The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-23
Will Have NO CHRISTMAS
Congress Nill Devise Means to Fill
the Financial Stocking.
VARIOUS REMEDIES PROPOSED
Amendments to the Tariff Law win
Probably BE Made for the Purpose
Of Increasing Rovcnue-Silver
Schemes In tho Senate.

Washington. Dec. 22.-For the first
time since the short session Of the
rty-seventh congress, in the winter
| of 1923, congress will enter holiday
week tomorrow with the intention of
sitting through the season usually de-
voted to recess. The occasion for this
unusual zeal and devotion to public in
terests was President Cleveland's mes
sage of Friday last, which asked the
congress not to take its usual respite
from labor at this season of the year,
but to remain and provide the legisla-
tiOn necessary to relieve the financial
situation of the government. The house
will enter upon this work promptly to-
morrow, through its committee an
nounced on Saturday. The ways and
means committee will meet at eleven
| o'clock and proceed as rapidly as may
be with the consideration and prepara-
tion of a bill or bills to meet the condi-
tion which confronts them.
The measure of relief which 1t Is ex-
pected the committee will propose will
include, either in one bill or several, as
may be deemed most eXpedient, brief
revision, such amendments to expire at
the end of thirty months; authority to
the secretary Of the treasury to issue a
three per cent. bond as popular loan
other purpose. with O proviso that the
redeemed greenbacks shall not be used
to meet the current expenses, but be re-
tained as long as necessary as part Of
the redemption fund; authority to issue
| to national banks circulating notes up
to par of the bonds deposited as secur-
ity therefor, and to reduce the tax on
national bank circulation; and author
ity for the issue of certificates of in
debtedness to meet temporary defic-
iency in the receipts until the revnue
can be provided.
Income from Tariff Changes.
1t is estimated that these proposed
| tariff changes will add from thirty to
| thirty-five millions to the income of the
| government. Although there is some
criticism of this scheme from the Re-
publican side of the committee, it is
likely to manifest itself in any other
form and the proposition will receive
the Reed substitute for the issue of gold
bonds made in the last congress when
financial schemes We're being consid-
cred. should be reported and passed.
While it is not probable that the COM
mittee will be ready to report to the
house before Wednesday or Thursday
at the earliest, there will be no ad-
journment for more than a day or two
at a time. until the proposed relief shall
have been enacted. Should this be ac-
complished this week, the house will
probably then indulge in three days re-
cess over the New Year holiday. In
the meantime the committee on bank
ing and currency will be at work on a
bill to remodel the financial system of
the country In the hope that it will be
ready for report to the house, when
| G ha h.. ,I, II,
| January.
Financial Debate Threatened.
Although the senate will be nominally
In session this week, 1t Is believed that
there VIII at no time be a quorum pres
ent. financial debate may be pre-
cipitated Tuesday If Mr.. Vest presses
the resolution for which he asked i'm
mediate consideration Saturday, This
resolution directs the secretary of the
treasury to coin the silver bullion in the
treasury and apply the silver dollars
so coined to the redemption of the treas
ury notes issued In payment for the bull
lion under the Sherman act. If the sem
ate should be in humor to permit the
| resolution to come to vote IL will
surely pass. for the silver men are in
the majority by II to IA votes. The
resolution of Mr.. Butler, of North Caro-
| iina, directing the secretary Of the
treasury to meet the obligations Of the
government with silver, whenever that
money Is of less value than gold. Is also
on the table and may be made the sub
ject of speech at any time
1t Is likely that the senate will meet
only at intervals, for as all legislation
relating to finance and the revenue
must originate In the house, until some
measure Is sent over from the house,
there will be little occasion for the sem
ate to remain in session. Now, that
the holiday recess has fallen through,
the Republicans may urge the Demo-
Gratis to at once fill their committee
lists. but there is little probability OF
this being done until the new year Is
inaugurated. Taken altogehtr. the
coming week in the senate promises to
be unproductive, unless the unexpected
happens.