Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-12-06
WASHINGTON WORK.

\ special to the New ork Tribune III
looking up the prospects of general legisla-
ton for this winter in the halls of congress,
SAYS there seems to be slight prospect of
much general legislation aside from the APP
preparation bills, unless it can
be carried through before the
holiday recess. 1t is thought that Abram
5. Hewitt will try to secure action upon the
bin reported by him from the ways and
means committee, in June TO modify exist
ing laws relating to duties on imports and
the collection of the revenue. This measure,
as reported, does not effect any rate of duty,
and is only designed to simplify the admin
istration of the custom service, but some
representatives fear that, if taken up; it will
reopen the general discussion of the tariff
question. In view of the coming change of
administration, Mr.. Hewett may prefer to
let the simpliiication of the tariff law wait
until the next congress convencs.
Last April the senate passed bankruptcy
bill, which was considered by the house ju-
| dietary committee. \ month later the COM
mittee, after reaching substantial agree
ment on the bill, sought TO have day fixed
for lis consideration by the house The mo-
| ton failed, although the vote stood 1871 for,
to % against: two-thirds being required.
The result showed that strong majority in
| the house favored giving the subject a hear
| ing at least. The bill is on the speakers
| table, under more than one hundred other
| bills. and with a strong minority opposed to
its consideration the prospect of reaching or
passing il in the short session Of congress is
by no means encouraging.
The senate bin providing for federal aid
to common schools in the states is in the
possession of the house committee on educa-
ton. whose chairman it is understood, de-
clarcs that il shall never be brought for
ward for consideration SO long as it con-
tains the present "outrageous" provision
which requires that each state shall show
that it has honestly applied the appropria-
ton 10 the education of all its children of
school age, without regard to color before it
can receive another appropriation. As the
bill now has no place on the calendar. and
is controlled by the committee, there seems
10 be little or no prospect of its considera-
ton this winter. The status of the meas
ures mentioned fairly illustrates the condi-
ton and prospects of public business in the
house, the calendars of which fill eighty
printed pages.
A good many representatives in this con-
gress will not sit in the next one. and each of
them is specially interested in half dozen
or more measures now pending. The natur-
al consequence will be an ncessant struggle
for precedence, when the house is not en-
gagged with the appropriation bills, and little
or nothing can be accomplished.
The senate has become the working branch
of congress. While its calendar shows less
than dozen house bills undisposed of, and
those of minor Importance the house cslen-
dar shows about two houndred and eighty
senate bills, Of which all except score are
still on the speakers table. Besides sixty
four pages Of the house calendar are filed
with titles of bills reported by hoose com
mittees. The first bill on the speakers table
is the Mexican pension bill, over which there
was a long struggle in the closing days of
last session. The friends of this measure
hope 10 be able TO have it sent TO a commit
tee of conference, which they expect will
agree.