New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-02
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
LEGISLATION AND COMMITTEE WORK

tn THE RHFUSDING BlLL-IHE NEW ELY
roRAL RrsOLUTIoNs-vIsIr OF GENERAL GRANT
tt is not thought probable that the TWO
houses of Congress will complete action on tile
concentration bills before the 4th oi
March. so as to avoid an extra seS-
sion, The Senate Finance Commlltee
has so amended the Refunding Mll as 10
excite great opposition among the Democrats OF
the House. 1t is believed that the Rcpn5h-
cans of the House will offer little opposition
to the new electoral resolutions, except by
voting AGAINST them. Senator Logan opposed
the massage of Commissioner Bentley's ZEN
sion hill. General and Mrs. Grant arrived IN
Washington last evening.
THE WORK STILL BEFORE CONGRESS-.
THE RRAPPORTIONMENr BILL TO BE TAKEN UP IN
THE HOUSE To- -DAY--rIE SENATE AND REFUND
IEG-APPROPRIaTION BILLS.
iBY TELEoRAPh THE TRIBUNE.i
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The work which remains
for Congress to do IS not yet in such condition as
to reassure those who fear that called session OF
the XLvIIth Congress may become necessary before
next July.
1t is expected that the Congressional Reappor-
tionlnent will be taken up in the House to-
morrow after the passage OF the District OF
Columbia bill, as the Appropriations Committee
has no other bill ready for action. The Democrats
appear determined to press the Rapport. .onmept
bill in the form reported by majority OF the Cen
sus Committee a party measure. This Will arouse
the Republicans to the strongest resistance OF which
thew are capable. and undoubtedly will provoke
long and bitter debate. Under the present appor'
tionment and counting the votes cast for
Coperessmen at the last election, each North
ern REPRESENTATIVE has behind him 10000 more
votes than each Southern Representative has;
and the Republicans aie not likely 10
agree to measure which is designed still further TO
increase the relative power Of the Soh but that Is
the hardly concealed design of the bill to increase
the total number of Representatives to 81.
The Appropriations Committee, Chairman Atkins
saws will report the Legislative, Executive and Jn-
d,c,aI bill TO the House tomorrow hut it will
hardly be taken up for before next saturday,
if it is before next Tuesday. This bill approprates
several hundred Thousand dollars more than the
hills of last year for the same purposes. and the
total amount will exceed $17 900. O00 Thus another
pretence of Democratic ECONOMY" will he exposed
The other two large appropriation bilis-the Snndry
Civil and the General Deficiency bills-wiil not he
repored to the House much If any, sooner than the
18th or 18TH of February.
The Commerce Committee has shown signs OF
great activity during the last two days. and 1t is
understood that it is making superhuman efforts to
be passed next Monday under suspension of the
rules. Unless this course shall be taken, it will lie
impossible under the new rules to pass The bill under
snspension until the 2lst of February which would
be likely to cause the failure OF the bill in the
Senate.
For six wears at least the House has not dared 10
bring River aud Harbor bill forward for consldera-
tlon in an orderly and regular manner bnt year
after year has voted away millions OF money win
its eyes shut. Tbs year the Appropriation VIII
amount to eight ten millions OF dollars. a con-
adorable percentage of which might as 'rell be
thrown into the sea. The Agricultural Appropria-
tiop bill is before the House, and Its collsIueri'loh
will consume at least one day. Tina olii OF course
calls for more money than was appropriated 1Or lhe
same purpose last year. This completes the hst of
this appropriation bills which bave not yet been
acted upoii by the House OF Representatives. ,
1t the Senate adopts the recoinmenIatioh ol ,he e
Fiuauce Committee and sends the kelundlhg biii
back to the House with the rate ol ihteaeso laru
from TO GIG per cent aud the term Of the Bonds eX
tended to twenty years even II the provisions Te,
gardiug National banks are stricken out, there VIII
In all probability he q desperate strugs'e, noih lh
the Commiti ee ON WaNs and Means aid IN the
House Itself. The absence from the com
mttee OF Mr.. Fernando Wood renders
It not improbable that the Ways and Means Gem
mttee may agree to tie Senate amendmehts III IL
should the contest III the House would be al lhe
more bitter. Tue reported acton Ot the FINANCE
Committee aroused very bitter feelings among the
masters of hnauce " ho occupy sea's on me Demo-
cratic side of the House OF Representatives,. n
nun,ber of them were heard to declare III very ex
posvo language that they would never, no never
consent To any such ter.is. Perhaps Mr.. Randail
will be able to hold tLem together on TINS issue
bel ter than he did on the Electoral Count Iesolu'
tiOns. , ,., ,
There are several tariff bills upon which the Com
mttee OH Ways and Means are very anxious 70 secure
actiun and they will make strong enort 10 40 So
I must be conceded that, except the measures ABOVE
mentioned tue XLVitb Congress will be una"e TO
do ANYTHING else OF importance. Ii 1t dihp0se5 OF
even one of these besides the regular appropriation
bills II will do more the next twenty-six days than
it has accom- Pushed all the time since IL asse-
bed on the 18th of March, 1879, IN whch perlOu IL
has been in session twelve solid months altogether.