Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-02
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 2. 1892.
The Coming Session of Congress.

The Coming session OF SoHHiSSS'
Next Monday the representatives OF the
people will assemble in Congress and be-
gin the work of legislation for more than
s,xty millions of souls. II is said that the
Presidents full message will not be sent TO
Congress on that day, as he will, owing to
deaths and sickness in bis family, be un-
able TO complete IT by that time. The
people did not approve Of Mr.. HARRIsoN's
Administration nor r~e-elect him 20 the
high Office he now fills, but all of them.
without distinction of parties, sympathize
with him in his Affections.
Congress will have as much business as
il can possibly attend to. Indeed, among
the reasons advanced in favor OF an extra
session Is the statement hat Congress will
have more legislation to perfect than 1t
can possibly dispose Of during the regular
session to begin next week.
II the Brussels conference shall do as
good work rs the ~cablegrams say it will
probably do Congress will almost certain
ly approve of Its action and proceed to
pass such avs at the approaching session
as NAV be needed TO make the interna-
tioual agreement operative in this coun-
try.
Possibly, too, the Senate may agree with
the House Of Representatives TO admit
Arizona and New Mexico TO statehood at
the session of Congress about to begin. IL
the Republicans find 1t settled that the
next Senate is TO be q Democratic body
they may consent to admit these States as
a means of strengthening the Republican
party in those two States when admitted.
The two houses will have a knotty sub
ject to dispose of when they come TO the
consideration of the proposition 20 repeal
the 10 per ceat. tax on State bank
notes and allow the several States
each to nave a currency OF us
own. We have full confidence that
Congress will act wisely in this matter
of substituting. or allowing the States TO
substitute. a new kind of paper circula-
tion for the currency now 30 often said to
be the best IN the world" So confident
are we that Congress will do its duty in
the premises that we shall be ready TO give
the new plan of providing paper currency
for the people a fair trial, let the result be
as it may. We have not looked with a
favorable eye upon any of the local
schemes proposed, but at the same time
we have not predicted nor expected that
The country would go to ruin in case a new
system-such as that of Mr.. HALTER. for
example-should be adopted. We do not
entertain any such fears. believing as we
do that Congress will at once return TO the
present natlonal-bank system if the new
one shall prove 10 be as Objectionable as
we fear ii will.
The tariff will also be considered by
Congress. We do not expect the House of
Representatives to restore the tariff on
sugar. nor to attack the MCKINLEY bill as
n whole. 1t would be unwise in that body
TO make undue haste in legislating upon
subjects with which the interests of the
Democratic p~arty-indeed of the people
cenerally-are so closely bound up.
Postal reforms will come up for con-
alteration By Congress this winter.
A number of bills will come up in the
Senate which were passed last winter by
the House of Representatives and sent to
that body.
All the pension laws ought to be re-
vised; and such of them as are objectiona-
BILE should be repealed at once. The Pro-
t~ectionists have voted 70 increase pensions
Us a means of securing a higher tariff, and
the P~ensIonites have voted for protection
rs a means of securing larger pensions.
The Democrats in Congress have not been
bold in this matter. They have truckled
too much TO Northern sentiment for II is
nothing but sentiment.
So, also, the immigration laws ought TO
be revised. Judicious legislation might
result in great good.
But we Will not attempt to catalogue
the subjects Of legislation by the Congress
about TO assemble. One thing must be
guarded against by the Democrats in Con
Press. and that is trying to induce the
President to call an extra session before it
is ascertained whether the new fusion
senators will or will not be Republicans
on all questions except the proposition to
provide for the free coinage of silver.
However. MIR. CLEVELAND Is able TO take
care OF himself. and will not be induced
by persuasion OF otherwise TO convene
Congress IN extra session. He will decide
the question for himself, and if he deter
mines 20 call an extra Sc ssion il will be for
reasons which all sound Democrats will
admit TO be good ones.
A New Passenger Depot.