Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-09
Congress Meets.

The short session Oh the Elfty-SecOnd Con
gress began Monday, Speaker Crisp in the
chair of the House and Vice President Nor
ton presiding over the Senate. The indica
tions seem to point to a very short period OF
legislation in which no great effort will be
made in fine way Of radical legislation in the
line of the changes advocated approved at the
recent elections. 1t is possible that Stree
wool" bill will be passed, but that its sue
cess in the Senate depends altogether on the
votes of a few Western Senators whose con
stituences may request them to favor such
legislation.
The Appropriation Committee, which has
been in session since November Goth, will
probably report at once, giving the House
something of Importance to attend to. The
exports of the investigating committees, which
have held sessions during the recess in vari-
GUS parts of the country. will arouse an un-
wonted degree of animated Discussion. The
enate committee, under the Craftsmanship OF
Senator Gallinger. has looked into the Home
stead matter, and has interviewed the leaders
in the labor troubles at Pittsburg, the mill
employees and the Pinkertops Of Chicago and
New York.
The House committee Investigating the
Reading combine has also been interviewing
all the parties involved in that great deal,
and their report will be interesting. They
have the testimony of all the presidents Of
roads in the combine. The report Of the Com
mittee on immigration will be another of in
terest, as the investigation made by that body
has been thorough. The committee which
hoc h,a inv la EaJa e
elections in New York city will have pithy
report to present, and one which will call for
a bitter partisan battle.
One of the firsthmatters to be brought before
the Senate will be the Washburn Anti Option
bill, which has already passed the House,
and has shown that it has clear majority in
favor of its passage in the Senate. Its pro-
visions are so sweeping that they would prac-
tically, it is charged. shut up the Chicago
wheat pit. the New Orleans Cotton Exchange
and other institution af like character. A
strong opposition was developed to the bill
in the Senate, but there was still stronger
movement in its favor.
The clerk, by direction of the Speaker, pro-
ceeded to call the roll of the members by
States. Two hundred and twenty-four men,
bers having responded to their names, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, it mas ord
cred that the clerk inform the Senate that a
quorum had appeared and that the House was
ready to proceed with business.
A committee composed of Messrs. Springer,
Forncy and O'Neal, of Pennsylvania, were
appointed JOINT committee Of the Senate to
announce to the President that both houses OF
Connress were in session and ready to receive
any communication he saw fit to make.
SENATE.
Almost Immediately after re-assembling
the Senate, having appointed committee to
wait on the President, took recess till D. IN
After the recess the Presidents message was
delivered to both houses of Congress. He
commences by saying have great satisfac-
ton in being able to say that the general con
ditions affecting the commercial and indus
trial interests OF the United States are in the
greatest degree favorable.
A comparison of the existing conditions
with those of the most favored period in the
history of the country will, believe, show
that so high degree OF prosperity and so gen.
eral difference of the comforts OF life were
never before enjoyed by our people.
The total wealth of the country in 1860 was
SIG 159 616 O9S; in 1890 it amounted to $62, 610,
100000, an increase of 2S7 per cent.
Then followed reference to the increased
miles of railroad constructed since 1890; the
capital invested in manufacturing, sc.
In reference to wages and commerce he
quotes from the report of Labor Commission
Ell Peck OF New York, which caused one of the
sensations of the campaign, and also the re-
port of the commissioner Of Massachusetts, to
show the increase in wages. He giver Statis-
tics on the increase in the production OF pig
iron and steel nails. and the number and
value Of hogs and cattle. He gives also a
vast amount Of figures about our foreign and
domestic commerce, to show that both have
grown during Republican rule, and especial
ly under his administration. He quotes fig
ures about the foreign trade of London and
Liverpool to show our great increase by COM
parison, and concludes
''There never has been time in our history
when work was SO abundant or when wages
were so high; whether measured by the cur
rency in which they are paid Or by their pow
er to supply the necessaries and comforts of
life. If any are discomfort with their state
here; if any believe that wages or prices, the
returns for honest toll, are inadequate, they
should not fail to remember that til ere is nc
other country in the world where the condi-
tons that seem to them hard would not be &C
cepted as highly prosperous, and most pow
erful agency in protecting the homes Of our
workingmen from the invasion Of want
The result of the election is next adverted
to. Then follows a review of the tariff and
concludes as follows:
eff system of custom duties can be fran.
ed that will set the idle whe els and looms OF
Europe III motion and crowd our warehouses
with foreign made goods, and at the same time
keep our own mills busy, that will give us
an increased participation i'll the markets of
the world Of greater value than the home
market we surrender. That will give increas,
ed work to foreign workmen upon the product
to be consumed 10y our people without dimin-
ishng the amount of work to be done here
That will enable the American manufacture
er to pay to his workmen from so to 100 per
cent. more in wages than is paid to the foreign
mill, and yet to compete in our market and
foreign markets with the foreign produce that
will further reduce the cost of articles of
wear and food without reducing the wages of
those who produce them that can be celebra-
ted after its effects have been realized as its
expectation has been in European as we'll as
in American cities, the authors and promoters
of it will be entitled to the highest praise"
He expresses great confidence in the protec-
tive policy as 1t exists and gave lengthy re-
view of the reciprocity features with foreign
countries. !
Then follows lengthy discussion of the
finances and the report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury.
The Nicaragua canal comes in for strong
recommendation for its early completion and
other topics of general interest are discussed.
DurinU the second DAVIS session +bo Proc;