New-York tribune., 1884-12-15
nrMocRArto LEADGGa INACTIVE,
WAITING Ton huMt iNiihNiioN of ~" ehhN"
iANnh ruttot,
my lHItuuAru fn FHH fHfhrSh,l

ny ihttuuAfh 10 fhh fhlhtHhl
WAsnNdroN, Dee, ll,-'lhe leodera of the
Democratic majority Ia the House are Ia state ct pain
f uncertainty rs To- what they ought to pursue
dutng this session aud thero Is prospect that
caucus will be held so,si to determine what meas
ures aside from the appropriation bllls' shaU Do
considered There strong eementrepresehted py MI
Randall which l. opposed to action on any bl 'l may
involve questions OF policy upon which the Views Of Mr.
Cleveland are not known 1t Is not unfair to say that
the aid of Senator Bayard whose stores Of Wis
lou and large and varied assortment Of opinions were
freely placed at his disposal the number of important
public questions which the views OF the fresdeh'
elect arc unknown to the leaders Of his party In Congress
is considerable. Whether he Is friendly or
unfriendy TO the national banking system, whether he
oerecs with Mr.. Potter or Mr.. Bland in respect 10 COM
pusory silver coinage and the issue OF silver certificates
rhohcr he shares the views OF Mr. Randall or Mr. Nor
risou I'm regard to internal taxation and the tari whether
he approves the policy OF commercial treaties whether
he favors national bankruptcy law, as do most oi the
eastern and q few western and southe I'll
Democrats or agrees with those who are
opposcd to such legislation. are some
- the questions answers to which tho Democratic
leaders await with anxiety In the meantime they seem
disposcd to 10 little nothing except II possible 10
make the country believe that they are devotng them
selyer with unagging zeal and industry to the pubic
business Even deducting only the short holiday recess
prnposcd by Chairman Randall and Morrison the entire
session will comprise only seventy working days. OF
which twelve have passed SO far nothing
has been done by the House except 10 pass
the Military Academy bill and extend for six months the
appropriaons for the Navy Department.. Nearly al
III lime has been consumed in debate Oh the Interstate
Commerce BILL which seems likely To occupy two days
more before il disposed Of The debate has not Deen
altogether prohtess for it has yielded several gOOu
sneeches against the Reagan substitute aud there Is row
bod reason to hope for its defeat, whereas
n vote had been taken without. DISCUSSION,
if probable that the substitute would have passed the
House. , A.. 10, ora ooss
hs aud resolutions will be IN order tomorrow ana IL Is
xneced that the day will he devoted to efforts To nave
40 set rt for the consideration of various measures
c cannot be reached in regular order under the rules
at this session 1t is not nkeiy that tne @ J,r
Iiciarv Committee will have opportunity t0nofloW
70 aSk mat day he set for the bankruptcy bill All
nc orders hereafter made must be subject 10 the CON
p bat their execution shall not Interfere with Reye-
ne or Appropriation bills prior special orders AS
n ar .iph special orders OF last session are SUN III
@ srcanne ~ Them covering than forty bills Tor
new pubic buildngsthe liking of day Tor me consul
rotinn of bill does greatly improve It's prospects
ntess II he measure which onlsts the hearty ana ac
% snnnnrt of an overwhelming majority OF the House