New-York tribune., 1884-11-30
THE OUTLOOK IN CONGRESS-
MORE QUARRELs THAN LEGISLATION.
LITTLE HOPE OF TIE BANKRUPTCY AND EDUCA.
TIoS BILLs-LoOKIYG AFTER SPECIAL INTER-
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsuxE.I

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUyEI
WAsHINGIoN, Nov. 29.-ComparativeIy few Of
the leading Representatives have reached Wash.
ington, but among those who have arrived the gem
eral impression is that the session will be dull and
uneventful Although" as one experienced Re-
publican Congressman to-day remarked, Z" suppose
that hOt-headedI Democrat here and there. with
blood in his eye thinking that the fruits of victory
will spoil unless plucked at once may undertake to
disturb the ordinary routine"
The same Congressman continued: "I find
among the more thoughtful Democrats OF both
Houses an evident anxiety so to deport them
selves, during the coming session as. If possi-
bic. to win in some degree the con-
idence of the business interests Of
the country This disposition is to be commended
and hope they will succeed
OF necessity the conduct of business in the
House will depend almost wholly upon Chairman
Randall and the Appropriations Committee, al
though, judging by present indications, the com
mittee will have little business ready for the con-
sideraion of the House before the holiday recess,
II does not seem likely that any of the general ap-
preparation bills will he acted upon before Christ
mas. Two years ago the Indian bill was reported
to tho House on tho Grst day of the session
and passed four days later This year 10
Ia understood that Mr. Ellis. who has
charge of the bill, prefers TO defer its prepara.
tion until he can have an opportunity 10 examine
the reports Of the Indian agents, which will not bs
in print for some time to come II IL thought nfob.
able that tho current appropriations for the Navy
may be extended for another six months aud that u
may be done before the holidays This, however,
viii not relieve Congress iloh tho necessity of
passing another Naval bill before Tho end 0f tho
session. unless u be tho design ~ the Democrats 10
have an extra session Vt the ALiAth Congress
before Jane 30 1855,
lHE OUTLOOK FOR GENERAL LEGISLATION.
There seems to be s ght prospect of much general
legislation aside from tho appropriation bills, us-
less ii be carried through before the holiday
recess. Ii is thought that Abram ). Hewitt will
try 10 secure action upon the bill reported by him
from the Ways and Means Committee IN June to
modify existing laws relating to duties on imports
and the collection of the revenue. This measure.
reported, does not affect any rate of duty and IL
only designed to simplify the administration Of tho
Customs service, but 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.. Hewitt may prefer to let
The smplificatiOn of the tantf laws wait until
after the next Congress convenes.
Last April the Senate passed a bankruptcy bill,
which was considered by the House Judiciary Com
mttec. A month later the committee, after reach
ing substantial agreement on the BILL sought to
have q day fixed for its consideration by The House.
The motion failed although the vote stood 1877 for
TO 03 against; two-thirds being required.
The result showed that strong majority in tho
House favored giving the subject hearing
at least. The bill is on the Speakers table, under
more than one hundred other bills. and with astrong
minority opposed to its cOnsds ration, the prospect
of reaching; or passing It, In the short session OK
Congress is by no means encouraging
The Senate bill providing for Federal aid to COM
mon schools in the States Is in the possession OF
the House Committee on Education, whose chair
man. il is understood, declares that 1t shall never
he brought forward for consideration so long as it
contains the present "ontrageous provision
which requires that each State shall show
that it has honestly applied the appropriation
to the education of all its children of school age.
another appropriation. As the bill now has no
place the calendar, and is controlled by the com
mttee there seems 10 be little or no prospect of its
consideration this winter. The status of the
measures mentioned fairly illustrates the condition
and prospects of public business in the House, the
calendars of which fill eighty printed pages.
WHERE REPRESENTATIVES ARE INTERESTED.
good many Representatives in this Congress
will not sit in the next one and each of them Is
specially interested in half dozen
measures now pending. The natural consequence
will be incessant struggle for precedence, when
the House Is not engaged 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 q
dozen House bills nudisposed Ofand those of minor
Importance. the House calendar shows about two
hundred aud eighty Senate bills, of which all ex-
cept still on the Speakers table Besides,
siXty-four pages of the House calendar are filled
with titles of bills, reported by House committees
The first bill on the Speakers table Is the Mexican
Pension bill, over which there was a long struggle
in the closing days of the last session The friends
of this measure hope 10 be able 10 baye il sent to
a Committee of Con neIence, which they expect Will
agree.