New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21
At THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL AND oTEEE TOPICS.


CONGRESSIONAL AND oTEEE TOPICS.
: <pxtroe prA.Rs PENSION BIIL-LARGE SUMS FOR
SMALL RIvERs--o OPINIONS IN REGARD TO AN
IS EXTRA sEssIoS.
The correspondent of TIE TRIBUNE at
Washington calls attention to the necessity OF
some speedy action on the part OF Congress 10
oyovide for the adjustment of pending pension
4 elaims and gives the main points OF SENATOR
4 Blair,s bill. Forty-one amendments to the
River and Harbor bill have been prepared In
the Senate. It is thought by. many members OF
Congress that an extra session will be neces-
. sary, as it is improbable that the present Con-
cress viii be able to dispose of the work that
m,,st receive attention. President Hayes mas
hardened a Ku-Klux prisoner who has been
confined for several years at Sing Sing.
THE FATE OF THE REFUNDlNG BILL.
POSSIBILITY THAT 1T MAY BE PERMITTED TO DIE
wuH THE CONGRESS THAT CREATED IT-Too
MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE sESATE's WISDOM,
SK lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSE.I
WAsHISCToN, Feb, 2o.-After tomorrow only
nine days will remain of the present session of Con-
eress. If the Refunding bill is not passed by Con-
rress and sent to the President tomorrow, it will
not require veto kill it. The President may simply
let it alone There are reasons why this course
vould be advisable and fair. The bill was unQues-
tonaby passed by the House of Representatives con-
siderably earlier than it would have been
had there not been general belief that its obJec-
touabs features would be eliminated in the Senate
So great was Secretary Shermans confidence IN the
financial good sense and conservatism OF the Senate
that he made no secret of his wish that those mem
bers of the House of Representatives who shared his
own opinions should accept the bill in any shape In
whichit could most speedily be passed, and trust
the Senste 20 amend It.
When invent to the Finance Committee OF the
Sepate, it became known that 1t would be reported
back amended essentially to embody Secretary
Shernnan's recommendations. week elapsed be-
tween the return of the measure from the commit
tee to the Senate and the beginning of the debate
in the Senate, during which time the business
men of the country and the banking interests, which
were to be so seriously affected by Objectionable
MEASURE were inactive. feeling confident that the
sensible action Of the Finance Committee
would be adopted in the Senate. with
more than even chances that the House
would be forced to accept the amended bill, rather
than incur the responsibility of its failure. During
this time, however. those interests which are op-
posed to refunding in any shape were active. and
as the event proved, successful in making converts
to their theory. 1t s therefore, seen that the bns
ness interests which will be most seriously
affected by the passage of the measure in its
present form by reason of confidence in the
Senate. have not been fairly represented. This is
further proven by the many protests which are now
being received by Congressman from their cOnsti:
tuents asserting that the of the present bill
will be disastrous to the business of the country.
and that refunding caunot be successful with II.
These kilograms too late OF course fer iutu-
ence in Congress, for the Objectionable features are
already cOncurred in by both houses, and are not
subject OF further legislation.
The bill is now in the Committee of Ways and
Means Tomorrow being set apart for a call of the
States in the House of Representatives, and for
Juotions to suspend the rules and pass bills, no Op
poFtupity will occur for the reporting and adoption
OF the Senate amendments III the House The bali
cannot therefore, be sent TO the President before
Tuesday or Wednesday The opportunity for allow
ing the measure to die with this Congress IS likely
therefore, to occur. What the President will do
about il Is subject Of some speculation here to-
night. but nothing IS positively known beyond the
fact that he is not inclined 20 veto the BILL