The New York herald., 1874-12-01
WASHING CTON.
Probabilities Of the Congressional Session
Opening December 7.
ATTITUDE THE DEMOCRATS
The Civil Rights Bill Considered as
Bone Of Contention.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, 1874.
Interest In the coming session OF Congress does
not mani est itself as yet about the capital or
hotel corridors. There not in Washington
altogether thirty members OF both Houses, though
there IS not the slightest doubt OF quorum
week pence when Congress assemblies. II matters
little how many bills were introduced during the
last session. referred. reported and passed by the
Senate or the House. The appropriation bills
at the coming session will take precedence
IN Importance. ana as tile Chairman OF the senate
Appropriation Committee to-day remarked, 'I
am sure the democratic element IN either House
will not interpose frivolous debate to prevent their
speedy passage neither is 1t the intention OF the
democratic leaders 10 waste time In debate" One
thing, however, the present democratic members
OF the House are determined TO do and that is not
to allow opportunity to fasten deficiency bills on
the rst session OF the forty fourth Congress-. The
appropriation bills far advanced as TO allow
conference meeting OF the House ana
Senate committees tomorrow, and, though
1t viii be brief, IL Will, without doubt,
ioreshadow the plan OF action during the ensuing
three months Beyond the appropriation bills and
the avoirdupois OF Senate and House bills which
will only be remembered as nne wrapping paper
for poor butter, there Is some business which
cannot very we'll be sighted. When the House Is
raped to order on Monday next the call OF States
will have to be gone through with under the
rules, for though 1t is new session 1t is
not q new Congress, and the time between
June % and December T. 1874, only goes for
q recess. AS usual. alter the roll has been
called, the senate will be informed that the House
has Q quorum, and the Joint committee or both
houses will wait upon the President to inform him
OF that fact. The reading Of the Presidents Mes
aaO will follow and nrOnahiV 1ASs than
hour. motion to adjourn will then be in order,
and II the number Of republican members ls on
the door that is expected. that motion will be
voted down. Yeas and nays on this point will
consume over an hour, and II the Speakers table
cannot be reached after the call OF the
States or II the call Is not gone through
with, the following day Tuesday) will wit
ness an extraordinary scene in the House
in the attempt to reach the Speakers table. The
hrst business there will be reference OF House
bill No. 1878, returned from the Senate amended.
The next, SO near the top that the wool can be
seen by spectator in the darkest part OF the
House, is supposed to be the principal mourner at
the late republican funeral, the Civil Rights bill.
There is Unaer it is an important lobby job for
the relief OF certain contractors Tor the construc
ton OF steam vessels, and upon which thousands
Of dollars have already been spent. And bill No.
4 is to extend the time for completing the st.
Croix and Bayfield, Railroad, also backed
as an important measure by an influential lobby.
Tt ese jobs must be reached no matter what be-
comes OF the dominant party, and SO the Civil
Rights bill will be thrust, II not welcome, upon the
House. The FIRST motion will be to lay the bill
upon the table, which, 1t Is expected, will draw
the republican ire and snow how many are will
ing to bury the dusky Caesar. Should that motion
prevail the Chairman Of the Judiciary committee.
Rsltla ate ha in
order to move reconsideration OF this motion,
by which the same bill, on January last, was re-
committed to the Judiciary Committee.
Toward the end Of the first week there viii
probably be q larger attendance than on the first
or second days Of the session, and the chances
better for strong party vote. On the Civil Rights
bill hangs all the accord and dlsc0rd OF the next
three months legislation. The republican leaders
marked how many indiscreet democratic orators
there were at the beginning OF the last session
when the Civil Rights bill was precipita'ed upon
the House, and the Southern fre-eaters hurled
invectives against the septe.te OF col
ored congressman representing South Car
DINA, Florida, Alabama and Mssssppl,
and when 1t was motto cable that not q Northern
democrat had word to say on the subject. At
the coming session the Southern democrats have
another object In getting rid OF the Senate Civil
Rights bill. Prominent Southern men, who may
be useful In the next campaign, are awaiting the
removal Of their disabilities ana the Senate bills
are now on the Speakers table. Maury, Ander-
son, FauntlerOy and 7. NJ. Jones (the name Of
Smith does not appear, all or Virginia, are near
the Civil Rights bill. The Senate bill 10 provide
for che establishment OF an International Commis-
sion OF the Maritime Powers, to lay
down ocean courses for steam vessels
and otherwise 10 provide Tor increased safety
of sea travel, is underneath the disability bills
The motions passed and motions to reconsider
pending, include some bills which viii never
be heard from at the next session. Under the
Committee OF the Whole on the State OF the Union
comes up bill for the relief OF owners and pur-
chasers OF lands sod for direct taxes in the
insurrecaonary states; also q bill to incor-
porate the Southern Transcon tinental Railroad
Company, and the bill extending The time
for the completion OF railroad in the
state OF Louisiana from the Texas State line to q
point on the Mississippi river opposite Vicksburg.
After this there are nearly three hundred private
bills, most OF which are 'doomed'' by the short
session. In the Senate the calendar Is hurdened
with little OF everything The most important
matter to be disposed Of Is the act to amend exist.
ing customs and internal revenue laws, which
originated In the House, was amended by the
Senate and referred to Committee OF Conference
at the closing hours OF the session. The
Senate adhered to its amendments, striking out
the privilege Of selling leaf tobacco directly to
sumers to an amount OF $l00 per annum, the
drawback on imported lic0rice used In the manu-
facture OF tobacco exported the tax all sales Of
stocks, bonds gold and silver bullion and other
securities, which II Is proposed to tax onc-twen-
tieth OF one per cent per annum, as well as q