Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-03
SUNDAY. 500. DECEMBER 3, 1898.
Congress and Our Legislature


Congress meets tomorrow In regular
session when it Will adjourn we DO not
venture 10 predict II It Will only act on
the tariff bin quickly we shall not be
s,r7,9ee IL as many months as it wishes
:, which 10 finish UP the rest OF its busi-
ness and IN the Record with cable
speeches"
when Denoethcnos was asked what was
tho first part Of oratory no answered
"Actlon." and which wax the second he
roplied. Action" and which was inc
,bird and he suu answered. action
,rr,e he was not speaking Of legislative
action. bat in case such as this coun-
try now presents legislative action wouId
most admirably meet his test OF the re-
ouiremebis OF true ora'orS.
In other words the people want to be
rid Of this tariff question as soon as
can be conveniently done. TO their carr
rooratory VIII be so musical as ;he sound
~ you-calls on amendments and main
o,eefiore where the tariff bill IS involved
Thoy would not restrict proper debate
nut they would have congressman Ie-
member That every day Of delay imposes
Il vat cost upon wage-earncrs and bust
rcqs-men. since Il IS inevitable that whist
the debate SIS in progress there VIII ''
a INN a. business IN all those marts who's
goods are subiect 20 proposed changes.
Roth branches az Congress having been
fnllv organized at the recent extra tc'-
sion. the committees all being IN worklns
order business may next week he pro
ceedoI with. The Presidents message VIII
81. doubt be sent 20 Congress promptly
and with that before 81 there Will Doe
neither rhyme nor reason for much delay
Tho Democratic members Of the Commit
g.. ON WAYS and Means have given ~
the world their views and determination
ms 10 the revision of the tariff. Now, III
Rsuublican members OF the committee ar,
f. De heard from. We fancy that they
will stand by the Mckinley law. and y
so-aud Il IS almost sure TO be so-they
Will not noei amy great length OF time t'
prepare a Substitute for the Wilson bill
but they will need some time 10 set forth
their views in Il minority report TINS
viii be the document which they will go
t. the country upon, and no doubt the}
win prepare 1t with elaborate care. The
hand Of Tom Reed will appear In IT, al
This may DO done by them in the course
of a week. and the discussion on the VII
son bill should be far advanced by thu
time that the Christmas recess IS taken.
II would be a wholesomeiy edifying spec
tacle for Congress. IN spirit OF self-sac-
riAca. 20 abandon its holiday ana give f.
the country that time. and TO that cX
tent hasten the day OF returning pros
perity. But this IS too much TO expect
Perhaps visions of Christmas dinners MI
ing the boards at homo would unsettlc
their slumbers and unfit them for the Gu
ties Of the hour. And, indeed, We may say
that in our observation OF the Virgin,
Z General Assembly nothing much has evel
been gained by any attempt to curtai
the recess for the Christmas and New
Years holidays. Senators and representa-
tves are but boys Of larger growth, ano
some OF them are spollt boys Mt that.
Tho country. however. needs and VII
insist upon prompt action on the tariff
We trust that the President viii Tg
this view. and the people, when they
meet their congressman AT home durins
the holidays. should ding-dong into their
ears the necessity for this course.
Congress and the General Assembly o.
Virginia both meet this week--:he former
body tomorrow: the latter on Wednes
day. Thus we shall have the pleasure
Of laying before our readers a messsge
from the President and q message
from the Governor of Virginia within
few days OF one another. Congress re
turns 20 Washington after a few weeks
absence. whereas it has been nearly two
years since the Virginia General Assem-
bly, has been in session-a very unusual
interim. True. our state Constitution pro
vldes for biennial legislative sessions, but
extra sessions" are often called by the
Executive. so often that sessions have
been more in the nature OF annual than
biennial sessions
No general legislation is expected OF the
General Assembly before the holidays
All OF its time~wlll be occupied in organic
ing and IN eiecting United States sena-
tors. judges Of State courts, heads OF de-
psrtments. etc.
The senatorship contest already begins
to command much public attention. There
are Indications that It will deepen IN in
terest until the nominations are made by
the Democratic caucus. Contests flor
other positions TO be filled by the tive
houses are also awakening public atten-
tom and We therefore conclude that our
legislative reports this year VIII be read
with far moro than ordinary interest.