nor
ton. Wynne, who has been acting as
postmaster general since the death OF
General Payne, was given the London
consulship, the highest paying office
in the whole diplomatic and consular
service, and Cortelyou was named for
postmaster general. With Morton still
in the cabinet and Garfield as investi-
gator of trusts, the magnates from
Rockefeller down, are not having any
sleepless nights.
The house of representatives at
washington passed a bill giving the
members mileage amounting to $780,
900. There was an extra session. OF
congress that ended at twelve O'Clock
noon and the regular session began at
II o'clock noon the same day while the
members were still sitting in their
seats. With that as an excuse, they
voted themselves mileage for two SEES
sions. It was just as plain stealing as
if they had broken into the treasury
at midnight and taken the money. 1t
may be doubted whether the national
house ever before exhibited itself SO far
lost to all sense of decency and shame
as in this vote to abstract $3.50, 900 from
the treasury for mileage expenses nev-
er incurred. The salary grab Of 30
odd years ago was a straightforward
and honest action in comparison. Still,
it sufficed to shorten the public careers
of a good many of those concerned in
the affair. If judgment were now to
be rendered in proportion, not man
who voted yes on the mileage payment
would ever again get back to Wash
ington or anywhere else in the public
service.
The effect of the legislation OF the
last congress is continuous line of
victories for plutocracy, tariff grafters,
railroads and trusts. Not bill has
been passed that was recommended by