The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-06
In CONGRESS- TODAY
LIKELY TO BE SOME SURPRISES IN
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mckinley Determined that Party
Pledges on Currency Question
Must he Redeemed.
HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD SPAIN
CONSERVATIVE STAND NOT EXPECT
ED TO PLEASE JINGOEs.
VIII Favor Annexation of Hawaii and
Strongly Uphold Popular Pol
icy ON Foreign Relations.
A CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST
H-
EXTRA SESSION ROBs THE OPENING
DAY OF MUCH INTEREST.
-|-
Resolutions of Inquiry Calculated to
Produce Sensation VIII Prob
ably BE SmOthered.
VIII Favor Annexation of Hawaii and
Strongly Uphold Popular Pol
icy ON Foreign Relations.
A CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST
EXTRA SESSION ROBs THE OPENING
DAY OF MUCH INTEREST.
Resolutions of Inquiry Calculated to
Produce Sensation VIII Prob
ably BE SmOthered.
necial to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-As Congress is
about to meet it is perceived that there will
have to be Encouragement of opinions and
prophecies about what is to be done and
when. There will be strenuous and forceful
opposition to the Hawaiian annexation
scheme. and although the chances are very
strong in favor of it's adoption, still it may
take months of hard work to bring the ISL
ands within our jurisdiction, no matter
what method may be adopted for attaining
the end, whether by treaty or legislation.
1t is observed that an undercurrent is
setting in which may result after all in cur
rency reform legislation. The dull opposi-
tion to agitation of the subject voiced by
Allison, Reed, Dingley, Cullom and the
other presidential candidates who were de-
feated at ST. Louis, is giving place to
different kind of talk and there is "a grow
ing disposition to see if something cannot
be done along the lines suggested by Presi-
dent Mckinley, which are now
well known. The President has
declined to fall into the trap set
by lukewarm friends and secret enemies
who have been advocating policy of mas
terly inactivity, and he comes out strong
ly for carrying out the financial pledges of
the st. Louis platform. His courage and
sagacity in this respect put the leaders of
the opposition TO action in the embarrassing
position of trying to defeat the pledges of
the party and of antagonizing the President
in his desire to keep faith with the people.
This new phase of the situation is already
having decided effect on congressional
sentiment and it can now be stated with
assurance that, whether Messrs Allison,
Cullom and the others like it or not, there
will be currency agitation" in Congress
during the coming winter, and it will be
unsafe to jump to the conclusion that such
agitation will be fruitless.
Every hour it is becoming palmer that
the hopes of the jingoes for congressional
interference with the Presidents policy to-
wards Cuba will not be realized. The Re-
publican majority in Congress is evincing
purpose to uphold the executive in the
stand he is taking and to give Spain a
chance to restore peace in Cuba by the
introduction of the reforms promised by the
Liberal Ministry. All doubts on that point
may be set at rest The jingoes may have
their day in Congress, but not in the near
future.
Pooling legislation in the interests of the
railroads and the passage of an anti-scalp-
ing bill will not go through without a hard
nght. There are a great number of Sena-
tors and representatives who do not be-
lleve that because the courts have stripped
the Interstate-cOmmerce Commission of
much of it's power such conditions necessar-
lily prove that the remedy lies in legalizing
pooling. They will attempt first to cure the
defects in the interstate-commerce law and
endeavor to defer congressional assent to
the proposition that the railroads should
be allowed to form giant combinations for
the control of traffic rates.
There is every reason to believe that the
regular session of Congress will be a long
one, lasting probably into next August.
The election of representatives will occur
next fall, and necessity will be felt to
exist for playing politics. as the time ap,
proaches for the holding Of conventions and
for lmpressing the individual voter The
usual talk is being indulged in about a
short and business-like session. but the
chances are very much against such an
outcome. ~