The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-02
FIFTY-SEC0ND CONGRESS.
MING OF THE SHORT SESSION
OF That BODY.

Of rfHi bOOI.
Quorum Present In Both Houses-Most
of the Absentees Republicans - Tho
Presidents Message-A Weak Docu-
ment-GeneraI Capital News.
WASHINGTON, Dec. L. Special. AT the
roll-call Of the House to-day, the opening OF
the session, 22T members, 10j short OF the en-
tire number, answered to their names. or
the absentees the larger proportion belonged
to the Republican party, and this fact in-
creases the apprehension Of Speaker Reed
and his lieutenants that they may not be
able TO maintain quorum during the ses-
sion for the enactment Of partisan legisla-
tiOn.
READING THE MESSAGE.
The reading Of the Presidents message
was listened 10 quite attentively IN the
Senate by members of both parties, but in
the House scant attention was paid to IT,.
General comment is that the message is "A
weak public document, and that it must
take very low rank among American state
papers.
PRESIDENTIAL HUM0R.
Some OF the sentences are as unique as
those Of the celebrated humOrist, Bill Nye,
though designed to be serious and impress
siye. For instance, the President s0lemnly
says: "The efforts of the Secretary Of the
Treasury TO increase the volume Of money
in circulation by keeping down the Treasury
surplus TO the lowest practicable limit.
have been unremitting and in very high
degree successful" This sentence has
been a standing subject Of jest with men,
bers Of both parties.
DIFFERS WITH M'KGNLEY co.
In discussing the new tariff law and its
probable effects, the President takes ground
diametrically opposed to that OF Chairman
Mckinley and the Republicans OF the Ways
and Means. In his report accompanying
the Tariff bill Chairman Mckinley declared
that the object of the measure was 10
curtail importations that it was
framed upon the line of high protec-
tion, which meant prohibitory duties
and TO maintain a home market.
In his speech for the bill Mr.. Mckinley not
only reiterated, but emphasized this decla-
ration. His bill he declared was intended
to exclude importation, and thus compel
the American people TO buy from home
manufacturers. In his message the Presi-
dent says that misinformation as 10
the last tariff act has created misappre-
hensiOn concerning its ehcts; that already
reports from authoritative sources show
that importations are increasing under the
impulse of this new law; that in New York
for the first three weeks of November inn
pOrtatiOns largely exceeded those Tor the
same period Of 1889 and 1898.
Thus does the President cut the ground
from under the feet Of his party in Congress.
His utterance is construed as an effort to
alay public apprehension as developed by
the recent election.
STANDS BY THE FORCE BILL.
The President stands by the Force bill
and delivers a labOred argument in it, be-
half, rehearsing all the old fallacies. He l.
also exerting his influence personally upon
Republican Senators TO persuade them to
pass the Force bill.
CAPITAL NOTE-.
The book Of estimates for the fiscal year
contains recommendation OF az lppfApria-
ticn Of $4,000 tor Fort Monroe ami 1909
for Fort Myer. Virginia.
Representative Waddill to-day introduced
"A bill to provide for payment OF the tobacco
rebate, and to allow sixty days after the
passage Of the act for the filing and proving
Of claims.
nlItU STATES lllulSlti IlCuflith boh--
las will sail or Hayti on Saturday next.
Four free cUinage silver bills we're intro
duced in the House to-day.
CREDENTIALS READ.
Rogers, of Kansas, rising to a question Of
he highest privilege, asked that the 0ath OF
tiice be administered to Clifton X. Breck-
nridge as representative from the second
Arkansas district. Applause on the DEM
Ocratic side.
The Speaker stated that there were vari-
Gus credentials upon his table which he
would present TO the House.
Credentials were then read as follows
G. X. Brer knridge, second Arkansas; Will
lis Slert, Idaho; &. W. Stone, Twenty-sev-
enth Pennsylvania; Clarence ID. Clarke.
Wyoming. These gentlemen then appeared
Al the bar Of the House, and were duly
qualified. Breckinridge received a round
Ot hearty applause from his Democratic
friends. JOnn 5. Pinder from the rwen-
ty-fourth New York district: +. X. Hayes.
from the seventh Iowa. and Robert White
low from the Seventeenth Missouri district.
qualified as representatives, notwlthstand-
Ing the nOn-arrival of their credentials.
The Speaker laid before the House the
credentials of David A. Harvey as delegate
from the Territory of Oklahoma, and the
oath of office was administered to him. The
House then took recess until 80 TO wall
the coming of the Presidents message.
REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAUCUS.
The Republican members Of the Senate
held a caucus this afternoon TO consider the
order of business for the session, especially
in its relation to the Federal Election
bill. The caucus was in session for
nearly two hours. There was a large at
tendance d no dissent from the PROPOSE
ton to carry out the programme agr, ed
upon before the adjournment OF the nrst
session to take up the Federal Election bill
AT the beginning OF this session, and press II TO
q vote. The committee on order OF business
was directed TO prepare an order OF business,
the first measure to be considered 10 be the
Federal Election bill. The committee ap-
pointed at the last session to cO-ol -ate
with the Republican members OF the
Committee on Rules In the pre- ara
ton OF rule TO provide for
calling for the previous question was
instr Lcted 10 report some modification
of existing rules with this object in view.
cd il was agreed that If the Democrats
use obstructive tactics against the Fed
eral Election bill proposition 70
change the rules will DO brought
in Immediately. The caucus was harmoni-
GUS throughout. The action Of the caucus
does not determine the question OF passing
the Federal Election bill. There were not
enough Republican Senators present to
guarantee absolutely that the change oi
rules will be made.
DEBT STATEMENT.
The Treasury Department debt statement
issued to-day, shows an increase IN the pub
lac debt during the past month OF Novem'
her amounting TO 81, l3Osl9. Unusually
neavy payments during the month for civil
and miscellaneous expenses and large pen
sion payments during the November ac
count for the unusual statement OF an in'
crease instead Of decrease.
The bonded Indebtedness Of the Govern
ment was reduced about s3,O0O,OO during
the month, and now aggregates s629, 1879
against $632, 2sj, 800 on November lst
rhe surplus In the Treasury to-day aggre-
gated $59.044,625, against s6I,eO3O33 9
month ago; q decrease OF nearly nine
millions since November lst.
THE NEW YORK CENSUS.
Mr.. Flower, OF New York, introduced II
the House to-day joint resolution direct
lug the secretary OF the Interior TO order lh'
retaking of the New York census. Ions
preamble to the resolution sets forth th'
controversy had in this matter between ths
Government and the New York State OH
cials. Mr.. Cummings introduced resolu