The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-11

Washington, Nov. 10-The approaching
session of Congress, which will convene
on the 9Th of December, is not expected
by those familiar with congressional
methods to be one of great activity or
productive of much legislation. The fact
that it will continue for only three
months; that it will be the last session
Of the Congress and that it so closely fol-
lows a general election are all considered
as Indications that but comparatively
little work will be attempted and still
less accomplished.
The greater part of the session, in all
probability. will be confined to an ex-
change 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 Christ
mas holidays, and predictions are freely
made that it will be difficult to obtain
or maintain a quorum previous to Christ
mas After the holidays there will be
but two months left for work and speech
making. 1t will be, of course, necessary
to pass the usual appropriation bills.
These bills touch a variety of interests,
and while on this occasion they will be
disposed of with considerable celebrity,
they can always be so manipulated as to
kill much time when there is any con-
siderable element which desires to OPP
pose them.
Free Raw Materials.
When the last session adjourned, the
measures attracting most attention were
the supplemental tariff or free raw ma
terials bills. They had passed the House
and had been favorably reported with ma
terial amendments by the Senate commit
tee on finance to the Senate. While a
majority of the Democrats appeared
friendly to those bills, there was con-
siderable element in that party opposed
to their consideration as were, practical
ly, the Republican senators. This senti-
ment was able TO prevent the Senate
taking up the bills previous to adjourn
ment 1t remains to be seen whether the
friends Of the bills will persist in this
policy at the forthcoming session and
whether, if they do manifest the dfspo-
sition. they will succeed in the face of
the opposition of a few Democratic sena-
tors and the almost solid Republican side
OF the Senate, who do not desire, al this
time. further legislation in the direction
OF tariff reduction. Representatives of the
latter class do not hesitate to declare
that whatever the policy of the Demo-
cratic majority, they will be able to pre-
vent serious consideration of these bills
because of the short session. They also
claim that If the vote on them should
be reached there would be a majority
against them.
Free Sugar.
It should be stated. however, that there
is a division of opinion among the OPP
ponents of the free sugar bill, and that
Democrats have expressed a willingness
20 allow this bill to become law, but
the best indicat tons 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 renewal of the agitation of. the tinan-
cial questions or propositions looking to
the free coinage of silver and for an
other bond issue. The starting Of the
bond question will depend upon the ad-
ninistration, and there appears now no
be revived except in the imaginations of
those who would oppose the measure if
1t should be brought in. There is little
doubt that the silver question will be
raised in some form. but thc liabilities
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 Con-
gress SO as to make it an issue in the
presidential campaign in 1896.