Evening journal., 1896-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL TOPICS
What the Nations Solons viii
Talk About This Week.
THE TARIFF BILL IN THE SENATE.
The Proposition TO ccnsure MIR. Bayard
wnl BE the Subject OF Discussion In
the House-Probabic Eject of the SEN
ntc'e Silver Vote.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The senate hay
ing passed the free coinage substitute for
tho house bond bill, has no well defined
plan for this weeks proceedings There
Is no session today. 1t Is possible, though
by no means certain, that the finance COM
mlttoc will be able TO report tho revenue
tariff bin tomorrow, the matter still de-
ponding upon Senator Jones OF Nevada.
II the bill should be reported, there will
probably be somo desnltory spcechmak-
ing based upon It, but the consideration
Of the measure would scarcely be seriously
begun this week. even though q report
should be secured as promptly as Is hoped
by tho friends OF tho bill.
The committee on appropriations viii
claim q good share of the time that the
scnnte will he in session. The urgent de-
nccncy bill has already been reported,
and tho military academy and pension
bills will be put In early in the week.
None of these will excite any prolonged
debate, and Il Is altogether probable that
all will be disposed Of before the week
clascs. Tho Cuban and Monroe doctrine
rosolutions are also ON tho calendar and
can be taken up at any time.
There is more OF less executive business
60 claim attention, and the general calen-
dar has been growing rapidlyas the result
Of committee work, while the silver bond
bill has been claiming the attention of
the senate Under these circumstances
the week bids fair to be one of diversified
interest with no one topic claiming at
tontion.
The Bayard Resolution.
The important features Of the week
proceedings in the house will be in con-
nection with the resolution to censuro
Emhassador Bayard adopted by tho for
cign affairs committee and the senate froo
coinage substitute for the house bond bill.
The resolution consuming Mr.. Bayard will
probably precipitate an exciting contest
on the floor, but will doubtless be adopted
when it reaches vote.
When the froo coinage substitute for the
house bond bill IS returned TO tho house,
an effort may be made by the silver men
to concur in the substitute. Such an at
tempt would of course, be defeated as
the majority against silver IN the lower
branch of congress is overwhelming, but
it might be made in order to put the NOM
bors on record Tho bill, according to the
present programme will be Immediately
reforred TO the ways and means committee
and reported back with recommendation
that the senate substitute be nonconcurred
in, which In parliamentary language
would moan that the house insists upon
its bill. 1t will then remain for the som
ate, which also will insist on its bill, to
request q conference. 1t Is thero that
some Of the momhers at each end Of the
capitol hope TO effect a compromise, but
the prevailing opinon is that the bill Will
die In conference.
Tho week, except the portion devoted to
the bond bill and the Bayard resolution,
will be given up to a continuation of the
work I'm tho appropriation bills. The Dis
trict of Columbia bill Is still under con-
sidoration. The agricultural and army
bills have been reported, and the Indian
bill IS almost ready They win probably
be takcn mp in tho order named.
The house committee on territories will
vote on Wednesday on the bills providing
enabling acts for tho admission Of the ter
ritories of Arizona and New Mexico to the
Union.
Eject of the serate silver Vote.
Tho effect of the senate free silver vote
on the bond bids of the next few days Is
causing serious apprehension among lead
ing public men, who have, until now, re-
garded tho success Of the loan as beyond
the slightest doubt Although many bids
have been received, the bulk Of the large
bids is expected in the next three days, as
investors usually wait TO get the latest in
formation which the market affords before
submitting their bids. For this reason
the senate silver vote soems TO have been
timed with malicious purpose to shake the
confidence of bidders ut the very moment
when they were making their offers to the
government.
Tho result must necessarily be, first, to
restrict and discourage bids, and, second,
60 increase the interest on such bids as
are made A we'll informed official cx-
pressed the opinion that the silver vote
would cost the government $40, 600, 600 in
interest alono, considering the 80 year
torn OF the bonds. 1t was this fear that
led Senator Hill to obstruct the silver
measure for time. On Friday, when nc
was appealed TO by Democratic senators to
nnmc q day for tho vote, he suggested
Feb. g. the day after that fixed for open
ing bids on the bonds. The friends of the
silver men besought him on all sides, and
finally satisfied him that vote prior to
the opening of the bids would not lead to
serious consequences.
Mr. Hill said that he thought American
investors would not be deferred from bid
ding because they Know the SllNCf Supsu-
tute was doomed to defeat in the house
and in no event could receive the presi-
donts approval At the same time he felt
that foreign bidders had already forward
ed their bids in order TO allow time for
transmission, so that the vote would not
affect this clause.
The Nioaragt Canal.
The special subcommittee an the Mica
ragua canal Of tho house committee on
commorcc. which has heen delaying for
some weeks tho beginning OF its work in
ordor that President Cleveland might fur
uish congress with the report Of the cum-
mission which visited the isthmus last
summer, has concluded 20 wait no longer
and will begin 90 once 10 draft hin.
Chairman Hepburn Of tho commerce
committee selected seven membors to
compose tho subcommittee about throo
weeks ago. These representatives desired
90 have IN hand all possible Information
upon the project before they recommend
any plan q the house for constructing the
canal Moreover, they thought their ac-
fion might be construed into discourtcsy
toward the president il they should pro
coed independently on thc views of the
committee or should seem 10 ignore tho
commission 10 is understood. however,