The morning call., 1894-11-11
WILL KILL TIME.
Congress in the Short
Session.
NO GREAT RUSH AHEAD.
None of the Leaders Inclined to
Crowd Things.
DEMOCRATS SHY OF THE TARIFF
While the Republicans Will Block
All Movements in the Direc-
tion of Free Trade.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The approach
ing session of Congress, which will con-
vene on the 9Th Of December, is not
eXpected by those familiar with Con-
gressional methods to be one of great
| activity or productive of much legislation.
The facts that it will continue for only
| three months, that IL will be the last ses-
sion OF the Congress. and that it so closely
follows a general electi n, are all consid-
cred as indications that comparatively lit
tie work will be attempted and still less
accomplished. The greater part of the
session will In all probability be confined
to an exchange of chatting over the results
of the election, and the session Will be-
come memorable more on account of talk
than work. 1t is probable that next to
nothing will be done before the Christmas
holidays. and predictions are freely made
that it will he iffisult to obtain or main
tain quorum previous to Christmas.
After the holidays there will be but two
months left for work and speechmaking.
1t will be of course necessary TO pass the
usual appropriation bills. These bills
touch variety Of interests, and willis on
this occasion they will be disposed of with
considerable aacrty, they can always be
there is any considerable element which
deslfes to put off action.
When the last session adjourned, the
measures attracting most attention were
the supplemental tarff or free raw mate
rial bills. They had passed the House
and had been favoraoly reported with
material amendments by the Senate Com
mittee on Finance TO the Senate. While a
majority Of the Democrats appeared
friendly to these bills. there was cOnsid-
cradle element in that party opposed to
their consideration, as were practically all
the Republican Senators. This sentiment
was able TO prevent the Senate taking up
the bills previous 10 adjournment. 1t re-
mains TO be seen whether the friends of
the bills will persist in this policy at the
forthcoming session, and whether, IL thew
do manifest the disposition, they will sue
coed in the face OF the opposition of a few
Democratic Senators and the almost solid
Republican side Of the Senate, who do not
desire at this time further legislation in
the direction of tariff reduction. Repre-
sentatives of the latter class do not hest
tate tn declare that whatever the policy of
the Democratic majority they will be able
to prevent serious consideration of these
bills because of the short session. They
also claim that if vote on Ii should be
reached there would be majority against
them. Il should be stated, however, tina.
there is a division OF opinion among the
opponents of the free sugar bill, and that
some Republicans and some conservative
Democrats have expressed a willingness to
allow this bill to become a law, but the
best indications are that the fate of the
bill will be determined by that of the
others of the same class. There are also
those who predict that there will be a re-
newal Of the agiiat OF the financial
question or propositions looking to the
free coinage of silver and for another bond
issue. The starting of the bond question
will depend upon the administration, and
there appears now no reason for the sug-
gestion that 1t will be revived except in
the imaginations of those who would op-
pose the measure If it should be brought
in. There is little doubt that the silver
question will be raised in some form, but
the probabilities are that there will be no
serious united effort on the part of any
considerable element to push silver to the
'front.' The more general opinion is that
silver will be reserved for the long session
of Congress, so as to make it an issue in
the Presidential campaign of 1896.