Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-24
THE COMING CONGRESS.
The Tariff, Civil-Service, Trusts and Race
Questions Will Occupy the Approaching



The Tariff, CiviI-Service, Trusts and Race
Questions Will Occupy the Approaching
Session.
WASHINGTON, Oct 2L-As members
elect to the Fifty-first Congress reach the
city gossip respecting the organization of
the next House Of Representatives natu-
rally increases. The consensus of opinion
among members-elect now here indicates
that the Speakership will go either to
Maine, Mr.. Reed, or Ohio, Mr.. Mckinley.
Messrs. Burrows. of Michigan, and Can
non, of Illinois, are both on the ground,
however. and it is said will at least make
the contest interesting before balloting
begins. At this time it would be very
difficult undertaking to pick out the
stronger candidate.
Major John Carson, of the Philadelphia
Ledger, appears to have already practi-
cally captured the clerkship OF the next
House. In his modest way he has been
working all summer, and it is claimed by
his friends that he has pledges sufficient
to elect on the first ballot.
Colonel Swords appears to have no rival
for the position of sergeant-at-armS while
there are several candidates for the offices
There are not many Senators and Rep
resentatives in Washington now, but
mos, of those here expect a very interest
ing and busy session of Congress during
the coming winter. The tariff, trusts, the
CIvil-Ssrvice law, the Inter-Stat Com
meTce law, the educational question, q
National election law and subsidies will
be among the subjects that will engage
ha Of
ognized as the great questions of the day
Will for the most part be presented as
party measures and are likely to render
the coming session a very important one.
Senator Dolph thinks Congress will take
no step backward in the matter of legisla-
tion of Interstate Commerce or Civil
Service reform. Both the Inter- State
Commerce law and the Civil-Service law,
he thinks, will probably be amended, but
not so to destroy their efficiency. Wher-
ever amendments are made to either will
defer the purpose of eradicating defects
disclosed by experience and to make them
more effective. The race question, he
says, will undoubtedly be discussed
in connection with the contested cleo
ton cases and Independently of them.
1t is a live question and will not down
the tariff will be revised and the source of
the revenue diminished. Some measures
not very dissimilar to the Senate bill will
be passed. 1t is possible, he thinks, that
some bill upon the subject of trusts will
be passed, but the subject must be dealt
with in the main by the States. The
power of Congress over this subject is SO
limited as to render of little value any
law which it may pass to prevent or con-
troll trusts in the State.
Congressman Brown of Indiana. thinks
L revision of the revenue system the most
important question awaiting the action Of
Congress and favors the repeal of the tax
on tobacco and on alcohol used in the arts
and a reduction Of the tax on sugar.
Something will probably be done regard
ing the seal fisheries and also the Cana
dian fishery dispute. These questions
however, will not divide the parties He
has no doubt there will be some amend
ment 10 the Interstate Commerce law
and Congress will undoubtedly legislate
on the subject of trusts, if it is possible
% define trust in such a way as not &
interfere with legitimate business.
Congressman Hit, of Illinois, thinks it
rather too early to make any predictions
about what Congress will do at the COM
ing session. No conference of even the
most informal kind has yet been held, so
that no means of judging what other
members are considering is to be had.
Then, shifting of opinion on many i'm
portant points is so likely that judg-
ment now is not very apt to hold when
actual voting on questions begins in Feb
ruary and March. Something in the way
of amendatory legislation to the Inter-
State Commerce law may be expected.
As to the Civil-Serv c. law, too many
Congressman of both parties are pledged
to its support to allow its repeal. The
subject of trusts will probably be in
voIved in the discussion of the tariff.
,rh ich will of cnurse come I'M naxt session