The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-16
CONGRESSIONAL POINTS.
Prospects or a Long sessIon-The New
Member Anxious 10 hear himself Talk.


Prospects OF Long session-The New
Member Anxious 10 hear Himself Talk.
WAsHTSGToS, d. C., Jan. 10, 1880.
Congress has re-assembled after two
weeks holiday recess, and, though few
here aud there have talked of an early
adjournment, the prevailing opinion is
that the session will last until sometime
in June. The house has shown dispo-
sition TO hurry along the appropriation
bills. and even if the senate should be
moved by the samc-spirit, it viii not sIgA
nifty u short session. In the first place.
this is what is termed ''new congress-"
that is, il is largely made up of men who
have not served before. All these new
members, as well as the old ones, desire
reelection, and every one of them, per
haps, has some pet measure, or may be a
dozen, the passage of which will add to
his strength and popularity in his
district. Before another session shall
convene the congressional elections
will have been held, and therefore these
bills must be acted upon at this session
Al CANti ~ aiooiot lAAG o1EtAAlS AACD1OGA "
another term. 1t is true the new men,
bers had the advantage of an extra ses-
sion, but the political questions then be-
fore congress monopolIZed its attention
to the exclusion of general and special
legislation. Since the organization of
the present congress many hundreds of
bills have been introduced, and not twenty
of them in all have yet been acted upon.
To say that congress will adopt the plan
attributed TO speaker Randall, of passing
appropriation bills and forthwith adj
jeurning, is to suppose that the men,
bers intend to sacrifice the interests which
their districts respectively have entrusted
tothem, TO an idea that the party might be
benefited by "short session" If any one
can suppose such thing he can learn bet
by conversing with few of the members
as to what they intend 10 do with their
special bills. Each member VIII answer
that while he is willing to defer to the
interests of party, his first duty is to his
constituents, and that he means to serve
them first. Then, besides the unusually
large number of bills pending, there is
the financial question, which will lead
to discussion of some length in the
senate, if not in the house, too. Some
of the senators have devoted their holt
day recess TO the preparation of speeches
upon the subject of finance, and they ex-
pect To deliver them before many days.
For instance raOracapfotix-o TOunsond
of Illinois, says that he intends to press
his bill regulating the transfer of causes
from state to federal courts, over which
there was such contest in the house
during the extra session. This became
party measure, the Democrats urging
it and the Republicans opposing it, and
there has been no change in sentiment
upon the propriety of the bill. Congress
will scarcely adjourn before June.
The sentiment in congress which has
been cropping out for a long time in favor
of abolIshing foreign missions, or of at
least modifying the system and reducing
the expense, has been given voice in the
shape of a resolution submitted by rep
resehtatiVe Townsend. This resolution
directs The committee on foreign affairs
to inquire into the expedicncy of abol-
ishing ENJOYS extraordinary and minis
tiers resident from the United States to
foreign countries, and to report to the
house the conclusions reached. The
opinion that the rapid means of commu-
nication now existing between this coun-
try and the capitals of the world, can be
utilized to transact international bust
ness more promptly and more economi-
cally than by ministers, is not altogether
confined to Democratic congressman,
but just to what extent it prevails cannot
be ascertained until Mr.. Townsend's res
olution shall come up for action.