The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-05
Forecast of the Work Likely to
Come Before the Second
Session.
The Restriction of Immigration
and Opening the Fair
Sundays.
Possibility That Arizona ana New
Mexico May he Added to List
of States.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-The second session
of the Fitty-second congress, which begins
Tomorrow, ia likely to be more remarkable
for discussion than for action, principally
because of the lack of opportunity for the
latter. One thing that will be done is to
provide means for the maintenance of the
government. and it is generally believed
the regular annual appropriation bills will
represent nearly all the positive achieve.
ments that can be credited to the session.
There may, however. be several important
| exceptions. One of them relates to the
subject of immigration. Public interest in
tho subject has been stimulated by the rad
| ical suggestion OF the senate immigration
committee that all immigration be sus.
pended for one year. Undoubtedly power
full influences will be brought to compass
the defeat of a bill embodying such prop
osition. but there may be n great public
sentiment behind it that will oblige con-
gress to pass the measure. strong effort
will certainly be made to procure the repeal
of the Sunday closing clause Of the Worlds
fair act There may be some action taken
to pr otect railroad employees from the nu-
merous casualties which result from the
| obscure devices to couple and stop freight
| trains. These matters comprise what the
best judgment comedies to be all the prob
| able original legislation on the part of the
| second session of the Fifty second con-
gress.
| The SENATE finance committee has not yet
! completed it's compilation of the series of
elaborate reports upon the different tariff
| systems tried III the United States. The
| 49,, ~t~nII
and may come under discussion at some
period of the session. Then there are bills
to admit Arizona and New Mexico to state
hood. The house has passed both and the
New Mexico bill ia on the senate calendar,
favorably reported from the territories
committee. The anti-option bill has ad-
vanced so far as to become unfinished busi-
ness in the senate. 1t is known that large
majority of that body was in Its favor last
session, but it is tn eatened with renewal
of the determined and skillful obstructive
tactics and the result is still doubtful.
1 There will probably he many propositions
and much talk looking to reforms in the
national banking laws. The state bank tax
may also be fruitful theme of discussion
Strong efforts will be made by the house
appropriations committee to retrench ex-
penditures at every point, but as this must
be done with great care in ordsr to avoid
embarrassment to the incoming domo-
cratic dmnistration. there NAV be many
stormy debates and much feeling aroused
before the desired result is obtained, In
connection with the appropriations is the
pension list. and there will be no lack of
suggestions looking to changes in the laws
designed to regulate more closely the enor
mons x enditure under that head.
On Tuesday the presidents message will
be read and it is likely to fill out the legis-
latva dny. In the senate the anti-option
bill is unfinished business and if the meas
ure is taken up tomorrow the entire week
will be consumed In discussion, un ess it is
dis laced by other business. When tho
house meets Tomorrow 1t will find itself
confronted with large calendar. Some
are bills of considerable Importance, but
the prospect of their being enacted into
laws is not bright Not less than one
| thousanl pension and claim bills nre Ian
gushing upon the private calendar. 1t ia
! . obah!u nothing of Importance will be
taken up 70 action by the house duting the
! Ii, st week.