Evening journal., 1889-12-02
OPENING OF CONGRESS-.
A Forecast of What Will Be
Done by That Body.
MIR. REED WAS CHOSEN SPEAKER.

President at the Capital.
WASHINGTON, Doc. The congress which
assembled at noon today meet under very
peculiar conditions. Republican senate
and Republican house meets to transact
business which viii be submitted 10 4 Re-
publican president for approval Il would
seem that whore such perfect political har-
mony exists, harmony Of ideas and interests
should be found also. But whether this
harmony viii be present at the deliberations
of the two houses Of congress or not remains
to be seen. There are many questions to be
considered by this congress which cannot
be settled on party lines The principal
topics to come before this congress for dis
cussion arc the tariff, the silver question,
Federal control Of national elections,
proposition 70 repeal the civil service law,
and the appropriation Of money for rivers
and harbor and other local objects and en-
terprises.
The Tarif Questions Rival.
The tariff question was the chief issue in
the last congress 1t viii divide interest
this term with tho silver question The
question Of silver coinage has been much
agitated OF lato months, and the secretary
Of the treasury, IL is confidently expected,
Will make such recommendations to congress
IN his annual report that will be transmit
ted 70 the house aud senate ON Wednesday
peNt as will bring the question into still
| greater prominence. The effect of the do
liberations of the silver convention recently
held in St Louis will undoubtedly be felt.
and tho course taken by Mr. Reed the
speaker, In constituting the new commit
toe on coinage, weights and measures will
bo watched with much interest Among
the ideas which will be laid before the COM
ing session Of congress Is the proposition to
incroase tho coinage 10 N, 600 900 a month,
a proposition for the FREQ coinage of silver,
and proposition 10 authorize the issue Of
paper money based on silver bullion held on
deposit by the government
Republicans Favor Aliison's Tariff Bfl.
An effort will bo made to amend tho tariff
laws and a strong influence will be brought
TO bear to have the internal revenue laws re-
pealed. IL is generally understood that the
Republican majority IN the house and senate
will make an effort 10 have bill on the line
Of the Allison tariff bill Of last year put
through both houses aud sent TO the presi-
dent Mr. Mills, Of Texas has been quoted
recently as saying that the Democrats la the
ARA7o WeuAA presumably lAllhuhief 70 prevent
the passage of any tariff bill at this session.
but the Republican majority has little fear
OF this. Senator Farwell, Of Illinois, will
introduce bill 60 abolish the civil sorvico
examination He denounces the law as a
menace TO good government Representa-
tive Gambler, of Georgia, will also introduce
bill TO repeal the civil service law Repre-
sentative Hit, 81 Illinois, thinks the civil
service law will be amended, but not re-
pealed, and this seems 10 be the view of a
great many Of the older members Of the
house Mr.. Hit also believes that the inter
state commerce law will be amended
Our Relations with Canada.
The question OF the relations between the
United States and Canada aud Of the effect
OF competition OF the Canadian Pacific rail
road and its connections with the railroads
Of this country will come up for discussion
IN the senate under reports to be presented
by special committees The committee ON
Pactc railroads will make some RECON-
mendation TO the senate as To the forfeiture
OF the lands granted 10 the Pacific railroads.
There is little doubt that a river and har-
Dor bin will be passed by this congress The
local demands for IL are Of such a character
that they cannot be ignored, particularly as
congress at its last session made no appro-
priation for the improvement Of rivers and
harbors. The subject OF coast defenses will
be debated in the house and senate, with
what result il would be hard 10 determine
now. A number Of amendments have been
prepared 70 be offered 20 the existing con
tract labor laws. Some applications have
been made to the secretary of the treasury
for the admission Of skilled laborers 70 es-
tablish industries of which American work
1 hos
asked at an early day TO provide a form Of
government for Oklahoma.
G. A. X. Pension Bills.
The national pension committee OF tho
Grand Army Of the Republic has formulated
a number Of pension bills, which will be
offered for consideration. Principal among
these ane the per dom allowance pension bin
and the total disability pension bill
The Worlds Fair Question.
One of tho early questions to be considered
by congress is the location Of the Worlds
fair Of 1872. The claims Of New York,
Washington, st. Louis and Chicago will be
warmly pressed from the beginning Of the
session, and the question will not likely be
disposed Of until January or February. The
question Of the preservation Of American
forests viii be brought strongly before CON
gress. Among the general subjects which
will come up for con sideration are the fol
lowing;
Original Subjects That win Come Up
The abolition or regulation Of trusts; the
establishment Of postal savings banks; the
organization of postofiices aboard trans
atlantic steamships; an increase Of the num-
Der Of Judicial circuits so as 70 relieve the
pressure of unfinished business on the supreme
court; the abolition of lotteries as far as
congress can accomplish that object; the
payment of Indian depreciation claims of
western pioneers and the organization of a
special tribunal to adjudicate those claims.
the granting Of subsidies TO the American
merchant marine; the Blair educational /
bill; an investigation Of the affairs Of the
pension Office and the civil service commits
sion; the settlement Of the dispute over the
seal fisheries; the total exclusion Of the Chi
nese and other Questionable immigrants,
and possibly proposition TO settle the race
question in the south by limiting the repre-
sentation in congress to a proportion war
ranted by the white population Of the diff
ferent states alone.
The house viii have to take under almost
immediate consideration the rules which are
to govern its deliberations. An effort will
be made to curb the power which the rules
of the last house gave 90 the minority, but
this will meet with vigorous opposition from
the Democrats The house has also to con-
slider seventeen contested election cases. A
caucus of Republican senators will be held
IN the near future to consider proposed
change in the officers of the senate.
I