Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22
The Advance Guard is Already Seen
Upon the Avenue.
TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
ItWll Treat Entirely of the Fiinan-
ciaI Question.
WHEN FIGHT WILL BEGIN.

They are postponing As long ss possible the
evh hour when hot passions with . hotter at
mosphere must contend. Not more than three
or four are to be found anywhere within the
limits of the District Of Columbia. But the
group that forms the background Of Congress
is assembling, like the cloud growing out of
many thin vapors. Faces that have been asso-
ciated with the sessions Of Congress for an in
definite term Of years, and which disappear
mysteriously at the close Of each session, are
now seen on the avenue and in the hotel
lobbies, and each day one or two new ones are
added Most Of them look strangely seedy and
hollow-eyed, like men awakened from a sound
sleep at an unsccustomed hour. Their ex-
pressions Of bewlderment seem to question:
why this unusual disturbance Of our summer
slumbers?'
Where these men and women dwell during
the long summer seasons and how they so
quickly scent the coming session IL one Of tho
mysteries or dark secrets OF capital life
With the adjournment Of Congress they dis
appear with red faces and haring noses as
rule, and they return at the end of their re-
treat pale, with parched lips and the glitter
of great thirst in their eyes. One familiar
with Washington life would know from these
signs that . session was near, if he had not
heard Of Mr.. Cleveland's call
A ANever-Failinx Sign.
The never-failing sign appeared ON the streets
today, and the merchants who are waiting for
Congress to bring them some customers for
their marked-down goods rushed to their doors
to look at him, AZ at the first snow Of winter or
the first swallo. Of spring. He Is one Of the
most extraordinary creatures the eyes of man
ever rested on. He appears and disappears
always 4 few weeks in advance Of Congress,
though how it happens no one knows through
many years have never seen him speak with
any one and have never heard his voice. and
know no one who over has. What his business
with Congress is no one knows He 10 above
the average height. stoop shouldered and
Of With retreating forehead and no
chin to speak Of, . very pointed, large
and prominent nose serves a. q slender
partition between two little round eyes, which
would otherwise rub against each other He 10
high vest and linen duster dyed black to look
like csssock- His trousers might be four or
five inches longer without needing to be turned
up for the rain. On his feet are worn womens
low-cut shoes and he walks sidewiss with little
short, quick steps, running whom he crosses
the street, and every minute or two he looks
over his shoulder with . conciliatory smile.
Sometimes Re carries q big portfolio in his
hand, sometimes q book. In all the years he
has been fitting across the vision Of Washing
ton there appears to be no one who knows who
he L.
It is sufi icient that he is here, and so are the
majors and the colonies and the judges, and
Congress can 60 ahead now as soon '.ss she il
ready"
Talk About the Message.
There is a great deal Of speculation being in
dulged in a. to the message MIR. Cleveland will
send to Congress when they meet There are q
number Of things he wants this Congress to
do and concerning which he will read them a
lecture at the proper time. but it is understood
that he does not expect anything to be done at
the extra session (outside the committees) ex-
cept with relation to finance. 1t is expected,
therefore, that his message will be con-
fined solely to that question, reviewing the
financial situation and calling attention, in
his most impressive style, to the necessity for
the immediate repeal Of the Sherman law. His
frst intention was, it is believed. to strike for
the unconditiona! repeal Of this law, without
amendment or qualification. but it is said now
that he is seriously considering the advissbility
OF making some recommendation FOR substi-
tute to be carried with the repeal. It 10 init
mated that he is considering proposition for
the free coinage Of silver deprived Of all but
limited legal tender quality, legal tender say In
payments Of debts not exceeding fifty or q hun
dred dollars.
When the Fight Will Begin.
1t is seriously apprehended that 1t may be i'm
possible to get any better rules for this Con-
gress than those in force during the last, though
until now it has been the hope Of the leaders
that something in that line might be accom-
plished. 1t is feared that the silver men, see
ing their destruction in the adoption Of any
rules which permit action, will mako deter
mined fght against any change of the rules,
possibly defeating the effort; but at all events
consuming enough time to still further delay
the proposed action on the Sherman law. With
the rules as they are, however, with the cloture
clause put in operation, as it might have been,
but was not last Congress, it will be possible
for q majority to 20 ahead in spite OF all dila.
tory tactics OF the minority.
One Of the men who is liable to get Q setback
in the organization of the new House is Bryan,
who opened his career SO brilliantly at the last
Congress, going at one jump on to the ways
and means committee and gaining prominence
through his powers in oratory. He proved to
be as erratic as he was gifted and was . dismal
disappointment to those who championed him.
He was thorn in the side Of the committee,
and was so wild and intemperate in his policies
that his opportunities to attain greatness were
thrown away. Since the adjournment he has
been training with the alliance people out west,
and but yesterday the dispatches announced
that the resolutions drawn up by him were too
radical and intemperate for even the men who
have been holding the free silver convention
and had to be modified before being adopted.