New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-03
NINETY DAYS OF CONGRESS.
SLIM PROSPECT FOR GENERAL LEGIs-
LATION.
DEMoRALIzED MAJoRrTY-DEMocRATs WILL
ATTACK THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TIES OF FINANCIAL LEGIsLATIoN-THE
COMMISSION SCHEME OF LEGIs-
LATION AND GOVERNMENT
MEASURES THAT MUST
BE POSTPONED.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.1
BE POSTPONED.

which will begin tomorrow does not promise to
be fruitful one far legislation Is con-
cerned, and the best that be hoped for, prob
ably, is that as the session will be a brief one the
number Of blunders will be smaller and the in
jury to the business and industrial interests OF
tie country less serious than at the first and
second sessions, which were virtually one. Un-
less Representatives, irrespective Of party, who
have arrived in Washington wholly mistaken
in the opinions they have expressed, little will
be attempted and less accomplished beyond the
passage Of the regular appropriation bills. There
promises to be an avalanche of tak-dscussion,
so-caed, and an interesting exhibition Of Demo-
cratic dirty linen, accompanied by much bitter
elimination and recriminaton. The devastation
among Administration and anti-Administration
Democratic candidates. among free silver and
sound money candidates. among radical tarin
reformers and moderate candidates, among
the advocates Of the income tax and candidates
opposed to the income tax-in short, among all
sorts of Democrats and Demo- Populists-was 20
universal and complete November that the
materials for such an exhibition SUPER
abundant, and the temptation to use them will
be stronger than many Democrats will be able to
resist and overcome. 1t is barely possible, also,
that some wicked Republicans. remembering the
repeated taunts in which Crisp, CatchingA
Bynum, Springer. Cultivate. Wilson, Warner
and many other Democrats have INDUCED at the
expense Of the Republicans In the last three
years, may take part-perhaps a sympa-
thetic one-in the coming Democratic exposition.
1t is noticeable that neither Speaker Crisp nor
Mr. Catchings both Of whom members OF
the Democratic triumvirate that rules the House
Of Representatives. appears to expect much, II
anything. in the way Of legislation from that
ate may pass the Anti-Option bill and the Bank
ruptcy bill. which passed the House last session,
and that favorable action may be had on the
bills for the admission of Arizona and New
Mexico, which have also passed the House and
been reported from the Senate Committee on
Territories. AS to the prospect Of financial leg
islation Democratic leaders who are on the
ground decline as a rule to express any opin-
ion in advance of the publication Of the Presi-
dents message. but 1t is generally admitted by
them that the discussion of financial topics will
consume a great deal of time, and probably pro-
woke considerable irritation we'll harsh
criticism of the Administration by a good many
Democrats
1t Is probable that the report Of the House
Committee on the Judiciary on the Gvsrdo0 1T
the authority Of the Secretary of the Treasury
to sell bonds under the resumption act and ap-
expenses Of the Government. will be considered,
and that resolution denying that he possesses
such authority will be passed by the House Of
Representatives by a very large majority. There
do not appear TO be many men on either side
who admit that the Secretary of the Treasury
has acted in conformity with the law in using
proceeds of bond sales to pay current expenses.
but at the same time there are great many
who declare that he had no alternative, and that
however ;.nawful his action may have been. 1t
was necessary in order to preserve and maintain
the public credit; and, moreover that 1t was
forced upon him by Congress, which enacted a
revenue measure that has steadily increased the
monthly deficit, and that does not yield dol
lar to aid in maintaining the gold reserve; and
that Congress has also refused to provide any
other means of maintaining the public credit and
meeting payments due under appropriation laws
than those provided by the Resumption act It
is quite probable that some Democrats will re-
tort that for the latter condition President Cleve-
land and Secretary Carlisle primarily and
mainly, If not solely, responsible In this rela-
ton d sta tement made to a Tribune correspond
ent yesterday by Democratic Congressman
who is thick-and-thin supporter of the Admin
istraton. and devoted friend Of President
Cleveland. is interesting and rather important.
He had been defending Secretary Carlisle's ac-
ton on the ground of It's necessity. when the
correspondent suggested that the Administra-
ton and the Treasury might be in better trim
to-day IL the Senate amendment To the Sundry
Civil bill Of the second session OF the LID Con-
gress-whch amendment authorized the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury to issue per cent bonds
payable in five years, II necessary, to meet q
deficit in the current revenues-had been agreed
to by the House of Representatives. He
Piled:
Yes that Is undoubtedly true. That amend.
meat would have passed the House. too If Presi.
dent-elect Cleveland and Senator Carlisle had
not weakened at the critical moment. We had
perfected an organization in the House. with the
assistance OF Speaker Crisp, that was strong
enough 20 carry the amendment. The tie that
bound the organization together, so far as the
Democrats concerned, was the supposed
hearty approval and encouragement OF Mr.. Cleve-
land and of Senator Carlisle the coming Secre-
tary OF the Treas WHO was with him at Lake
wood Before he left Washington for Lakewood
Mr. Carlisle expressed himself strongly in favor
of the amendment, which has been proposed by
Senator Sherman Il think after consultation with
Mr. Carlisle), on the gound that the Secretary Of
the Treasury would be powerless, in case OF
failure of current receipts. TO pay expenses un-
less Congress should clothe him with the author.
ity proposed Well. after we had everything In
train in the House, and were ready TO move.
Colonel Brecknridge, OF Kentucky. on the MORN
ing of that day. showed me telegraphc dis
patch from Senator Carlisle. dated at Lakewood,
in which he said. in effect, that 1t would be bet.
ter not to make an effort to pass the amend
ment II it would be likely to encounter strong op-
position, and that. In his opinion. an issue Of
bonds to provide money to pay current expenses
would not become necessary. OF course. the
movement in favor OF the amendment was i'm.
nedately abandoned.
Everybody who closely observed what took
place in and around the House OF Representa-.
tives during the last few weeks Of the existence
OF the Lid Congress, must remember how sharp.
ly and severely Senator Carlisle was criticised
by Speaker Crisp and other leading Democrats
in the House of Representatives who were anxious
to do everything in their power to smooth the
way for the incoming Democratic Administration
on account Of his constant wavering One Of the