The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-02
HOSS And H0SS.
General Disposition Shown
in Congress.
Review OF What Was Done at the
Session Now Closing.

WASHINGTON, March "A review OF
che work of this last session of the Fifty
third congress must necessarily deal more
with what was attempted 90 be done than
that which was accomplished, since most
OF the important business considered has
been relegated 10 the first class. The term
has been particularly marked by the in
ability of the senate and the house to
agree upon many OF the most important
problems presented TO them.
Much more legislation was passed by
the house of representatives than by the
senate, because the rules of the house pro
vide machinery for compelling vote
which disposes OF bills in one way or an
other, while the traditions of the senate as
deliberate body permit interminable dis
cussion and delay.
While the Democratic party mustered
large working majority in the house, its
majority in the senate was, in the begin
ming, a very narrow margin, and gradu-
ally was overcome by the election OF Re-
publicans from four western states which
had been represented by but one senator
each on account of deadlocked legisla-
lures two years before, and the seating OF
other Republicans TO succeed Democrats.
imperative and perennial task, to frame
and enact the various appropriation bills
without which the wheels of the govern
ment would be somewhat in the plight Of
the earth If the sun were to be extin-
guished. Next in Importance was the
financial question, for which no definite
plan of settlement, beyond many free sill
yer bills and various individual schemes,
was then In view.
The Hold-Overs.
Several important bills came over as a
heritage from the preceding session, each
backed by earnest advocates, which were
in expectation TO be inevitably voted upon.
Foremost among them were, in the house,
the Nicaragua canal bill. the railroad
pooling bill and the bill for settle.
ment of the Indebtedness OF the Union
Pacific railroads, known as the Reilly bill.
Several important bills were placed on
the calendar of the senate at the begin
ming of the term, handed down from the
long session. when they had been passed
by tho house. Prominent among them
was the bill to establish uniform system
Of bankruptcy, but 1t was finally side
tracked. Another unsuccessful measure
was the anti-option bill.
the four bills which the house had sent
over on the day before the preceding ad-
iournment, when 1t accepted the senate
amendments TO the tariff act-the bills to
place on the free list sugar, coal. iron and
barbed wire-but they have all passed into
oblivion.
OF the three bills to confer statehood on
the territories of New Mexico, Arizona
al of har haxv hoe
advanced beyond their positions at the be-
ginning Of the session.
Financial Legislation.
The most interesting chapter OF the his
tory OF the session is made by the attempts
at financial legislation in both houses
When congress met IL was known that
Secretary Carlisle had been consulting
with the president upon scheme for re-
forming the currency and the national
banking system. On Dec. IL Representa-
tive Springer introduced bill which con-
tained the secretary's plan and which
came to be known as the "administra-
tion'' bill. The bill never came to direct
vote, for after warm debate the house.
on Jan. 9, 10y a vote Of l62 TO 1876, declined
to adopt rule proposed by the committee
on rules TO fix n time for vote, and the
Dill was WithurAWn.
Its withdrawal was followed by a mes
sage from the president explaining the
dangers which beset the treasury and ask.
ing congress to authorize tho secretary OF
the treasury to issue bonds payable In
gold to maintain the gold reserve. On the
day the message was read Representative
Springer introduced bill embodying the
recommendations of the message. The
n IL H..
the plan by several amendments Repre-
sentative Reed offered substitute, and
still another substitute, based on the Car.
Isle bill, received tho support of a large
faction OF the Democrats. The Springer
bill was Defeated on motion for its third
reading-l62 to 1876.
The Bond Issue.
Next came the presidents message de-
failing the contract made with syndicate
for bond issue and asking the authority
of congress to make the bonds payable in
gold instead Of coin. Representative VIII
son assumed the financial leadership. The
ways and means committee reported a
resolution TO authorize an issue of S65. ll0..
275 per cent gold bonds payable i'm 30
years, with the stipulation that the pro
ceeds of the issue should not be- used TO de-
fray current expenses OF the government
but this resolution, after one day of debate
in the house, was beaten Feb IA by a vote
Of l67 to l20, almost one-half of the Dem
ocrats and one-third OF the Republicans
i'm round numbers, voting for a third read.
ing OF IT,
Subsequent dealings with the financial
question are matters Of very recent his.
tory. No financial legislation had yet re-
suited from the host OF bills introduced
during the session with moro or less
weight Of authority behind them. The
house committee on coinage, OF which
Representative Bland, the free silver ad-
vocate, was chairman, was nearly equally
divided on the financial question, so that
a reported but one bill 20 the house, that
10 provide for coinage at the branch mint
at Denver, which becams'a law.
Appropriation Bills.
The principal class Of legislation accom-.
THE