Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-17
CONGRESS AND BUSINESS

CONGRESS AND BUSINESS.
Congress assemblies this winter under cir
cumstances 80 complex that even the mos
habitual prophets Of politics hesitate TO pre-
dict what it will do or undertake TO do
Everybody has been waiting for the Presi
dents message TO be made public before ven
turing TO estimate the probable work Of thu
session, as it Is generally recognized that tn
recommendations OF the administration ar
generally the main factors in determining
the course of Congress on all importan
issues.
The Presidents message is before the
country, yet 1t seldom happens that the pub
lie mind is 80 much in doubt of the proba
BILE action of Congress as it is at this time
Generally speaking the course that eithel
house is likely TO pursue is well understood
throughout the country, and If any doubti
exist they are only as TO details Of legisla
ton. That is not the case at present. The
country to-day is uncertain, not as TO the
method that will be adopted in dealing with
the currency and other important subjects
of the kind, but whether such issues will be
dealt with seriously at all.
Even the leaders Of both parties in Con-
gress are in doubt or differ 10 opinion as to
the work that will be undertaken. Some Of
them assert the session will be quiet, un,
eventful and comparatively short. Others
expect it to be stormy, exciting and pro
longed until August. All that can be def
nitely predicted is that if an attempt is made
to solve the currency problem the session
will be long one, but otherwise Congress
may get through its work quickly and leave
its members free to go home early in the
the coming elections.
The main reason for the doubt as TO what
will be undertaken is the apparent return Of
prosperity and the content of the people
with existing conditions. At the present
time there is hardly a political issue that
seriously disturls business or agtates the
public mind. The farmers in all sections
of the country are pleased with the increase
of prices for What they may have to sell and
the general favorable outlook. The demand
for labor Is reasonably good and at good
living prices. The general desire seems
be for more business and industry, rather
than for more politics, and there would be
no discomfort IL Congress should decide to
let well enough alone this winter and make
no attempt to materially change any laws
that affect either our financial, commercial
or Industrial systems.
If the disturbing question of the curren-
cy is postponed for the present, so as to
leave the country free to pronounce judg
ment on the tariff 10 the election of the com
ing fall, there will be ample time during the
session of Congress TO consider the claims
OF various sections for public Improvements
A session devoted to consideration of inter
nal improvements and the upbuilding of
our commercial marine would be satisfac.
tory to the people throughout the Union.
THE LETTER. CARRIERS BILL.
According to the Philadelphia Record
there are inklings of the formation of a
lobby at Washington to push bill for the
better payment of letter. carriers, and the
Record, in commenting upon the fact, says
"The letter. carriers are deserving body
Of public servants, and they ought to be
fairly paid for their labors; but if they shall
make any contributions to the Washington
lobby to promote their interests they will
provoke opposition in Congress which will
be very apt to defeat their aims. There is
no need OF a gang Of hired lobbyists to in
form Congress on this subject. A memorial
properly stating the argument in favor Of
snch bill is all that is required; and that
would cost very little"
The great leading journal Of the Keystone
State is unduly disturbed about nothing
There is no reason why the letter carriers
should not have men at Washington to pusl
their bill and urge action upon IT, 1t il
customary for all bodies of men interested
In some particular measure to send deputa
tons to Washington to look after ii, and Sc,
that II is not lost in some committee room
pigeonhole. Letter carriers being but poorly
paid and having little leisure can hardl.
go themselves to the capital, and have there
fore good reason for employing Others IL
guard their interests.
The letter carriers bill has been long be
fore the public and received the approva
OF the press and the people generally. Their
is no ground for suspicion that new bill
TO be presented this winter will differ ma
terialy from that which has been approve,
in the past. The measure is therefore on
that Congress ought to enact, and anything
helping to make the enactment sure is il
itself good.
II is not ~ all likely the appearance in th
lobby of advocate If the bill will arous
opposition in Congress. The average con
gresham Is not moved in that way. 1t |
more probable that the bill would be fol
gotten and overlooked without the lobb
than INSTRUCTED because of it, AT any rat
the measure being good one, the peopl
will approve the letter carriers in pushin
1t along by all legitimate means.
A QUESTION OF MANNERS.
Emperor William, 10 one OF those might