The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-02
Four Months Gone and One Appropriation
Bill Passed, While There Are Fif-
teen Others To Be Considered.
The Trade-DOllar Bill Passed, and the
Speech Makers Shut Out.
Mr.. Randall in Consultation with Editor
Mcclure as to His Course OH the
Morrison Tariff Bill.
DELAY OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.
Probability that the Session VIII Not Ter
inmate Before August.

inmate Before August.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-On Friday last some
amusement was created in the House by the in
PRODUCTION by Mr. Anderson, of Kansas, of a
resolution providing that Congress should ad
journ sine die June q To-day 1 asked Mr.. An
derson if he meant it for jest or earnest, and
whether he really thought it would ever be re-
ported from the ways and means committee, to
which it was referred.
Mr.. Anderson replied: II introduced that
resolution as a sort of interrogation point, just
to let the Democrats know that we have some
work still to do. 1t is about time that some one
made attempt to bring the majority to a
realizing sense of what we have done, and what
we have left undone. Up to date-and it is
within four days of four months since Congress
assembed-we have wasted about all our time
in talking over the whisky bill the bill to re-
store Fitz John Porter, and a few other entirely
unimportant measures There are fifteen i'm
portant appropriation bills which will require at
least forty five days to consider, upon which we
have not yet heard report. There
are those two extremely import
ant subjects, copyright and bankruptcy,
yet to discuss, besides innumerable matters of
the utmost moment This great reform Con-
gress started out with blare of trumpets to re-
form the tariff, pass the appropriation bills,
clean up all legislative matters and ajourn, with
the country in the very best possible shape, by
the 1st of May There is one thing, too, that
had forgotten. This Congress was to restore to
the public domain at least hundred million
acres of valuable lands, illegally held by the
10, dc
of the day set for adjournment, according to the
programme, and what do we indl Take the
tariff question first It requires but one eye, and
it glass one, to see that the Democrats cannot
agree upon it, although there is plenty of room
for it. Of course the campaign howl will be
set up that the reason nothing was done by the
House was that the Senate would not ratify any
action the House might take. Therefore, it
would be waste of time to try. believe, on
the contrary, that if the Morrison bill should be
so amended as to assure a reduction of the rev
enues, and some sort of a leveling-off pro-
cess of the existing inequalities, there are
many Republicans in the House who would
not oppose it, and that bill could be
passed that would go through the Senate;
but we shall see no tariff reform or revenue
reduction at this session. Now as to the pass
age of appropriation bills. They were to be all
got out of the way before the 1st of Febru
ary. It is now the 1st of April and just one of
them has edged its way through both Houses
Why, it will be twenty days before the river and
harbor bill is drafted, and it will take two weeks
at least to discuss that this year. AS to ad-
journment by the 1st of May; think the 18th
of August or the 1st of September will be nearer
the date. Here is point that may not have
become apparent to you. 1t is probable that
the Republican ticket will be nominated by the
9TH of June. The Democrats will thus have a
month before their convention, during which
they will pitch into the Republican nominees
upon the floor of the House upon every available
opportunity. Then they will want to adjourn.
Do you suppose the Republican Senate will
look on and let the Democrats have things all
their own way! 1t is not likely. Having the
power to do so, the Republican Senate will keep
Congress in session until a month after the Dem
ocrats make their nominations, in order that the
opportunity may be afforded them of canvassing
the merits of the Democratic nominees so that
the country may be equally enlightened upon
the question of the fitness of the one or the
other through the Congressional Record. Now
as to the land-grant forfeitures, the committee
has labored faithfully day and night, and the re-
suit is favorable reports upon bills looking to the
forfeiture of an enormous territory; but we have
not thus far succeeded in accomplishing any sat
isfactory result, simply because the whole bust
ness of the session is in such tangle and snarl
that, in spite of our efforts to secure justice to
all, it looks as though the monopolies will be in
the lead again at the close of the session. That
resolution of mine was only feeler. 1t will
not be acted upon"