The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1892-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trrom our regular correspondent,

WAsHisGToN, Dec 5, 1892.
"The house will please be in order, wert
the words OF Speaker Crisp as the hand OF
the big clock facing the speakers chail
came together over the XII, and they were
accentuated by sharp rap with the gave
he held upiifted in his right hand; and the
last session of the Fifty-second congress
was open for business. The attendance
was fairly good for an opening session, al
though the number Of empty seats on the
democratic side was entirely too large for
those who fear that absenteesm may give
the party leaders as much trouble at this
session as at the last. However let US not
take the shaded view of the future, but
rather give the democratic members Of the
house credit for sufficient love Of party and
patriotism 10 see that democratic quorum
IS not lacking at any time when it becomes
desirable to have it present, and that is
practically all the time.
Mr. Harrison's annual message will not
go TO congress until tomorrow. but your
correspondent bas read ii, although It was
an onerous duty to wade through its more
than Is, COO words, and not pleasure
ltstrikes me as being in the nature Of
skillfnl lawyer plea for the acts of the
present administration and for the legis-
lation Of the republican congress, and an
altogether useless and unnecessary one, in
asEnuch as the court Of final appeal-tbe
people rendered Its verdict in the case
nearly month ago. The general style of
the message is far below taai of those
written by Mr. Harrison previously; but
come to think Of it the circumstances under
which this message was prepared Sere such
as to make it unfair to criticlse il from a
literary point Of view. Ii demonstrates
enc thing very Clearly. Mr. Harrison still
ciings TO protection and the other repubii-
can ideas which were so overwhelmingly
condemned by the American voters on the
eighth Of last month.
The attendance al the opening session Of
the senate was better p.upOrsionzieiy than
that in the house. but that may have been
largely owing TO the fact that by a resOlu-
ton adopted al the last session the anti
option bill was made the regular order for
today. which gives that measure. which il
will be remembered has already passed the
house, the night Of Way rs unfinished busi-
ness until il shall have been disposed Of or
the session shall come TO a close. There IS
a decided difference Of opinion as 10
whether This bill viii be disposed Of by vote
Of the senate or by The close Of the session.
Its opponentx claim that enough senators
from the s.uih have changed their minds
about The bill TO make !; certain that they
can defeat il on dIrecs vote. bat all the
same they are now schesning TO prevent q
vote being taken
There are number os important meas
ures. from democratic standpoint. which
may be brought forward and passed by the
house al this sPssion or may be held until
the beginning Of the Fifty third congress.
just as the democratic conference or cancrs,
shortly TO be held. mar decide. II is be-
heved that there are enoagh republican
srnstors wiilingio vcte with the democrats
to repeal the present silver law, provided
an agreement can be reached on a xuhsti-
tute. and some cf them have expressed
themselves as favoring a return to the
Bland Law If nothing more satisfactory can
be arranged. No help is expected by dem
ocrats from the international monetary
oouference, now sitting. in solving the silver
problem.
Unless several republican senators shall
vote different from the way they talk it IS
probable that the house bills for the ad-
mission to statehood Of New Mexico and
Arizona will be taken up and passed by the
senate at this session. This is.very desir-
ab!s for several reasons, not the least OF
which Is that it is believed that both states
viii send democratic L s senators In time
10 take their seats next winter.
The cholera srare is being worked for all
1t is worth TO work up sentiment in con-
gress in favor Of a suspension of immigra-
ton for one year. and II is to certain ex-
tent succeeding. Once convince congress
that there is real danger of the cholera
gettinx foothoid in this country next
year. through immigration. and the vote
viii be unanimous in favor Of suspension,
notwithstanding the efforts Of the steam
ship lobby.