, 1890-12-11
FORECAST OF WORK
The Relative Standing of the
Two Great Parties.
WHERE THE LODGE BILL STANDS
Bills That will and Bills That VIII
Not Become Laws-The
Reasons Why.
Especial Service OF the REVIEWS washing
ton Press Bureau

lspccis, Service OF the REVIEWS washin g.
ton Press Bureau.
WAsHtNGToN, Dec. 4.-This promises
to be "A barren session. II any lcgisa-
tive results are accomplished 1t will be
by accident more than by concen trated
and intelligent purpose. Both parties
are at sea. The republicans are dazed
by their defeat, and the democrats by
their victory. Neither knows just what
1t is all about, Neither feels firm ground
under its feet and both seem AFRAID TO
take q step in advance in any direction
Under these circumstances intelligent
and purposeful legislation Is out OF the
question, though some valuable results
may be accom- plished, as the copyright
bill was passed by the energetic action
of friends of the measure not political in
character, which will profit by tempor-
arg paralysis of partisan activity.
The bankruptcy bill and that for the
relief OF the supreme court may become
laws in this way.
The mail subsidy and shipping bills
are not quite in this category. Not
only are democrats solidly against them,
but some Western republicans have
doubts about the latter. The potentinlity
of profit, In fact OF large private inter
ests and difficulty of securing its
passage clear from any suspicion of
scandal, make some thoughtful repub-
licans dread the responsibility of bring
ing II before tile house. The mail
subsidy bill may, however, be reported
and passed.
The three large objects of legislation :;
Federal elections, apporuonment ana
finance, are in u state OF suspense with
more latent vitality in the last than IN
anything before congress.
The most positive effect of the cleo
tions upon congress Is to strengthen
the crowds of paper intiationsts and
free coinage people. There is more dis
position to legislate in some way more
apparent money into circulation than
to do nything else.
The effort to pass the Lodge bill in
the senate does not seem to me TO be
very earnest or determined. The DEM
ocrats are prepared to take the bill out,
and 1t will be difficult to secure ma
jority OF republicans for the non -cloture
necessary TO bring IL 10 vote. The
truth is that one-fourth, at least, OF the
republican senators are opposed TO the
principle of the bill, or think its passage
inexpedient. They voted to take 1t up
under pledge OF last year. They might
vote for it under caucus dictation, but
l don't believe they will vote for rad
ical change in the rules in order to bring
it to vote. That Is equivalent to say
ing it will not pass.
There was plan to change the rules
for the sake of passing the apportion-
ment bill and then put the Lodge bill
through under power thus gained but
republicans are now agreed as To the
wisdom of making n vigorous tight
for the apportionment bill in ITS
present form, as result OF
the late elections in redistrict-
ing under the apportionment bill will
be done by democratic legislatures in
three fourths OF the states. This makes
some republicans willing to let 1t go
over to the next congress, trusting to
the senate to secure fair measures then,
and hoping in the meantime to recover
some state legislatures.
On the other hand, the same motive
makes democrats willing to see the
bill pass now, and it is possible that a
measure fair to both parties may be
agreed upon and passed before the end
Of the session without change of rules
in the senate.
The air Is charged with free coinage.
The only question is whether 1t will
come this session or not. Political
trimners who shape the cause Of legisla-
ton by the shifting currents of popular
opir ion, all interpret the election up
heavals as demand for more liberal
financial legislation rather than the
condition of the tariff law.
There is little talk of repeating or
amending the latter as yet, even among
the democrats, but all parties are con.
sidering how to satisfy the popular
craving for more money. Unless some.
body suggests an ingenious compromise
the added impulse given to free coinage
will be too strong TO be resisted. The
senate had u two-thirds majority for 1t
last winter The next house will be able
to pass it over a veto.
Ii is now certain that the republican In
the present congress will prefer to reap
for themselves and their party the glory
of giving the country that which 1t is
apparently bound to have, rather than
to leave the initiative to democrats in
the next house.