The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-05
No Important Legislation Likely to Come Up
Before the Holidays and Little of Interest
Expected During the Entire Session.
Suspension of immigration the Most
Vital Question That May Be Discussed.
Cleveland Said to Favor an Extra Session of
the Next Congress-"Feelers" Thrown Out
"A Few Turn Coat Republicans
CONGRESS TO MEET TO-DAY.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Dec. 4-Congress will be-
gin It's second session at noon tomorrow,
but from the deserted appearance of the
capital yesterday one would imagine that
the session was yet four weeks distant.
The Senators have been coming in with
such promptness that there will be but few
vacant seats when Vice president Morton
calls that body to order tomorrow. The
House, on the contrary. will do we'll to
muster quorum. A large number of Rep
resentatiycs are expected on late trains to-
night and on early trains in the morning.
but 1t is the general belief that al present
there are scarcely moro than q hundred
Representatives, in town. Among them
are Speaker Crisp, Chairman Springer. of
the ways and means committee. Chairman
Holman and nearly all of the members of
the appropriations; committee. Mr. McMil-
lin, of Tennessee. who was the virtual
leader of the House last session. Farmer"
Hatch and Silver-dollar Bland. In word,
as Private" John Allen, of Mississippi, ex.
pressed 1T this morning, most of us lead.
ers are here"
On the Republican side ex-Spcaker
Thomas Brackett Reed Is here, as we'll as
Mr.: Burrows. of Michigan, Colonel Cogs-
well, of Massachusetts, and other leading
are that the House tomorrow will consist
principally of leaders" with very few of
the followers. Men who nave been in
gton for years and have wit
sessions. agree that never In their expert
ence has there been on the part of the men,
bers of the House such tnrciness to report
for duty. The general reason for the abb
sence OF so many members lies in the fact
that the Democrat. relying on their eDor-
nous majority in the House, persuade
themselves that their own individual pres
ence Is unnecessary, while the reca lcitrant
Republicans, knowing that they can
neither effect nor hinder legislation, feel in
no hurry to come on to Washington. A
large mum ber or letters have been received
in Washington from both Republicans and
Democrats. giving reasons for their alb.
sence until after the holidays.
DULL SESSION PREDICTED.
It is the general expectation that the
session will be very dull The only COM
mittee that has any work before 1t is the
appropriations The ways and means has
nothing 10 do. The pension committee aud
the claims committee have already on the
calendar sufficient bills to occupy the
House during the session. The public
buildings committee. which expected so
much In this session, has been practically
warned in advance by Mr.. Holman that il
need expect no consideration. q decree,
however against which it is safe
river and harbor committeeman know that
tits not worth while to frame q bill
of which there il no hope OF passing.
Hence there 10 no temptation for the aver
home before the holidays. The session is
likely to be more remarkable for discussion
than for action. Not that there are not
very many things 70 be done. if the bulky
calendars of the Senate and House are put
in evidence. but principally because of
lack of opportunity or of inclination. The
thing that must be done and will be done
is to provide the means for the mainte-
nance ofsthe government. but 1t is generally
believed that the regular annual appro-
priatlon bills will represent nearly all of
the positive achievements that can be
credited to this session. There may. how
ever, be several i'm portant exceptions. One
Of them relates TO the subject OF inmigra-
tion. The public interest IN this subject,
which was awakened last summer by the
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 ilfiuences would be
brought to bear to compass the defeat of
any bill embodyinR such q proposition. but
IL may be that the great public sentiment
behind 1t will Oblige Congress to pass the
measure. A strong effort Will certainly be
made to procure the repeal of the Sunday.
closing clause of the worlds fair act. 1t
may be. too, that some action will be taken
upon subject to which the President has
repeatedly called the attention of Con-
gress. namely. the desirabllity of legisla-
tion to protect railroad employees from the
numerous casualties resulting from the alb.
sence Of suitable devices to couple and stop
freight trains. These matters comprise
hA h<.a f.,As ant axaa A,
the probabilities Of original legislation on
the part OF the second session of the Fifty
second Congress.
TARIFF WILL BE DISCUSSED.
Looking toward the prospective subjects
of discussion, however, and taking into &C.
count the measures which have already
, passed one or the other of the houses. the
field is wider. No one expects any tariff
legislation in either house, but the subjcc.
! is SO much involved in the revenue question
snd in the appropriations to be made tha,
moro or less discussion on that topic may
! be expected. The Senate finance commit.
] tee has not yet completed the formidable
task 1T undertook last session. which was
| the compilation of q series of elaborate re.
! portsupon The different tariff systems tried
In the United States. These reports proba
| bly, Will be most interesting to the stu.
| dent OF political economy, and may como un.
| OeT QlscuelOn at some perlOQ IN the session
| Then there are the bills to admit Arizons
and New Mexico to statehood. The House
| has passed both bills. and one providing
| for the admission of New Mexico is on the
| Senate calendar, favorably reported from
the Territories committee. The chairman
| of the committee Is opposed to the bill. but
it may be that Now Mexico will yet join
the Union by the act of the Republican
| Senate.
The anti-optIon bill has advanced so fal
as 10 become the unfinished business in the
| Senate. 1t was known to have a large ma
jority of that body In its favor last session
upon direct vote, If ore conld have beer
reached, but 1t is threatened with q re-
newal of the determined and skiilful OBJ
| structive tactics which then proved sue
cessful and the result is still doubtful.
There will probably be many pro posi-
tions and much talk this session lookini
| TO reforms in the national banking laws
the necessity for which is said To be indi
Gated by the Keystone and Maverick banl
failures. The sta bank tax may also b.
q fruitful theme of discussion. and tn,
| Alliance Senators and Representatives will
be heard upon some of their radical propo
| sitions. These matters. however, ar,
likely to be simply themes for discussion
without action.
| Strong efforts will be made by the Hous
appropriations COMMITTEES TO retrench ex
penditures at every point. hut as this mus
be done with great care IN order to av OF,
embarrassment 10 the incoming Democrati