Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-12-10
WASHINGTON LETTER,
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 5, Is

representatives, many of whom are
already here, it is apparent that the
session of Congress which begins
to-day is to be much more interest
ing than had been generally sup.
posed. Some Democrats are already
expressing the fear that the Re.
publican Senate may take up and
pass the "pop-gun" tariff bills passed
by the House at the last session.
placing wool and other articles on
the free list, which, if signed by the
President, would make that Treasury
deficit, which Democratic success at
the polls has made a strong proba-
biity for the next fiscal year, an
absolute certainty. The fears are,
however, groundIess; the Republi-
can Senators are too patriotic to
vote against their honest convictions
merely to add to the troubles, which
already promise to be great enough,
heaven knows, Of the Democratic
administration and Congress.
Impecunious Congressman are re-
jolclng over the prospect of the
presence Of big lobby in Wash.
lngton during this session, to fight
the bill which will be reported by
the Senate Committee on Immi-
grafton, providing for suspension
of immigration for period of one
year from March /, 1898. Should
this bill become law it would
cause an immense loss to the trans
Atlantic steamship companies which
derive very large revenue from
the immigration traffic, and it is
these companies which are organic
ing this lobby, and which will
supply it with all the money needed
TO influence votes against the bill.
Another lobby will also be here,
indeed its advance agents are al
ready here, but It's work will be
entirely with the Senate, which has
very few impecunious members,
consequently it's presence does not
excite so much interest. 1t is com.
posed Of representatives Of the
great grain and cotton exchanges,
and is here for the purpose of pre-
venting the passage Of the anti
option bill, winch passed the House
last session, and which Senator
Washburn has given notice that he
will call up in the Senate and push
to a vote at the earliest opportunity.
A formidable number of Demo
Gratis aided by the the third party
members are working up senti-
ment in the House in favor of the
passage of bill providing for an
income tax ard they claim to have
gotten almost enough pledges to
secure its passage; but as Speaker
Crisp dominates the House commit.
tee on Rules, and he is anxious to
curry favor with Mr.. Cleveland, !
who is opposed to an income tax,
and no bill opposed by that commit
tee can be brought to vote in the
House, it is regarded as doubtful
whether the bill! can be passed by
the House. 1t il certain that it !
would not pass the Senate.
If the Democrats who are clamor-
ing for an early extra session of the
Fifty-third Congress continue to
gain recruits at the present rate
Mr.. Cleveland will find it difficult
to refuse their demands, whatever
he may think about it. Speaker
Crisp, although he Processes public
ly to be undecided, is in reality |
working as hard as he knows how !
to bring about an extra session. 1t |
is pure unaduterated seltishness
with him; he wants to be Speaker
again, and having been a Hill man
he fears that if the election OF
Speaker be postponed until the
regular session Mr. Cleveland will |
have An opportunity to make com
binatious that would result in the .
election Of a Cleveland Speaker.
The latest and most sordid argu
meut yet advanced for an extra