The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-03
WORK BEFORE CONGRESS.
chairman Dingley's Views on What is
Likely To Be Done.

L6NIStoh, DGCemGer 2.-SOngreSSlnan
Nelson Dingley and his wife and daughter
left this city today for Washington.
A Journal reporter who called on Chair
man Dingley before the departure secured
IN interview in which several of the i'm
portant questions that win come up
during the session of Congress, which
opens next Monday, were discussed.
When asked rs to the probable length of
the session Mr.. Dingley said: "Inas-
much as this will be the first regular
session of the 18th Congress and, there
fore the session unlimited in length by
the constitutional laws, it is difficult to
forecast It's length. II the House could
control the length of the session, should
have no doubt it would terminate by the
middle of May, or at the latest by the
10th of June, as the long session of the
54th Congress did. The business of the
approaching session will be expedited by
the fact that the House as we'll as the
Senate is already organized and the COM
mittees appointed, but the Senate has no
means of limiting debate, SO it is always
in the power of a few Sepa ors to greatly
extend the session. l see no reason now.
however, to believe that this session will
continue later than June. The business
which Congress will attend to unouestjop.
ably can be properly transacted with an
adjournment as early as May or June.
The appropriation bills will occupy about
one third of the time. There will then be
1oft fiI11a
general legislation as is likely to OCCUPY
more or less time
"What are the questions which II ia ex.
pected will come up?' Mr. Dingley was
asked.
Probably bankruptcy legislation will
first come up"
"Will currency legislation be likely to
be secured?"
If the Senate were Republican and in
harmony with the majority of the House
on monetary questions l should reply in
the affirmative, but with a free silver
Senate antagonistic to the idea of the ma.
jority OF the House do not see how it is
possible to secure reliable currency legis.
lation of an important character until the
Senate is brought into harmony with the
House,
"What other measures are likely to
asked.
immigration legislation" said Mr..
Dingley, sis likely to be contaminated.
Some legislation may be required to
strengthen the hands Of the Interstate
commerce commission, whose power has
been largely taken away by the decisions
of the courts. 1t is said that railroads
will again urge their pooling bills. Pre-
iminary census legislation is necessary.
Undoubtedly the effort to secure the ad-
mission of Arizona and New Mexico as
states will be renewed. Some better form
of government must be given Alaska,
and the postmaster general will urge his
postal savings SYSTEM
"What do you think Of the postal
savings system?'
81 have reached no conclusion on the
question. as l want first to know more
definitely how the deposits can be safely
invested; what wei ld be the effect on the
eAlStlnS savings DankS, which prove SO
valuable, and whether the tendency of
the new system would be to { aw capital
from the more thinly populated parts of
the country"
"What is likely to be done with
Hawaii?'
''Unless those who have canvassed the
Senate are very much mistaken, the
Hawaiian annexation treaty will either
be promptly ratified by the Senate or an
annexation resolution passed and Hawaii
brought into the Union as territory
care Cuban affairs likely to lead to
legislation by Congress2''
II have no doubt that there will be A
strong effort to induce Congress to take
the solution of the Cuban question from
the hands of the President and Secretary
of State, to whom the conduct of diplo-
matio matters properly belongs. Speak
ing of myself, I think that sound policy
and the best interests of Cuba REQUIRE
that management of the matter be left
with the President who has done SO much
for the Cuban cause. :"