The times., 1897-12-06
CONGRESS MEETS AGAIN
Continued from first page.

iOOho iitt ali uSIttfiitIib TT WIN bhiH ~
ernmcnt and Great Britain.
The subject of tue appropriations is
one that is causing the Republican leaders
d vast amount Of worry. They see he
fore then. tue almost Impossible task of
keeping the appropriations down TO
minimum, and unless this is done here
can te no hope that the present tariff
law viii yield sufficient revenue. Already
the members arriving are figuring on pull
lie building, bills and every other lossi-
bic scheme to make themselves Solid with
their constituents.
Speaker Reed admitted recently that IT.
would he a very hard task to keep the
House from running away with the coiI-
nitlee, and when Mr.. Reed admits that
task is difficult 1t must be dlfficll, indeed.
The es sju.;,tes have been kept down by the
departments, but heads of departments
have appeared before ;he House sub
committee and viii make the same up
peal before the Senate committee for adj
ditiona! appropriations. The task OF the
committee is u thankless one, and Mr.
Cannon already sees that he is getting
into deer water His entreaties are be-
ing ignored ana, when the various budgets
get into the House he will be well nigh
driven wilG by the demands that will be
made
Despite the many important matters
before Congress, the conclusion has been
reached by those who have the management
of the affairs in their hands, that little
will be Accomplished outside OF routine
business. Currency viii not he touched,
for the Republicans are afraid TO show
their hand: Cuba viii not he recognized,
for the Administration viii not permit
1t; other important matters viii he ig
nored. There viii be much talk ana
little action.
The House of Repre- ent atiNes will meet
today at room. There was largely more
than n quorum in town last night, the
members having continued to arrive in
large numbers all day
The scenes at the hotels are reminiscent
of The openings of Congress at times when
there was much excitement and interest i'll
the gathering OF the House. The coming stS-
sion is one which viii test wfat the Re
publ al party can do to Sustain and prove
its promises. There was not fair test 1t
the extra session, because the Republicans,
afra id perha pS OF too mitch legislation, con
fined tile business of the House to the
passage OF the tariff There were soaie cx-
cursions into other matter by the S=utIc,
but some interesting matters passed by that
body Were blocked effectUaiiy hy tie N
action OF tie House. Among these was the
Senate resolution to grant beiiserentrigsIts
I" the insurgeHt Cubans.
The question OF most interest Today
will be- of course the Presidents me ssaGe.
Both ID democrats and Republicans are
anxious to know what the President viii
recommend III the way of financial legis-
latiOn and especially III view OF the fact
that At ig generally understood that any
bill embodyips the Admin stTation's views
on finance cannot be passed by the Senate.
This fact however, it is said wdl tot
prevent the House from going it alone
and the report is that bill viii be pre-
sented q very early day in the session.
The Cuban question is generally regarded
as as great test Of the Administration
and its policy as the financial. There
has been great deal OF speculation as
to what the President win say which
will both stem The tide of popular feeling
IN favor ofCuba and al the same time carry
out what is supposed to he policy
In favor of inaction by this Governa mt
In Cuban -spasish afrairs.
Another Important matter with which the
House VIII have TO deal is the annexation
of Hawaii. Of late there has been a grow
| ing feeling that the nee aSsary two thirds for
ratification by tie Senate may not be
obtained and that II win be necessary to
| pass Il ljiil.
on tic Cuban question the recoUrmenda-
| tiun TO the, President viii undoubtedly have
| great weight with the House. II was said
| last night that in case the President
leaned TOO strongly toward the Spanish
| side o: the question IL would be necessary
| for the Republicans to hold a caucus and
| Ceteruine the feeling of that side OF the
| House before the debate commenced. This,
| il is said will be- done in order to pre-
| clude an exhibition OF Republicans who
! advocate American intervention fighting
| their cwn administration. There are some
who believe that the references by the
| President to the Cuban trouble will sur
| prise even the most ardent sympa:hi zer
with the insurgents. This view is based
on the belief that the administration
could not put itself in direct opposition
! to the strong Cuban sentiment which pre-
/ walls all over the country.
| The greatest difference of opinion is
| naturally to be found on the currency
| problem Tie keynote of the opposition
has been sounded by Mr.. Cannon. the chair
man Of the Committee on appropriations,
| who has stated the inadvisability of at
| tempting tc nassa financial measure There
| are others who take the opposite view.
| Gen Ketcham, of New York, is I.ioted
| as saying that it is the duty of the House
to pass a bill and let the Senate deaI
| with it as it pIeases This opinion If
/ atc iS inf 6ac -
! is the most expressive of the dilemma yet
| given in which the Republicans will find
themselves He says:
The people will not understand or excuse
| the failure of Republican House of Repre-
sentatives to pass a currency reform bill.
| lney will ask How did it happen tha you
| passed a protective tariff bill six mon tbs
| ago, and that it also passed the Senate,
| which then stood exactly as it does today,
| and that you even refuse to try to pass
a currency bill?" That's what live thou
| sand gold Democrats who voted the Re
publican ticket in my district last year will
| ask Andthey will also want to know how
| it happened that q bill for the uncondi-
| ionaI repeal of the silver purchase law
| was passed through a Congress that had
Democratic and free-siiver ma jorities in
| both branches, and ask whether President
Cleveland and his Administration were more
powerful tnan President Mckinley and his
| Administration are.
Gen. Ketcham and his supporters believe
that the Senate will act. 1t would be
no answer to the people TO merely 1ass
the House Joint resolution providing for A
| currency commission. The people demand
positiy e, uneyasive legislation, and the Mt
tempt should be made, at least, to get
it. Against them are Senator Frye and
| Senator Allison.
The leading members of the House WIN