The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-02
uHEN CONGRESS MEETS.
Matters of Importance Which Must be
Considered.

Important matters will demand the attention
of Congress hen its members come together.
Currency reform, Hawaiian Annexation, the
Cuban question, Civil Service. PENSIONS and
other matters will be pushed TO consideration
at least. THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, as it has
done in the past, will keep its readers in
formed of Congressional doings as well IS of
other important features of Washington life,
and especially the matter of official movements
regarding pensions.
Just what will be done about oar Cuban
question cannot be predicted satisfactorily Il
is rumored now that the President, in his
message to Congress, will suggest that at pres
ent the adoption of resolutions recognizing
beligerency would be inadvisable while the
measures of professed reform, proposed by
Spsiu to be carried out by Gen. Banco are be-
ing introduced.
1t is stated that the President and Secretary
Gage have been considering plan of currency
reform to be recommended i'll the message.
The advocates of Hawaiian annexation will
be on hand in its interests and the President,
no doubt, will set forth the ad yantages of early
ratification of the treaty. Annexation is re-
garded as one Of the certainties of the coming
session.
One of the earliest problems which will en-.
gage the attention of Congress, will be Oh at of
some form of legislation for Alaska AS is
well known, this is now. and has been ever
since our purchase of the region from Russia an
uaOrganized territory with very meayer facili-
ties for civil administration by Judiciary, with
no land laws except mining laws, and without
a representative council or delegate in Con-
gress. The recent discoveries of gold, which
promise to attract 100000 men to the territory
during the coming Summer, make the admin
istration OF the law for the securing of titles
to real estate, and protection of life and prop
erty, pressing question of vital importance.
There were large number Of pension bills
introduced at the late session, many of which
will be pressed vigorously for action this
sitting. These will cover every possible phase
of the pension question, from a general service
provision for not less than S12 a month to that
which embodies the recommendations of the
GAR. Pension Committee for pension OF
SIP month upon arriving at the age of 81.
These will srst have to run the gantet of
the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and what
bill it will recommend and attempt to seeure
the passage of is a matter of anxious moment
to the veterans.
There will be number of bills to regulate
the practice of the Pension Bureau in the d.
rection of greater liberslity to the veterans
and the sweeping away of the masses of techui.
calities that now embarrass claims.
There can be no more than guess work as to
what these will embrace and what will finally
come to be law. Much will depend on the
policy of the Pension Bureau itself If 10
shows marked liberal spirit in the matter of
pension allowances Congress probably will not
attempt to interfere with it. Otherwise un-
dOubtedly very strong effort will be made to
force more liberality by Congressional action.
1t is predicted that there will be an energetic
fight against Civil Service with view to So
curing the repeal of the law at the coming ses-
sion of Congress. The Civil Service Commission
stands as if with club in its hand ready to
deal q blow to the unfortunate official who
dares make move to evade il. Ii is stated
that Capt. Thomas H. Mckee, the Journal
Clerk of the House of Representatives. with .
view 10 ascertaining the sentiment of the Re-
publican majority, has begun poll of the
members and has ascertained, it is claimed.
that many of them may be elassed as opponents
of the law. This sentiment of antay onism il is
proposed to strengthen. if possible by petitions
now being circulated tor signatures in a num-
Der OF States by agents of the Anti Civil Service
League. 1t is possible that some legislation
may be effected that will make clearer the ex-
act authority of appointing powers under the
law. The Interpretation of the law is not salts
factory, and some of its provisions have been
differently construed by different courts
The President it is believed, will have
to say about civil service Repre-
sentative D0lliver, of Iowa, is authority for
tho statements that the policy of the Republic
cans i'll Congress will be determined by q caucus
to be held soon after Congress convenes