Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-26
Some Subjects That Will Be Con-
Sidered at the Short Session.
4 CONTROVERSY over THE CURRENCY
Another Attempt to Repeal the
State Bank Tax Expected.
PLANS OF THE POLITICIANS

There is hardly the usual interest In the
approaching meeting of Congress which Is
generally manifested about the capltal
week before the beginning OF sessions.
There have been fewer arrivals both OF SEN
ators and Representatives than usual
though in the last days of last week a bus
mess air pervaded, somewhat. the House
end of the Capitol, as several members Oh
the committee on appropriations responded
to Chairman Sayers' request for committee
meetings to consider certain of the appro-
priation bills. Those members of this COM
mittee living In the states comparatively
near Washington remained In the city only
long enough to transact the business for
which they were called together and then
returned to their homes. There are prob
ably not more than a dozen Senators end
forty members Of the House In Washington
today. Consequent upon this meager attend
ance of Congressman is the difhculty or
presenting any definite or tangible forecast
of proceedings. Nothing like discussion
of policies by the leaders or either polticai
party has been possible; any prediction
ventured upon is simply the summary or
the private opinions of the probable course
of events as uttered by the leaders now In
Washington.
The State Bank Tax Repeal.
Among the opinions which one hears most
frequently on the House side, and especially
among southern democrats, is that there
will be a revival of the effort to repeal the
10 per cent state bank tax law, and it is al
ready evident that strong pressure will be
brought to bear in that cause. There is a
general impression that the silver question
will also cut figure of some sort in the
short session, but as few of the prominent
democratic silver leaders have arrived, and
as none of those who are here have any
definite plans, it is impossible to say what
may be undertaken.
The sentiment among many of the most
conservative of the silver men is evidently
against taking up the question at all, be-
cause of the futility of such a course, in
view of President Clevelands opposition to
free coinage. All expect struggling refer
erences to the question, and some believe
it will be made leading issue of the ses-
sion.
Free silver Men on the Alert.
1t is taken for granted that the admin
istration will propose a financial scheme
on the lines of the Baltimore pian and it
was suggested today by leading demo-
cratic Senator friendly to silver that If an
effort should be made to put bill through
carrying this plan into effect it would be
amended by free coinage rider and al
lowed to pass. There is plainly a division
of sentiment among democratic Senators
and Representatives regarding the practi-
cability of the Baltimore plan any other
plan on the same lines, and it is already
evident that the subject will, If introduced,
lead to a wide range of debate. The pro-
priety of the recent bond issue will surely
prove prolific source of speech-making.
POpgun Bills Doomed.
With reference to the supplementary
tariff on free raw material bills, which
were put through the House with such ex-
pedition last August, it may be said that
democratic Senators admit almost without
exception that there is no probability
whatever that they will become laws; and
In making this admission they call atten-
tion to the proceedings in the Senate when
the bills were called up prior to the last
adjournment, and say these proceedings
would be repeated upon any earnest effort
to get the bills before the Senate.
To sum up, the indications for the pres
ent, as gathered from the few members in
the city, are that the session will be one
of more or less struggling effort at finan-
cial legislation; that the tariff law will be
allowed TO stand as IL is; that the demo-
cratic majority will devote itself in the
main tc getting the appropriation bills
through; that the several bills of a gen.
eral nature, but non-poitical in character,
such as the Pacific railroads, the Nicara-
qua canal. the personnel of the navy, and
the pooling bill, will receive more or less
attention, but that, upon the whole, the
record of the session will not be one of
many or important accomplishments.