The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1894-11-30
Very Few Congressman Are in Wash
ington Yet, So All Predictions
Are Mostly Guesses.
INDICATIONS AT PRESENT
Are That There Will Be Struggling
Efforts at Financial Legislation
But No Tariff, Tinl. ring.

hardly the usual interest in the ap.
preaching meeting of congress which is
gen rally manifested about the capitol
There have been fewer arrivals, both
OF senators and Representatives, than
usual, though the latter part of last
week business air pervaded the house
end of the capitol, as several members
of the committees OH appropriations re.
sponded to Chairman Sayres' request
for committee meetings to consider Ger.
tain of the appropriation bills. Those
members of the committee living in the
states comparatively near Washington
remained in the city only long enhough
to transact the business for which they
were called together and then returned
to their homes. There are not now
probably more than Il dozen senators
and 40 members of the house in Wash
lngton. Consequent upon this meagre
attendance OF congressman is the diff
Guilty of presenting any definite OF
tangible forecast of proceedings. Moth.
ing like a discussion of politics by the
leaders of either political party has
been possible, and any prediction ven.
tured upon is simply the summary OF
course OF events as uttered by the lead
ers now in Washington.
State Bank Tax Repeal.
Among the opinions one hears most
frequently OH the house side and espe-
cially among Southern Democrats is
that tl,ora 1x,N,,ll bo Of 1,o
effort to repeal the 10 per cent state
bank TX law, and it is already stated
that strong pressure will be brought to
bear in that cause. There is general
impression that the silver question will
also cut figure of some sort i'll. a short
session, but as few of the Democratic
silver leaders have arrived and as none
of those who are here have definite
plans, it is impossible to say what may
be undertaken The sentiment
among many of the most conserva-
tive of the silver men is evidently
against taking up the question
at all because Of the futility of
such a course in view Of President
Cleveland's opposition to free coinage.
All expect struggling references to the
question. and some believe it will be
made leading issue of the session. It
is taken Tor granted that the admins
tration will propose financial scheme
on the lines of the Baltimore plan, and
it was suggested by a leading Demo
cratic senator that it an effort should
be made to put /. bill through carrying
this plan into effect, it would be
amended by free coinage rider and
allowed to pass There is plainly
A Division of Sentiment
among Democratic senators and repre-
sentatives regarding the practicability
OF the Baltimore plan, or any other plan
on the same lines, and it is already evil
dent that the subject will, introduced,
lead to a wide range Of debate. The
propriety of the recent bond issue will
surely prove a prolific source of speech.
making.
With reference to the supplementary
tariff Or free raw material bills which
were put through the house with such
expediency last August, it may be said
that Democratic senators almost with.
out exception, believe that there is nc
probability that they will become laws,
and in making this admission they call
attention to the proceedings in the sen.
ate when the bills were called up prior
to the last adjournment, and say these
proceedings will be repeated upon any
earnest effort to get the bills before the
senate.
Sum of the Indications.
To. sum up, the indications for the
present as gathered from the few mem
bers in the city, are that the session
will be one OF more or less struggling
effort at financial legislation; that the
tariff law will be allowed to stand as il
is; that the Democratic majority will
devote itself in the main to getting the
appropriation bills through; that the
several bills of a general nature, but
not political in character, such as the
Pacific railroads, the Nicaragua canal
the personnel of the navy, and the pool
ing bill will receive more or less atten
tiou, but that upon the whole ths
record of the session will not be one O;
many or important accomplishments.
FINISHED HIS MESSAGE.
President Cleveland Is Guarding the Dozen