The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-02
. DINGLBY DODGBS.
Maine Congressman Talks Of
Everything But the Deficit
Cuba and Hawaii.

LEWISTON, Mo-, Dec. 2, 1S97.-The
Journal this afternoon prints, an inter-
view with Congressman Nelson Dingley,
who left for Washington today, in which
Mr.. Dingley said
'.Inasmuch as this will be the first reg
ular session of the 18th Congress, and
therefore the session unlimited in length
by the Constitution and laws, it is diff
cult to forecast its length The busi-
ness of the approaching session will be
expedited by the fact that the House as
well as the Senate is already organized
and the committees appointed, but the
Senate has no means of limiting debate,
so that is always in the power of a very
few Senators to greatly extend the sit
ting. l see no reason now, however, to
believe that this session will continue
later than June.
Probably bankruptcy legislation will be
the first to come up, after such appropria-
ton bills as may be ready continued Mr..
Dingley in response to a question.
"The voluntary bankruptcy bill, passed
was referred to the House judiciary Com
mittee, which may be ready to report it
back before the Christmas recess. The
f1OuS6 Will prODdDiy pass SUBSTITUTE
on the limit of the Torroy bill, as it did
two years ago, and then the two bills
will go to conference. Probably the con-
ference of the Senate and House will
agree on a compromise measure which
will become a law.
+ stWill currency legislation be likely to be
Secured?' was asked.
s.If the Senate were Republican and in
harmony with the majority of the house
W I
Affirmative" said Mr.. Dingley, but with
a free silver majority in the Senate an
the House as to what constitutes sound
currency system, / do not see how it is
possible to secure desirable currency legis-
lation of an important character until
the Senate is brought to harmony with
the House. Possibly some desirable
amendments of the national bank might
be passed by the Senate. The House joint
resolution for a joint committee to con-
slider and report on needed currency legis-
latiOn passed at the extra session is still
in the hands of the Finance Committee
of the Senate and may be reported back
and considered by the Senate as soon as
Congress reaSSemb1eS.
come up for considerations" was then
asked.
Immigration legislation" said Mr..
Dingley, lis likelys to be consummated.
strengthen the hands of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, whose power for
good has been largely taken away by the
decisions of the courts. It is said that
the railroads win again urge their pooling
bill Preliminary census legislation is
necessary. Undoubtedly the effort to Sc
cure the admission 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
Concerning the proposed postal savings
system Mr.. Dingley said
Il have reached no conclusion on the
question, as l want first to know more
definitely how the deposits can be safely
Invested; what would be the effect on the
existing savings bank system, which has
proved so valuable; and whether the ten
dency of the new system would be to
draw capital from the more thinly popu-
lated parts of the country (where more
capital is required) and transfer 1t to the
centers of business already congested
with capital or to make it available for
use outside these centers.
What is likely to be done with Ha-
waii?'
..Unless those who have canvassed the
Senate are very much mistaken the Ha-
waian annexation treaty will either be
promptly ratified by the Senate or an an
nexation resolution passed and Hawaii
brought into the Union as a territory.
tion by Congress? ?"
.I have no doubt that there will be
strong effort to induce Congress to take
the solution of the Cuban question from
of State, to whom the conduct of diplo-
matte matters properly belongs, and have
Congress, which, from the nature of the
case is ill-fitted to direct our delicate re-
solve them by resolutions and campaign
speeches. Speaking for myself, N think
that sound policy and the best interests
of Cuba require that the management OF
who has already done much for the Gu
ban cause