The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-10
WILL DO NOTHING.
Country Will Doubtless Suffer
Another Inactive Congress.
The Coming Session Will be
More Of Talk Than " 0rk.
QUESTION OF QUORUM.
Chances Are it Will be Hard to
Maintain One.
Silver Will Probably be Re-
served for Long Session.
QUESTION OF QUORUM

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-The approach
ing session Of congress, which viii con-
vene the 9th Of December, is not ex-
pected by those familiar with congress
sional methods to be one Of great activ-
ity or productive of much legislation
The fact that it will continue for only
three months; that it will be the last ses-
sion of the congress, and that it SO close
~ follows a general election, are indica-
lions that but comparatively little real
work will be attempted and still less &C
cOmplished.
The greater part of the session will, in
all proba bili1y, be confined in an exchange
of chaHing over the results Of the cleo
ton, and the session viii become memOr-
able 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 be difficult to obtain or maintain a
quorum previous to Christmas After
the holidays there will be but two months
left for work and speech making. 1t
Will of course be necessary to pass the
usual appropriation bill These bill
touch a variety of interests and, while
on this occasion will be disposed
of with considerable celarity, they can
always be so manipulated as to kill much
time when there IS any considerable el0-
ment which desires to oppose them.
When the last session adjourned the
measures attracting most attention were
the supplemental tariff or free raw
terial bills. They had passed the house
and had been favOrably reported with
material amendments by the senate com
mittee on finance to the senate. While
a majority of the Democrats appeared
friendly 10 those bills. there was con-
siderable element in that party opposed
to their consideration as were practically
all the Republican senators.
This element was able to prevent the
senate's taking up the bills previous to
adjournment 1t remains to be seen
whether the friends of the bill will per-
sist in this policy at the forthcoming ses-
sion and whether if they do manifest the
disposition they will succeed IN the face
of opposition of few Democratic sena-
tors and the almost Republican side of
the senate who do not desire at this time
further legislation in the direction of
tariff reduction.
Representatives Of the latter class do
not hesitate to declare that what
ever the policy OF the Democratic
majority they will be able to prevent
serious Consideration of these bills be-
cause of the short session. They also
claim that if a vote on it should be
reached there would be majority
against them. 1t should be stated. how
ever, that there is a division of opinion
among the opponents Of the free sugar
bill and that some Republicans and
some conservative Democrats have ex-
pressed 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 those who
predict that there will be renewal of
the agitation Of the financial question or
propositions looking to the free coin
age of silver, and for another bond
issue. The starting of the bond ques-
ton would depend upon the administra-
ton. and there appears now no reason
for the suggestion that il will be revived
except III the imaginatiOns of those who
would oppose the measure if it should
be brought in.
there is little doubt that the silver
question will be raised in some form, but
the probability is 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.