New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-22
CONGRESS is RESENTFUL.
NEITHER BRANCH LOOKS WITH FAVOR
on THE PRESIDENTS LAST MESSAGE.

AUTHORIZE A POPULAR LoAN-THE
NEW WAYS AND MEANS COMMIT
TEE TO MEET TOMORROW.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.1
| Washington, Dec 21.-The condition Of amaze
ment and uncertainty into which political opih-
| ion here was thrown last night by President
| Cleveland's panicky and ill-considered hnan-
| cial message had worn off TO notable extent by
the time the two houses of Congress met AT noon
to-day The keen surprise and temporary alarm
caused by Mr. Cleveland's rather hysterical ap-
peal for legislative assistance had passed away
| and something like feeling of disappointment
| and disgust had succeeded In the minds of the
| leaders in Congress. That the President, alter
obtaining an unconditional and ungrudging in
dorsement from the legislative branch OF his att'-
| tude on the Venezuela boundary dispute. should
attempt to use the embarrassments ana appre-
henslon arising from his official utterances as
club To compel Congress to accept and pass spe-
cial scheme of financial legislation. TO when that
| body is known to be overwhelmingly opposed
seemed TO the leaders at the Capitol 10 OaVor
too strongly of political sharp practice 10 coH'-
mend itself to favor or even tolerance.
A GAME WHICH TWO CAN PLAY
II Mr. Cleveland thought that he could take
advantage OF a situation which he. jointly Nth
Congress had created on question OF Nauonai
honor and interest to force on the legislative
branch an illusory and impracticable programme
of Currency reform" already rejected and dis-
credited he has entirely mistaken both the eX-
tent OF his own political resources ana the tenn
per OF Congress. If the President can play a'
| personal and factlonal politics with ques'lon
Of National policy. so can the pro-silver col'-
bination in Congress- and occurrences to-day III
the Senate seem TO show that the determination
of the free silver coinage majority there to reject
Mr. Cleveand's currency panaceas Is as nAeu
and eager as was its desire yesterday to cooper
ate with the Administration In asserting ana Ell"
forcing the application of the Monroe Doctrine
in the Venezuela boundary dispute
The evident reluctance OF the senate 10 re-
main in session over the holidays on so empty
q nretence as that Of endeavoring to pass
gold bond measure. as well as the open deciara-
ton of Senator Dubois that the only relief the
Treasury could hope for at present was an IN
crease of revenues from additional tariff duties
uada If entirely plain that Mr.. Cleveland's
sbiftv project of clubbing Congress into an ac-
ceptance of the financial theories of his recent
annual message had gole hopelessly on the
rocks
ADVERSE SENTIMENT IN THE HOUSE
willing than the Senate to forego the Christmas
recess gave little indicat ton also that it looked
with favor on Mr. Clevelands disingenuous
effort to coerce Congress into adopting legisla-
s,on which /. IS rootedly opposed to. That the
Republicans In the House will do the best they
can to relieve the Treasury by adding TO the
revenues and authorizing popular loan seems
not improbable. but the success or any emer-
gency legislation has undoubtedly been seriously
Handicapped by the unwse and selfish demand
Of the President that his own pet financial
panacea shall be adopted by Congress to the
exclusion Of other schemes of relief far more
desirable and far more practicable.
AS soon President Clevelands latest mes
sage had been read In the House of Representa-
tves ii referred to the Committee on ways
and Means by the Speaker, who Immediately
announced the appointment Of the members OF
that committee, and as soon az the House ad-
journed the committee was called together Tor
the purpose of organization and consultation;
After a brief session the committee adjourned
until Monday morning. when propositions to in
crease the revenues and repenish the gold re-
serve will probably be submitted for considera-
ton. In the mean time efforts will be made to as
certain whether it will be practicable TO pass
measure through the House next week in case
the usual holiday recess is not taken. The con
current resolution providing for a recess, which
was received from the Senate to-day, with an
amendment, was also referred TO the ways ana
Means Committee on motion OF Chairman Ding
ley, and is therefore temporarily beyond the con-
troll of the House. which, however, could regain
the committee from its further consideration.
HOLIDAY RECESS IMPROBABLE
Whether the House will consent to an ad-
tournment over the holidays without an effort
10 pass some sort of a measure for the relief
Of the Treasury is exceedingly doubtful.
Speaker Reed and other leading and influential
Republicans, not disposed to favor such
course to-day. and leading Democrats are
opposed to t. The Speaker was strongly Of
the opinion that the President should be prompt
~ met on his own ground with proposition
to provide additional revenue and replenish
the gold reserve. Among Republican members
there appeared to be no sentiment in favor or
an increase Of internal taxation and sugSes-
ton which met with the APPROVAL Of many of
them was an increase of II per cent on existing
rates of duty. n duty of 10 per cent on wool,
lumber and some other articles which were
transferred TO the free list last year. together
with provision authorizing the issue and sale
of short-time coin bonds, bearing interest, say.
az the rate of per cent per annum, In order
to replensh and maintain the gold reserve.
Some Republicans. however, strongly object
10 a horizontal increase of rates Of duty. be-
cause of the glaring inequalities In the exist
those of the Tariff law of $780, while other
rates low that an increase of even 10
per cent would afford little or no appreciable
relief either the Treasury to domestic
producers. Among the propositions which will
probably be considered and discussed Is that
offered and advocated in the editorial columns
or The tribune, Wnlcn mas Deen embodied III u
bill and s now before the Ways and Means
Committee
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE
The Republican members of the Ways and
Means Committee held conference this evening,
at which various propositions were discussed.
but no definite conclusion reached except that
efforts to frame a remedial measure should be
steadily continued. This, of course, means that
the resolution for a holiday recess will not be re-
ported back to the House, and that Congress
will remain in session. In view Of the Importance
OF the subject 1t is hardly probable, however
that the Committee on Ways and Means will
be prepared to submit easure to the House
until after Wednesday, although effort will
be spared TO do at the earliest practicable
date.
1t would not surprise men who are believed to