New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-15
BIG PROMISES UNFULFILLED
A THIRD OF THE SESSION CONE AID THE
HOUSE HAS DONE LITTLE
ONLY THREE APPROPRIATION BILLS YET PASSED
GREAT DIFFICULTY IN GETTING
CUORUM.
FRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBIBUsB.l

Washington Jan 14-When Congress reassembled
on December 3 the usual breezy proclamatons were
issued by the Democratic leaders about what hev were
going to do this session The laundering In the In
dcx extremely loud. and was. no doubt. expected
not only to produce profound impression upon the
Republican and President. but also TO startle
the country. Chairman Springer was going 10 pass
few "popgun' tariff bills and dare" the senate
10 shelve them the President to veto them: Chair
man Holman going TO bring the great Sundry
Civil Appropriation biz before the House In the
first week OF the session and it before the holiday
recess. and Mr.. Dockery was going to DO the same
thing With the District Of Columbia bill and the other
general appropriation bills were going TO BE- brought IN
and passed at like dizzy rate of speed The SILVER
question to be settled out of hand by the Coinage
Committee In short the country was going 10 De
treated TO n "hacyon and vOciferous' session.
Well more than oneLird OF the time actually avail
able FOR legislative busness-after deductng sundays
the holiday and the day which must be devoteo 10
the counting OF the electoral votes-has been USED
ard there is nothing In what has already been done or
In tie present condition of business to justify the beile
that the proclama,ions will be carried out. The work
81 most OF the House committees is In an unusually
backward condition This is especially true OF such
committees have charge OF general appropriation
bills and II is a fact for which the Democratic leaders
Of the House-the chairmen and members OF the COM
mitecs Ways and Means, Appropriations ana hu'es
mainly responsible. .
For two years mt least these men, In common WIN
many other distinguished Democrats. have been
haunted By fears CT Treasury deficit, ana one "ouio
rave supposed their first act after Congress
reasscnbiei last month"; in view OF the fact That the
APPROXIMATIONS about to be would be for the first
year Of Il Democratic Administration, would have been
to have thorough inquiry into the actual condition OF
the Treasury No such inquiry ordered until just
before Congress adjourned for the holidays, the delay
being due in part to a controversy between the Com
mittee on Appropriations aud the Committee Oh WAYS
Nd Me1l ID i
which it took the Committee on Rules some days TO
settle. In consequence OF this delay, even a pre-
nnary statement OF the result OF the inquiry cannot
DO made until the middle OF the present month, and the
framing Of several of the large appropriation bills
such as the Naval bill the indian bill. etc, Is neces-
sariy delayed.
Only three Of the general appropriation bills have
vet passed the HouSe-thc Army bill the Fertilization
bill and the District Of Columbia BILL There remain
the Agricultural BILL the Pension bill. the Indian bill
fhc Postonice bill. the Naval bill the Military Academy
BILL the Diplomatic and Consular l the legislative
Executive and Judicial bill. the General Deficiency
bill and the Sundry Civil BILL none OF which have yer
been reported to the House. over the Srndry CiVli
bill there Ia likely TO be desperate battle IN the
House between the Appropriations Committee and the
Committee Rivers and Harbors There Is 10 DC no
River and Iarbor bill this year. but The members OF
tic latter committee will insist that the amount
about $4,000. OJ0-rcpOrted by the Army engineers
a. the amount which b. probably expended dur
ing the next fiscal year" under contracts authorized
IN the last River and Harbor act. shall be carried in
the stndry Civil BILL Chairman Holman Will insist
Just as strongly that more than 100000 shall
be thus carried. Unless he manage 10 get the
bill through the House on motion to suspend the
rules as he did last session. Economist Holman
will be likely TO sufer defeat
Tins far the Coinage Committee, under the able |
leadership of Chairman Bland, has made visible
urorress in the settlement Of the silver question" but
the Committee on Banking and Currency has sue
ceeded after q hard struggle in reporting bill which
dals with that question and also aims TO increase the
National bank note circulation. The committee was
hy no means unanimous. however, and the minority
expressed purpose TO Eight the bill to the DEATH
II il doubtful therefore, II the measure is even con
sdered by the House. and it IS likewise extremely
doubtful whether any other financial measure will
that body at this session
Neither is there the slightest probability that any
more "popgun' tariff bills will be passed; even
Premier Springer does not expect II and his
proclamation may be considered as WITHDRAWN Nh
Springer viii be In his element during the next few
weeks for he has charge Of the Treasury inquiry ana
ii there is any thing that he fairly does on II is all
nve gallon Of any sort. Probably no other man ever
sat in either branch Of Congress VINO did as much In
vestigatng" Springer has dOne-Or with such meaere
results
So far clearing its enormous calendar OF un
finished business is concerned the House has thus far
done little nothing: indeed, arrearages have con-
nued to accumulate, and the calendar is bigger TO
day than il at the beginning OF the session. when
IL contained the titles no than 2.O37 bills which
had been framed, considered and favoraby reported by
committees. With this enormous docket on it, table
and the proclamaOns Of the Democratic leaders fresh
In the public mind the House sat exactly twenty
four hours during the first eleven working days OF the
session. ard !; nis done little II any better III the
eleven working days during which it has been III
session since that time II never has been so diicu!t
TO obtain working quorum. however, and the lack
of one hss igroca adjournment Of the sitting on
more than one OCCASION Thus on December 2l, after
The ton OF the bill to establish sundry light
houses and other aids to navigation and commerce had
been completed by the Committee OF the Whole and
fayoraby report d 10 The House. single obscure
member named Antony preveriet the bill from being
pnt upon its PASSAGE and forced an adjournment by
raising tie point OF 10 quorum That is a sort
Of smanshp which prevails at this session 10
an extent never before known.
1t Is barely possible that measure to establish
National quarantine system and provide for a TEN
porary Suppression Of immigration may be carried
through the House al thi; session. provided quorum
can be ohained-but the enactment OF any other
general legislation aside from the passage OF the
general appropriation bills does not appear 10 BE-
among The possibilities