Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-08
SHORT SESSION.
The Subjects Left Over That Con-
gress Must Consider.
The Prohibition of Immigration and the
Anticipation Bill VIII Cause Much
Talk-Financi al Neces-
stiles

Talk-FinancialN eces-
stiles.
session of the Fifty-second congress
which begins to-day is likely to be
more remarkable for discussion than
for action Not that there are not
many things to be done, if the bulky
calendars of the senate and the house
are put in evidence, but principally be-
cause of lack of opportunity, or of in
clination- The thing that must be
done and will be done, is to provide
means for the maintenance of the gov
eminent, and it is generally believed
that the regular annual appropriation
bills will represent nearly all the posi-
tive achievements that can be credited
to this session.
There may, however, be several inn
portant exceptions. One of them re-
Iates to the subject of immigration.
The public interest in this subject
which was awakened last summer by
fear of the cholera epidemic, has been
stimulated by the radical suggestion of
the senate immigration committee that
all immigration be suspended for one
year. Undoubtedly powerful influences
will be brought to bear to compass the
defeat of any bill embodying such
proposition. but it may be that the
great public sentiment behind it will
oblige congress to pass the measure
Looking toward the prospective sub
jects of discussion, however, and taking
into account the measures which have
already passed one or the other of the
two houses the field is large. No one
expects any tariff legislation in either
house, but the subject is so much in
volved in the revenue question and in
the appropriations to be made that more
or less division on that topic may be
expected.
The senate finance committee has not
yet completed the formidable task it
undertook last session, which was the
compilation of a series of elaborate re-
ports upon the different tariff systems
tried in the United States These re-
ports probably will be most interest
ing to the student of political
economy, and may come under
discussion at some period of the
session. Then there are bills to admit
Arizona and Mexico to statehood. The
house has passed both of these bills,
and the one providing for the admission
of New Mexico is on the senate calen-
dar favorably reported from the terri
tories committee. The chairman of the
committee is opposed to the bill, but it
may be that New Mexico will yet join
the union by the act of the republican
senate.
The anti-options bill has advanced so
far as to become the unfinished business
in the senate. 1t was known to have a
large majority of that body in its favor
last session upon a direct vote, if one
could have been reached, but it is
threatened with a renewal of the deter
mined and skillful obstructive tactics
which then proved successful, and the
result is still doubtful
There will probably be many propo-
sitions and much talk this session
looking to reforms in the national
banking laws, the necessity for which
is said to be indicated by the Keystone
and Maverick bank failures. The state
bank tax may also be a fruitful theme
of discussion, and the alliance senators
and representatives will be heard upon
some of their radical propositions.
These matters, however, are likely to
be simply themes for discussion with.
out action. Strong efforts will be made
by the house appropriations committee
to retrench expenditures at every point,
but as this must be done with great
care in order to avoid embarrassment
to the coming democratic administra-
ton, there may be stormy de-
bates and much feeling aroused
before the desired result is
obtained. In connection with the
appropriation is the pension list,
and there will be no lack of suggestions
looking to changes in the laws designed
to regulate more closely the enormous
expenditures under that head
The friends of the new navy are not
expected to sit quietly by and witness
any unfriendiy pruning of estimates
and as congress is already under the
obligation to make q heavy appropria-
ton for the great ironclad, aut horized
by the present law, it will be hard to
reconcile the views of the economists
and the naval defense clement The
work of the session will probably begin
quietly.
In the senate the vice president will
appoint committee to wait on the
president and notify him that the body
is ready to receive any communication he
may desire to make. To this committee
Will De I'm parted the lQIOIIudlIOH lid L
the president will communicate with
the senate next day, whereupon an
adjournment will follow, perhaps
based upon resolutions of respect to the
memory of some of the members of the
house of Representatives who have died
| during the recess. or, it is feared, by
reason of the news of the death of Sem
ator Gibson, who is now reported to be
| so dangerously i'll Tuesday the presi-
| dents message will be read and is likely
to fll out the legislative day.
There was rumor that Bishop Bren-
/ nan, of Dallas, Tex, had resigned. He
sailed for Rome two months ago. after
having had trouble with his priests
Clippings.
The most valuable half dollar ever
made in this country. and probably the
| most valuable coin in existence. the
| first of the new worlds fair souvenirs.
was turned out at the United States
mint at Philadelphia the other day, and
delivered to James W. Ellsworth, chair
| man of the committee on liberal arts OF
| the worlds Columbian exposition The
| worlds fair management has received
\