New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-01
.vor of these last two propositions
THE REASSEMBLIAG or CONGRESS

|
Unfortunately there is no reason to hope for
anything except routine legislation from tho
| session of Congress which begins to- day.
| Many important measures are now on the cal
| endar of the House. but the reasons which pre-
vented their passage ut the last session still
exist. The situation is not changed, although
1876 members have failed of a reelection
The incapacity Of the Democratic majority
i'm the House made the last session failure.
That majority has been reduced One-half for
the succeeding Congress- but The change Is not
likely to bring wisdom to the present body, which
failed in advance of an important election and
cannot be expected to do better now that the
contest Is over. Besides, much of its time will
be taken up with intrigue for office and specu-
lation over the personnel of Cleve.and's ad min
istratOn. The counting OF the electoral
vote, the completion and celebration OF the
Washington Monument. the New Orleans Ex-
position and preparations for the Inauguration
of a Democratic President, are events hat viii
greatly distract the attention of members
The majority in the House is not likely to do
anything that might seem to anticipate the
policy OF the new Administration. and there il
such ignorance as to what that policy may be
IA almost to preclude consideration OF many
important measures. On the tariff, for instance,
Governor Cleveland's views are unknown.
His notable achievement in the recent canvass
was that of successfully stradding this I'M
portant ISSUE That uncertainty has contrib
uted to thcprevaiing business d, prcsson The
desire to reduce the surplus will probably lead to
much discussion. For that purpose Mr. Randall
il preparing to bring forward his measure to
abolish the internal revenue taxes He
probably believes that he IL ~ likely to guc-
coed IN that attempt Mt this session as mt tho
next one. hut If Mr.. Morrison aud Mr.. Carlisle
can prevent II no such measure viii go
through the House without the tariil IL re-
ducrd ut the same time. That cannot he donc
nj thia session, hence the discussion of the In
tcrnal revenue question IN likely To bc u profit
lcss ono, Hut. tho country IN not yet ready
for free whipkcy and tobacco,
There ARE l.Oib h,lls now awaiting action
by the House Many of the moro important
measures have passed the Senate, which was
not Responsible for the delays last winter. In II
three months session. with the appropriation
bills to be disposed of. few of the bills left over
are likely to be considered. But ~ ne of them
are of great Importance; such as the Mcpherson
Bank Dill, lnt one 10 tStdOllsn uhlOiu syHttih
of bankruptcy, the Interstate Commerce bill
(Which was made a special order for March IL
last and never taken up). the Educa-
tional bill, one to improve our postal
and commercial relations with foreign
countries the Electoral Count bill, one
for the encouragement of our merchant ma
rine, the Congressional Library bill, a meas
urc to provide for the manner of SOL
cmnizing marriages in the Territory of
Utah, another in regard to the free de-
livery service, currency bills, and the bill
from the Ways and Means Committee to give
effect to the Mexican reciprocity treaty. The
Navy Appropriation bill failed altogether at
the last session, and temporary makcshift was
resortcd to. That measure, therefore, must be
among the first considered. The new Spanish
treaty will probably occupy good deal of the
Senate's time, but its calendars are not 80
weighted as those of the House.
The Democrats cannot excuse themselves for
lack of time to consider these measures. Fail
ure will be due to neglect and incapacity The
XLVllth Congress in the same length of time
passed the tariff, civil service, internal reve-
nue., and the other important measures which
made its last session such q crcditable one 1t
is the cOuntrys misfortune that as much cannot