Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-05
MEETING OF COMPRESS.

al Congress will resume It's session
which ia to end on the 4ih OF March
next. Four years ago. when Congress
met In December, there was a similar
prospect before 1t in the way OF
change of national administration In
three months time; there was ALEC
similar talk OF calling an extra session
OF the Congress which came into
power on the day OF the new Presi-
DENTS Inauguration, for the body then
in session was not expected to take the
legislative action that the In.
coming administration deemed mecca
sary for the country. In 1898
g great deal was said about repeating
the Mckinley tariff law, this object
being one OF the chief causes OF the
extra session. But when the new Con-
gress came together In special convo.
cotton, the foremost matter was the
repeal Of the silver purchasing law,
which President Cleveland demanded
as essential to financial progress. That
provision was removed End something
over year thereafter the taria law
also was changed. But from the day Of
the agitation for changes in those laws,
through the co immation the design
TO make alterations, snd up to the pres
ent,the promises OF 1893 for Improvement,
have tailed. The country was not salts
fled with that administration; and II
may be said that In the eyes Of both
great parties the financial policy Of the
present administration was weighed
and found wanting, for the result Of the
recent election condemns to q consider
able extent the tariff tinkering, anu
the national party which placed Presi.
dent Cleveland In the White Ho use
nus condemned unsquivocally his atti-
iude on the silver question. There has
been a wonderful drop from the sup
port he received In 1892 to the insignifi-
cant backing the candidates he iu-
doraed In 1896 received.
Whether the result OF four years.
administration by President McKin.
ley will be Of more gratifying
character to himself, his party and
the nation combined, remains to be
seen. There are now many parallels
with the situation Of four yeaIs ago.
The President-slect has no more liking
Tor the existing and proposed tariff
legislation than did his predecessor
before inauguration; and the prospect
now is that the present Congress Will
not pass measure that will re-
ceive executive approval and be
satisfactory to the new admiuis-
trstlon. Hence now, as four years
ago, there is strong probability OF at
extra session OF Congress being called
on the tariff question. But II Is no
more certain now than then that the
subject Will receive foremost considers
ton. There is almost an equal proba.
pllity with thai OF Decent Der, 1892, tina
the coinage question will be brought tc
the front; for Notwithstanding the
decisive malorlty Of Presldent.eleci
Mckinley In the electoral college
the nearness OF the popular vote
on the silver issue, and the fac
that many silver men voted fol
the Republican candidate because o.
pronounced objections on other point
to the Democratic nominee, maintains
the coinage OF silver as foremos
questlOn. On the analysis Of the pop
ular vote it is even conceded by th,
gold standard advocates that II tn
only difference between the PLATFORM
OF the respective parties had been OF
the coinage plank there lie little ques
ton but the result would have beer
different.
Looking at the situation at thi
time, therefore, It appears that bu
little will be accomplished at th'
coming session, No doubt ther'
will be some Tery interesting
suggestions and statements in Presi
dent Cleveland's message, which 1!
expected to eclipse all previous doou
meBts from him; there will be alec
some features OF interest In genera
congressional proceedings, and per-
haps tome Of sensational character
But nothing OF real great strength and
Importance appears in sight; and al
for the succeeding Congress, whether
convened in special session or not
there 10 grave uncertainty as tJ
whether 1t Will accomplish any.
thing to change materially the present
unsatisfaetory industrial condition II
the country at large. No doubt Their,
will be measure OF improvement II
many branches, and states situated a
Utah is, are sure to obtain the create
proportion OF this; but almost tn
chief certainty now ahead Ia thu