Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-11
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Very Little Can Be Done
This Week.
Democrats Will EndeavOr to
Enforce Economy.
Several Important Reform Measures
to Be Introduced.
The Silver Issue to Be Postponed for the
Time Being and the Subject Re-
ferred to an International
Congress.
.Asyociated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Jan. I0.-The fifty-sec-
ond congress is now in its second month
of existence, yet has not materially ad-
vanced any legislation, nor is the pres
ent week likely to work any change in
this particular. The senate is waiting
on the house, where the appropriation
bills must originate, and in the absence
of rules comforting the necessary author
ito, the house committees are unable to
report measures. so
On the calendar of the senate there is
nothing of general interest and little
prospects of reports coming from COM
mittees at an early day in the week, SO
that beyond listening to speeches and
considering nominations in executive
session, there will be little for the SEN
ate to do.
NO HOUSE PROGRAMME.
The house has no programme of bust
ness for the week. 1t is still embarked
on the sea of general parliamentary
practice, and until a code of rules is
framed the course of proceedings will
depend upon the conditions arising from
day to day. The committees have as
yet done nothing more than effect or
ganizatlon, SO it is unlikely that any
measure will be on the house calendars
for action before next week. Under the
temporary order the house made to
facilitate business prior to the adoption
of full set of rules, Monday will be de-
voted to the introduction of bills under
the call of states. There is some oppo-
sition to the allowance of clerks to the
smaller committees, which may lead to
a prolonged debate on the necessity for
economy in expenditures
THE RUSSIAN RELIEF RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Blount, chairman of the foreign
affairs committee, has moved reconsid-
Grafton of the vote by which the house
refused concurrence in the senate reso-
luton making an appropriation to char
ter asupply vessel for tie relief of Rus
sian sufferers, and if an opportunity
comes will endeavor during the week
to have the house agree to the reference
of the resolution to the foreign affairs
committee.
A DEMOCRATIC REFORM MOVEMENT.
AL cuOII VIII Uo LnduC NY uumUer
OF Democratic representatives to have
the appropriations committee recon-
mend that the fee system in federal Of
fees be abolished ,as far as can be done.
A number OF congressman, especially
in the southern states, urge that the
continuance of the fee system results in
much hardship to people in their states
through deputy marshals and other
court officers straining the laws for the
purpose of making cases in the courts.
thereby increasing the emoluments OF
their offices. 1t is urged that the gov
ernmenb would really save a great deal
of money by paying salaries to the en-
ployees necessary in fee offices and re-
quiring that all fees be turned into the
United States treasury. Vigorous oppo-
sition. however, is expected to this re-
form, and the appropriations committee
has not yet got to work on it, and it is
uncertain what will be the outcome.
PosTMAsTERs' PROFITS TO BE PRUNED.
One Of the attempts to do away with
the perquisites in federal Offices is OF
considerable interest to the numerous
postmasters OF the first class throughout
the country. At the present stamped
envelopes are furnished to postmasters
at the cost of one-fifth OF cent for each
envelope. No profit is realized on these
by the postmaster when he sells them
in large lots. When sold singly or in
small quantities there is profit OF four
fifths OF cent on EACH envelope, and
Mr.. O'Neill of Missouri, who intends to
urge congress to change the practice,
says the result is considerable profit
off re ;N+ of
regular fixed salaries. He will urge that
hereafter stamped envelopes be fur
nished at cost in 5-cent lots, (the
price of the stamp not included). The
government, he says, should not make a
profit on these and other conveniences
it furnishes the people, but should give
them at cost whenever practicable, and
any profits arising should not 90 to
salaried officers.
THE SILVER ISSUE TO BE POSTPONED.
The silver question as legislative is
sue is once more awakening the liveliest
apprehensions OF both parties at the
national capital. For the past few davs
this topic has been the subject of more
discussion than tariff reform. But there
has suddenly been manifested among
the Democratic leaders disposition to
prevent the silver question from reach
ing the dignity of paramount issue to
the prejudice of tariff reform. 1t is said
measures will be taken to stamp the
financial question as secondary issue.
Representative Springer, of illinois;
Senator Carlisle, of Kentucky; Senator
Palmer, of Illinois, and Representative
O'Neill, of Massachusetts, are few Of
the prominent Democrats said to believe
that the best solution of the silver
question lies in an international agree
ment, and will favor bill now being
prepared, for the relegation OF the ques-
tion to an international congress to be
held in Chicago in 1898. Such dispo-
sition of the question by congress would
of course prevent the silver question
from becoming harassing issue the
coming campaign, and would enable the
fierce political battle of 1872 to be fought
upon the burning issue of tariff reform.
Mr.. spRINGER's SILVER POLICY.
Regarding the course he thought
should be pu,sued by the Democratic
party in this congress, on the question,