Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Jan. .0.-CongrcEs,
or at least u goodly portion Thereof, ia
Just Mt present making n concerted
bluff on the silver question. with n
great flourish OF 'rumpeig bills for the
repeal Of the present silver law have
been favorsbly reported to the House
and to the Senate, and people who
only loook at the outside OF things may
believe that the silver law II really to
be repealed or modified. Hut those
familiar with the undercurrents Of
things Congressional know that the
passage Of either of these bills would be
the greatest OF surprises to Congress,
individually anu collectively. Tho
reasons for this niake-belicve policy
are easy to locate. The principal one
In Mr.. Cieveland's desire 10 have the
silver law repealed, or at least that por.
ton OF 1t compelling the monthly pur.
chase OF 4,5OO,00D ounces Of silver. This
" the lever that makes the Democrats
active; they wish 10 stand well with
the incoming President Ia order that
their constituents may not get left out
In the cold. Tho Eastern Republicans
are naturally inclined 10 be opposed TO
silver, and In addition they are being
stirred TO activity by the great business
interests Of the big cities, which are
loudly demanding the repeal OF the
silver law. This being the situation,
why will there be- no silver legisla-
ton? Ia natural query. Simply be.
cause, leaving the House out OF the
question entirely, there are enough
senators who will Oppose II to prevent
ite going through the Senate, and the
men who are making tine loudest noise
on this question arc perfectly aware OF
that fact, ne any one elise may
be who cares to take the trou.
bic to interview tho Senators
OF all parties from tho South
and the northwest; they make no
secret OF their Intention to defeat silver
legislation, and even II they cannot
control nm actual majority OF the
Senate they can easily, under the
Senate rules, talk the proposed bill to
death, and, mark the prediction, they
will do 1t, II q serious attempt IL made
to pass 1t, which In doubtful.
There Is some very plain talk In the
minority report OF the House commit.
tee on commerce, on the bill authorize
Ing the interstate commerce conmis-
sloners to allow railroad pooling In
their discretion, which was prepared
by Representative Lind OF Minnesota,
and Mallory OF Florida. at is" the
report says, "the first measure that ever
received the sanction OF n committee
OF the House to make legal ana
enforceable at law contracts for the
division OF traffic. 1t proposes to legal
ize railroad wrecking and stock specu-
lations by authorizing not only agree.
ments for the division and adportlon.
ment Of earnings among the carriers
themselves, but also by authorizing the
carriers to divide aud apportion these
among other carriers. Under these
provisions stockholders will he M much
at the mercy Of railroad managers as
will the public. The Standard Oh
company, the dressed beef combine
and other monopolies can obtain re.
bates by contracts enforceable In the
courts, instead OF by stealth as hereto.
fore. The bill takes away the only
safeguard that We have hnd heretofore
against railroad extortion." II an at.
tempt be made TO pass this bill there
viii probably be some still palmer talk
on the floor OF both House anu Senate.
The House has put itself on record
AZ iavoring the election OF Senators by
direct vote OF the psople, by passing
the Joint resolution authorizing the
change, but II the determined opposi.
tion by the Republicans Of the House
In m Indication OF the position OF the
Republican Senators ON tho question
it's prospect for getting through the
In mn 80 -.
might wish II to be.
Senator PETER not only wants Sen.
atOrs but also President and Vice.
President elected by popular vote, and
he made long and able speech on the
subject this week, showing that he had
made deep and careful study Of the
subject. His speech lost much Of the
attention IL might have received, be.
cause OF the arrangement OF business
before tho Senate, which compelled
him To deliver II Ia sections, as II were,
q little every day for several days,
The Chicago people who are here In
the interest OF an amendment TO the
Worlds Fair act OF the last session OF
Congress, permitting the opening OF
the exposition on Sunday have, to use
sporting expression, been fought TO
rthHuhsiHj " WV uppoucnb OF sun
day opening. The House committee
having the matter In hand, Of which
Representative Duborrow, Chicago
man, Is chairmaD,is almost unanimous
In favor OF Sunday opening, but oppo.
sition has shown Itself in 80 many
quarters that the matter VIII not be
pushed just now. A number OF Sena-
tors have expressed most positively
their belief that 1t would be an impos.
sibility to carry Sunday opening
through the Senate, even II II gets
through the House. Stlll shrewd
management may do much In the
confusion Of the closing days OF the
session.
The House committee on territories
has made a favorable report on the
bill introduced by Delegate Calne for
the admission Of Utah to statehood.