The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-11-16
TIE NEXT CONGRESS.
Some SpeculatiOns as to the Work of
the Next SessiOn--Wiil the Force Bill
Pass?


The Baltimore Sun thus speculates on
the work Of the next session of Congress:
In view of the fact that Congress will
meet IN two weeks, it is Of interest to
consider the possibilities Of the short
session In the period between Decem-
Der |, 1890, and March 3, 1891, it Will
be necessary to pass the regular appro-
priation bills, together with deficiency
bill TO meet the extraordinary demand
for money under the recently passed de
pendents' pension bill and for other
purposes. At the last session it took
ten months to pass these bills-work
which must next session be done in
three. Should it not be completed by
March 3, 1891, it will be incumbent
upon the President to assemble in extra
session the Fiftg-second Congress. With
It's Democratic majority. It goes with
out saying that the leaders Of the Re-
publican majority in the present Con
gress Will be eager to prevent that by
completing ali necessary bills within IT'S
legal term of life Democrats will be
concerned naturally as to the programme
| Of legislation in addition to the regular
appropriation bills that the Republicans
may have IN contemplation. Will they
attempt to pass the force bill and an ap-
| pOTionment bill based on Mr.. Portars
| present census figures? Before estimat-
ing the probabilities Of their success,
| should they make the attempt, We shall
have to allow for the fact that the
| Democrats will not during the
remainder Of Speaker Reeds term
Of authority remain IN their seats
to make a quorum for the passage Of
measures 30 which they are opposed
That folly was sufficiently unlearned
during the last session. They will OBJ
struct to the extent necessary to defeat
the passage Of partisan measures. In
view Of the shortnesS Of the session and
the result Of the recent election all the
advantages are on their side. It was
difficult during the past session, when
their hopes were buoyant and their
faith 10 MIR Reed was strong, for the
Speaker to keep together quorum OF
Republicans to pass Objectionable bills
For the greater part Of the ses
sion it was impossible. Much more
difficult will it be to keep the whole
Republican membership in attendance
now that the election is over and sc
many have been defeated. Discipline
will be relaxed among the eighty Of
more retired to private life BY the feel
ing that their congressional career i.
closed and thai disobedIence to Mr.
} Reeds dictatoria calls will bring NJ
penalty. A number Of Republican mem
| ho,, hot hn ~,
domineering rule, but have until nov
submitted, thinking his star in the as
cendant. thereafter they will pursue
more independent course. Many viii
. choose to be absent at
tending to their private affairs
l and when present will vote their ow
3 convictions rather than those Of Reed
Mckinley, Lodge and Cannon. Hence
we say, 1t will be difficult to an increase
: extent for the Speaker to keep Reput
D lican quorum at Washington pass meas
t ures to which the Democrats are resC
/ lutely opposed. He will be at the nero
9 of the Democratic minority. If the
y often absent themselves from the Hous
v so as to prevent a quorum the regula
t appropriation bills will make such slo'
i progress that there will be no time lei
l. in which to pass the Force bill or an I'll
Y fair apportlonment BILL If the Fore
bill passes the Senate-which is que
tionable it will carry amendments th;
= will cause its return to the House. The
it will perish, if the tactics Of tt
opposition are good. An unfa
y apportionment bill would encounter a
s. most equal difficulty. The census ar
the way in which it has been taken VI
call for investigation and comment.
,s good deal of time can rightly be d
manded for the consideration of SO il
10 portant measure. 1t is not certain th
u a number of Republicans would not
le willing to vote for a new census on no
ly partisan basis. During the last sesslt
q, while the force bill was being discuss
? in the Senate, Mr. Hoar, deploring t
1e bargain by which it was deferred, q
r clared that there would be no time dr
el ing the short session to pass contentio
5h bills. In this opinion he was probat
right, and the country will rejoice
of the concurrence Of SO many causes
lis prevent the commission Of two new L
s, islatiYe crimes.