The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-09
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON. ID. c. Dec, ,, 1892.
The work of the second session of the
Fifty second Congress really began this
week, although there is not quorum Of
either House or Senate yet in town and
the formal opening will not take place
until next Monday. The work which
was this week assigned to sub commit
tees at a full meeting Of the House com
mittee on appropriations Is the most inn
portant that will come before this Con-
gress in its bearing upon the immedi
ate future of President elect Cleveland's
administration and of the Democratic
party-the preparation of the regular
appropriation bills that are To be passed
at this session for the support of the Gov
ernment tor the year beginning July l,
1898. Representative Holman, chair
man of the committee, urged upon his
colleagues the necessity for the most
careful scrutiny of every item in each of
these bills and the ruthless cutting out
of every dollar not absolutely necessary
To keep the Government wheels running.
The uncertainty about the condition the
Republicans will leave the treasury in
when they retire next year adds to the
necessity for the most careful work on
the part of these sub committees.
Aside from the regular appropriations
the ere is difference of opinion as to
what, if any, other important legislation
will be taken up in the House. Some
Democrats think that the free coinage
bill which was passed 10y the Senate at
the last session and which is now on the
House calender, but where 1T cannot be
reached without the reporting of "A spe-
cial order by the committee on rules,
should be taken up and passed; Others
who at one time favored free coinage say
now that it wOuld not he wise to adopt
anv financial legislation until after the
tariff has been revised and its effect upon
our finances and business shall have been
carefully observed
There is such a very decided senti-
ment among Democrats in favor of an
income tax that unless it shall be thought
good policy to let it 90 over until the
meeting of the Fifty third Congress it is
altogether probable that the House will
pass bill providing for graduated tax
on all annual incomes in excess of 81, 900.
No one expects that the present Senate
will agree to an income taX-it contains
who think itshould be passed at this ses-
sion believe that it would result in max
ing its popularity so plain that 1t would
be certain of passing the next Congress,
and of becoming n law, although 1t Is
said that while Mr.. Cleveland does not
now exactly oppose the idea, he has not
made up his mind in favor of it.
There may be a very exciting time
over this Panama business, in both
House and Senate whether it shall prove
to be as many now believe that the Pa
cific mail steamship company is trying
to make use of the Monroe doctrine and
the power of the United States Govern
ment to put money in its purse, or in
reality an infringement of American
rights by an agent of the French Gov
ernment 1t is expected that Congress
will thoroughly sift the matter if it does,
look out, that's all.
1t is stated here on what appears to be
good authority that Hon. Charles ;.
Fairchild, of New York, who was Mr..
Cleveland's Secretary of Treasury, has
consented to fill the same position under
the coming administration, the tender
of the portfolio having been made to him
Immediately after the election. Mr..
Fairchild made an excellent Secretary
of the Treasury before, and in view of
the expected deficit in the Treasury
and other financial complications certain
to arise early in Mr.. Cleveland's admin
istration, his selection i regarded here
| as a wise one, although there were polit-
| ical reasons against II.
Superstitious people are asking each
| other in whispers whether it is the
! White House or the Harrison family
| which has passed under the haieful in
| huencc of death ''huOdOO.' The death
| of DR. Scott, Mr.. Harrison's father-in-
! law whose funeral services were held in
| the White House Yesterday afternoon,
| makes the ninth death in the families of
| those connected with the White House
! since Mr. Harrison became President
! besides Secretary Tracy wife and daugh-
| ter whose funerals were held there.
| The death of Dr Scott vas particularly
trying to Mr. Harrison who was already
nearly broken down with grief for his
wife and the long hours ne has been put
| ting in at work on his annual message
to Congress. which will be sent in next
| Tuesday. The sympathy for him is
! universal.
In addition 10 the many other argu-
ments for holding an extra session OF
the Fifty-Second Congress it Is now
urged that an extra - SSion would enable
! the new committees To- be announced
and to put in all next summer at work
| perfecting bills To be introduced at the
! regular session, and that II could admit
Arizona and New Mexico aS states, thus
making Democratic control of the Sen
ate actual, instead of being dependent
on the whims of third-party Senators. NJ.