Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-14
THE xLyIIITH CONGRESS-.

sion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The following is
a forecast of the most important legisla-
ton to be expected from the next Congress,
which meets at noon on Monday, Decem-
Der 9:
1t is six years since the exciting contested
election which resulted in tho Electoral
count, and next fall another President is to
be elected. Yet Congress has done nothing
to remove the difficulties, doubts and dam
gers which surround the counting of the
Electoral vote, or to provide for the
peaceable determination Of a possible
contest. The various measures which
have been presented have failed, either
through the rivalry of their respective adj
vocates, from jealousy, or from apathy.
There was more Indifference as to this sub
ject last winter than at my time since the
Electoral count. Yet it is to be presumed
the old Bicknell bill, tho Idmunds bill, the
Morgan bill, and the plan of Senator Morton
will be again revived.
The decision of the United States Su-
preme Court declaring void some Of the
main features of the Civil Rights bill will
undoubtedly contribute much to the renewal
of efforts on the part of the s'old line'' Re-
publicans to incorporate in the organic law
some provision covering the question. Lead
ing Republicans have announced their
purpose to offer Constitutional amendments
which shall have these objects i'll view.
Upon the general subjects of finance,
tariff, taxation, industry, commerce, rail-
roads, shipping and postaltelegraph, a great
number of measures will be introduced.
One of tho prominent subjects which will be
called to the attention of Congress by the
President, the Secretary of the Treasury
late to the future basis of banking. 1t had
been supposed in the last Congress that
when the Bank Re-charter bill wa passedau-
thorizing the National Banks to continue
their existence for a new period of TWEEN
ty years the question at least of the stabili-
ty of the misunderstanding system had
passed from politics for a long period. LII
these considerations the basis of bank circu-
lation was overlooked. The existence of a
large surplus and the application OF it to the
redemption Of the extended bonds have had
the effect to alarm some capitalists, who are
of opinion that the banks cannot afford to
continue a circulation based upon the high
priced four per cent. bonds, and that, as a
consequence, unless Congress shall de-
wise some relief measure, the circula-
ton based upon the bonds called
and to be called will, to the possible extent
Of $500, 600, 600, be contracted. Whether
these views are correct or not, bills relating
to the general subject Of the future basis Of
banking will be introduced in manifold
forms, and will unQuestionably serve as the
basis for discussion Of our financial system.
Anti-bank men are preparing to take adj
vantage OF the situation to make a new war
upon the banks, and the prospect is that on
the eve of a new Presidential election the
currency question in its various forms will
be widely discussed.
The subject of the tariff, too, undoubtedly
will come up for general discussion.
The advocates Of the plan to make the re-
auctions wholly from internal revenue will
be placed in sharp antagonism with those
who desire the modification of the tariff.
The subject of postal telegraph will again
be revived.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, is very deter
mined in his advocacy of his Inter state
Commerce measure, and, as some of the
leading advocates of interstate-commerce
regulation among the Republicans are in
this Congress, notably Mr.. Henderson, of
Illinois, it is to be expected that this sub
ject will be revived.
1t is very possible that some practical leg
islatiOn will be enacted as to the lapsed
Immigrants. The issue can hardly be avoid
ed, and it is very possible that some Of the
old grants, the construction of roads under
which has not begun, will be d~eclaredifor-
feited.
1t is not probable that there will be any
legislation on the subject of silver unless
the trade-dollar shall be retired. The silver
mon l1.1ulncfiopohlv bava O., fl oio,t ,,ov,ar Il,
Congress to prevent any hostile legislation
Oh the general silver question.
The restrictive Chinese law has not salts
fled the opponents of Chinese immigration.
1t is very evident that the law has not been
respected by those who control the Chinese
immigration. The first step that will be
taken, doubtless, will be to direct the State
Department, if it shall not institute the in
quiry on its own motion, to ascertain wheth-
er or not the cvasions Of law are made with
the sanction Of the Chinese Government.
The subject of Civil-Service Reform will
undoubtedly come to the surface again, but
important legislation is not looked for. 1t is
certain, however, that on the eve of a Presi-
dental campaign, neither party will dare to
assume the responsibility of in any way
gripping the C%ivil-Service Reform.
The attempt to make a department of the
Agricultural Bureau will be revived. The
bureau will ask for special legislation to
render further aid in the prevention of cpl
demic diseases among animals.
The Temperance movement shows such
strength in several of the Western States
that the effort to secure the appointment of
a commission to investigate the alcoholic
liquor traffic will be submitted with better
prospects of success.
The advocates of q new Bankruptcy law
contemplate urging their measure again in
this Congress, but they are not very con-
fdent of success on account of the pro-
nounced opposition in the West and South.
The Church of the Latter-D Day Saints will
be arraigned for its defiance to National au-
thority.
The question Of waterways will be brought
to notice by the effort to secure %appropria-
tons for the Hennepin Canal and the Mis-
sissippi River improvement, with which the
promoters of various other schemes, like the
Chesapeake q Delaware Canal, will endeav-
or to make a combination.
The discovery of fraudulent practices on
the part of so many pension agents will un.
doubtedly lead to some attempts to prevent
soldiers from being swindled.
Several changes will be recommended In
the Postal laws.
The presence of cholera near our borders
| and the fear of nOSSible endemic from vol.