The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-20
Members of Congress Are I'm
patient to Get Away.
Some Admit They Do Not Ex-
pect TO Come Back.
OLD WAR CLAIMS.
They Don't Decrease and Are a
Standing Nuisance.


has been put through both houses. a speed
quite unexampled in the senate, has only
had the effect to kci ghten the general Trnpa-
thence over the con ference comrnittee's dc
lag on the tariff bill Some Of the critics
arc III natured enough to say that business
has PROGRESSED 81 well in the house because
all the long wlnded fellows have gone
home, and traly there IS a great array of
empty seats and a scarcity Of long speeches
Quite u mum Der Of the absen1ees+ declared
OH leaving that they would not return this
session. and most of them were frank
enough to admit serious doubts about be-
ing member OF tho Fiftyfourth congress
Down To date tine percentage Of 1cHomina-
tions is unusually Large. and in the south
especially not more than three or four men
OF any note will be denied another chance.
It is estimated. therefore, that at least four
hfths Of the Democrats in the next house
will be old mem bers- But if one-half the
Republicans claim proves true majority
Of their majority will be new men. or at
lcass men who have been out since the
Fifty-6rst congress. The talking members
confess bv going home at this stage of
the session that they consider their chances
dubious.
old War Claims.
The smOothness and rapidity of action
tho old and much disputed question Of
claims came up, and there was tho usual
heated discussion between Chairman En-
lOe and others. his principal opponent
this time being General Grosvenor. IL
would be an everlasting job to give a full
account OF those old war claims or even
to count the number, but the important
fact is that they do not decrease, and that
they have beooTne q standing nuisance to
the members. All sorts Of plans have
-
badgered on the subject almost beyond
endurance, finally de Jared in favor of
court of claims, with plenary powers, to
have original jurisdiction in ali cases
without action by congress, appeals to be
taken therefrom Go the supreme court on
points Of law and the decision of this
court to be final 1t is also proposed that
the district courts Of the United States
shall have jurisdiction of all such cases
within their districts Joe Cannon says
that both these measures would not re-
lieVo the members from opportunities
that congress would still have to attend TO
such business. Call it what you will. Il
says he, call it pnternnlisln or socialism,
federalism or rheumatism. but congress is
here to attend to business for the people
and must do it. This body must make up
its mind to sit through the year. with only
a vacation like any other body of business
men, and it must attend to the interests of
constituents So the prospects are that
these claims viii still be troublesome in
the twentieth century.
Question Of Adjournment.
The feeling that congress could adjourn
at any time if the tsrif bill were out Of
tie way, forced action, and Senator Hale's
resolution calling on the conferees for
something decisive was only an expires
sion OF what both sides felt. 1t
charged by the Democrats that the ma
5ority party had acted separately from the
minority in former conferences. but the
testimony of old mem bers showed THAT
the practice always has been for tine full
committee 20 meet and then divide for
few days each party caucusing alone.
Thus the cOnfs~ces on the Mckinley bill
met soon after they were appointed. and
then che Republicans held private meet
igs for a few days. after which the full
committee met for actual business, and
the differences were soon settled. Members
OF the house are really fcverish in their
Impotence over the delay and speak Of
this as near the end Of a 10 months SEES
sion. I'VE could and would have adj
jouraed today, with everything in good
shape, if those fellows had only acted, :" is
. common expression in the house
And yet there is a vast amount of bust
ness of general interest still untouched
and early this week those having IL in
charge gave UP the struggle and conceded
that it must go over to the short session.
There is the Nicaragua canal bill, for
y refused % set day, and Messrs. Nal
lory and Geary do not hope tO get it up be
fore next January The bin for funding
the Pacific railway indebtedness has also
gone to the tomb OF the Capulets as Sen
ator Cullom has told ms from the start
that it would.
He still insists though the house com
xnittee viii not admit It, that the bill is as
far along rs il ever Will be N this congress
All tbs Tucker bins on the constitution
also 20 over till next January or later and
II one may judge by the current talk OF
rho nom bers they will al fail The people
may " Ia favor Of electing che president
and United States senators by popular vote
as Mr.. Tucker alleges, but il Sc they have
not impressed their wish upon their repre-
sentattves to any great extent.
Labor Matters
The strikes and riots have been owe,
long enough for several mem bcrs to tax,
the sober second thought and begin Il
hedge on what they said during the ex
element. 1t IS particularly noted tina
1t understood that thcy did not despair @
the republic. did not say anything in IA
vor of a big standing army and did no
wish to be understood as indorSing every
thing Mr. Cleveland did. while anothe.
set are equally anxious to make il plaii
that they are still firm advocates OF state
rights. Even this president has got lit
tie ratified on the subject, If we can credit
many reports to the same effect and has
complained bitterly that he was badly
misunderstood by Senator Kyle and the
labor leaders who conferred with him
He promised to name a commission Of in
qniry under the law of Oct. /, 1888. and
the labor men seem to have understood
that he would use his influence in favor