Omaha daily bee., 1891-12-07
rBE MrErryo or coyeRrss.

The Fifty-second congress will meet
today at noon, agreeably to the consti-
t%utional provision which requires tho
congress TO assemble annually or the
first Monday in December. As in 1875
and 1888, the democrats return to the
control OF the house OF representatives,
this time by a greater majority than
that party has ever before had in that
body. What will they dop is
the question that naturally pre-.
sents itself, and in view of the
fact that there is diversity Of opinion in
the party us to what ought to be done
the question cannot he answered with
very great confidence. IL Is safe to say
that an attempt will be made to effect
changes in the tariff, but whether by II
general bill or only as to certain
schedules is problematical The free
trade element viii very likely urge
n general revision, enforcing their
demand by claiming that this was
the meaning of the voters in elect
ing Il democratic house of representa-
tives, but there will he "A very strong
effort made to limit changes to a com
paratively few articles, on the ground
that such a policy might succeed, while
n general measure would be certain to
fail in the republican senate. 1t is very
| questionable, however, whether the
senate will permit any interference with
the existing tariff that would affect
its general character. There is not
now any general complaint re-
garding the operation of the law, and
everybody understands that the popular
d%isapproval implied in the congressional
elections of last year was due to misrep-
resentation and misapprehension OF the
law. 1t was insisted and widely believed
that the new tariff, which went into
| operation only u month before the cleo
tions of 1891, was inimical to the interests
of the producers, but, it having been
shown not to be, republican senators are
very likely to refuse to allow the law to
be changed to any important extent.
With regard to silver there is also
diversity of opinion among the demo-
Gratis as to what course should be pur-
sued, reference being had principally to
political effect. 1t is unqueStionable
that u large majority of the democrats
in congress are in favor of the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, but there
element uncompromisingly opposed
to that policy, and even some
of the free coinage men have concluded
that it might prove to be a fatal political
mistake to commit the party to the
policy at this time. If the present house
should take action favorable to free coin
age it would be impossible to keep an
endorsement of that policy out of the
National platform, and this would be
fatal to the chances of Mr.. Cleveland for
the nomination, while it would just as
certainly make New York secure
for the republicans in 1892. The
Cleveland influence will therefore be
exerted to the utmost to prevent any
action at this session regarding silver,
and it is not improbable that it will be
successful. But in any event the coun-
try understands that the democratic
party is in favor of the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver, and only awaits a
favorable opportunity to out this policy
into force.
There will be an effort to make politi-
cal capital for the democracy by a show of
economy in appropriations, and in order
to do do this little regard will be had
for the interests of the public service.
Any embarrassments to the republican
administration that might result from
a reduction Of appropriations would of
course have no weight with a demo-
cratic house, and, by way of rebuking
the "billion-dollar congress" a general
and considerable pairing down wherever
practicable may be expected. The
largest single demand upon the treas
ury, that for pensions, cannot, however,
be interfered with, so that the old SOL
diers, their widows and orphans, have
nothing to fear from the return of the
democrats to the control OF the house of
representatives.
1t is already announced that a sweep
ing policy of Investigations will be in
stituted, and doubtless no objection to
this will come from the republican side
of tho house. Let the demo-
Gratis make their Investigations
as sweeping and thorough as they
please, and, if they are fair and honest,
republicans may feel entire confidence
that the results will be to the credit and
advantage OF their party. There is no
apparent reason why the session that
will begin today should last more than
sever months, and it will probably not
be prolonged to the usual period for the
adjournment of the long session, owing
to the demands of the presidential cam
Dairn.