Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-04

THE REGULAR SESSION or CONGRESS-.
At noon today the Fifty-third con-
gress will meet in regular session. The
organization being complete both
branches will be able to settle down to
business at once and 1t is to be presumed
that the disposition will be to proceed
promptly with the work of the session.
The party in power has no simple or
easy task before it. Were it a united
party, entirely harmonious regarding
policies, it would find little difficulty in
legislating upon the important ques-
tions with which IL must deal, for the
prevalent feeling among republic
cans appears to be to allow the
democratic majority to assume
all the responsibility for legis-
%lation, the republicans contenting them
selves with discussing democratic poll
cies and pointing out what they regard
as tho mistakes of the party in power,
without having recourse to any flibus-
tering or obstructive tactics with a view
to defeating or unduly delaying action.
If this shall prove to be the intention of
the republicans, and there is good au-
thority for assuming that it will, the
democrats will find less trouble from
their political opponents than from the
dissension in their own ranks.
The tariff will, of course, command
the largest share of attention n the
prospect is that months will be con-
sumed in discussion of the new bill.
The date fixed by the trainers of b
measure for it to go into effect is March
/, 1894, but no one seriously believes
that so radical and comprehensive a bill
can be passed through congress prior to
that date. The republicans will I'M
doubtedly insist upon ample opportunity
for discussion and amendment and it is
presumed that the majority will accord
the fullest time for legitimate debate.
The holiday recess of ten days or two
weeks will be taken out Of the time and
it is thought to be doubtful whether
the house will be advanced beyond the
stage of general debate before the recess
begins. 1t is possible that the bill will
be completed in the house by Feb
ruary. or q month before the date
named for it to go into effect. The SEN
ate finance committee will probably not
take less thar two weeks to examine the
measure, and it is very likely to take u
greater time. But assuming that the
bill may be placed before the senate by
the middle of February, it is safe to say
that two months will be occupied in it's
discussion by that body. 1t is pretty
safe to say that a new tariff bill will not
be ready for the signature of the presi-
dent before May 1, and persons with ex-
tended experience in the business of con-
gress place the date of the passage of
the Wilson bill as far off as July |.
The currency question is only second
in Importance to that of the tariff, but
the country is not so we'll informed as to
what the policy of the party will be re-
garding the former as the latter. 1t is
understood that there will be ar attempt
on the part of the silver element of the
party to get some further Legislation re-
garding the white metal, but any such
effort will fail. The present congress
will have nothing more to do with the
silver question. But the demand for a
plan to supply more currency will be
urgent, and an effort Will be made to
comply with it. There seems to be very
little probability that the proposal to
allow the national banks to issue cur
rency to the par value of their
bonds deposited to secure circula-
ton will be adopted. The opposition
to it is believed to be too strong to be
overcome, and the democrats who are
friendly to the proposal will not make
much effort in it's behalf. The demand
for repeal of the 10 per cent tax on state
bank issues is assured a very consider
able support. The southern representa-.
tives are practically unanimous in favor
Of it and they will not be entirely alone
in support of the demand. There viii
be enough democratic opposition, how
ever, to defeat it in conjunction with
the republicans. The condition of the
treasury calls for immediate attention
and something will have to be
done to relieve it's necessities il
advance of results, necessarily un
certain, from legislation
This congress will probably ADOPT
the recommendations of Secretary
Carlisle, which may embrace both al
issue of bonds and the coinage of the sill
yer seignior
There are other questions which viii
give interest to the regular session o
congress-for example, the Hawaiian
issue and the repeal of the federal cleo
tions law-but these are OF far less con
sequence than the tariff and revenu,
questions, though the course of the part.
IN power us to all of them will have
decided influence upon its future.
THE RATE ON BALED HAY.
Considerable comment has beer