New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-24
DOING NOTHING rs 4 BUSINESS.

The latest Democratic plan j. peculiarly
characteristic Of the party il j. proposed 10
hold an extra session with positive and DEFINITE
understanding that it shall do nothing. sessions
Of Congress have been held IN times past for
almost all sort, Of purposes, bat 1t was lett Tor
the Democratic party - convene session Tor
the express purpose Of doing nothing II -
understood that this plan cmanatcs from Mr..
Cleveland. who consents Ia call an carly session
only in case he can be satisfied thar there viii
be no attempt Ia do anythlna beyond the OIL
eanization. the election Of Officers and the APP
pointmcnt Of committees and subordlnaieS IL
is not easy 10 see how he can he thus satisfied
and PERHAPS the report does him injustice
though IT is printed by papers considered
organs Of his wing Of the panty But the
spectacle Of an extra session called 10 do no
other woll, than - enable Democrats - parccl
out the Offices. and 20 provide for swarm OF
their friend, aS doorkeepcrS attendants, clerks
and pages Of the House, would indeed be an
instructive one.
The pretoxt for advocating an especial do
nothing session. for party which usually ex-
GELS in doing nothing n regular sessions, Is that
IT, is necessary for committees TO take some
months Of study and investigation in order 10
prepare for legislation on important questions.
This sounds well, TO people who know nothing
whatever Of tho methods Of Congressional
action. But men who have practical expert
cnce arc tOl0ably aware that bills framed IN
advance by sundry members Of a committee
are likely to come 10 grief when tho full com
mittce assemblies, and thar bills framed by
executive departments and tLcn submitted TO
Congress are apt 10 embrace mainly what Con-
grcSs will not have at any price. II the com
mittccs. when appointed, were 10 begin continu
ouS daily work in the preparation Of bills, as
they would if the House were in session, some
time might be gained. but in point Of fact The
members will be scattered all over the county,
and the work will be iniruSted 30 sub-com
mttccS.
Apparently it is the intention Of some wise
gentlemen, who have taken the Democratic
party into thcir guardianship 10 get power into
their own hands - frame a tmif bill and 4
bill on the silver question, nominally through
subcommittee practically selected by them,
said subcommittee being the product Of
Speaker whom they hope to elect and control.
By picking Il candidate for Speaker who will
consent in advance 70 let these guardians Of
ldliA
Means and Oh Coinage, they can concentrate
enough force and management To secure the
election of their candidate, and may thus pos
sibly get almost any kind OF bill reported TO
the House. That trouble will then begin, per-
laps these gentlemen have not sufficiently CON
Sidclcd. The chances are large that the mem
bcrS whose local interests have not been served
by the bill proposed will take occasion to unite
with others who have not been satisfied in the
selection Of Speaker or Of committees TO put
bill through under such circumstances. with
a considerable Republican minority jealous for
its defeat. will be a tai; of no ordinary diff
Guilty. The Jealousy excited by any prelim-
mary cooking of a measure in which the con-
siituents Of almost every Representative have
LEGAL interests 10 be considered. is likely TO in
crease enormously the Iabors and uncertainties
of tariff revision, which is never the easiest
thing in the world.
If Democratic statesmen think their party
needs guardians, il would be good thing TO
hold an extra session early TO designate the
right mon. and in some more or less definite
way to tuin over the power TO them. The
thing about which the public cares most is that
this scheme will give ~ definite information
for months TO come. about the course likely to
be chosen by Congress. Even if the compost
ton Of the committees should give positive and
definite assurance OF lis intentions which is
hardly possible there would yet remain the
utmost uncertainty regarding tho decision of
the House upon the details Of "A measure thus
cut and dried for Congress by a few rdiyid-
uals Instead Of relieving public uncertainty.
which must cmbarasS and dcprcss business If