The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-16
Work Ahead for The
NeSt Congress
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Some of the members of congress who
nave reached Washington express the
opinion that the coming session will be
a short and unimportant one IT is diff
licult TO see how they can reach that
conclusion. 1t is true that the commit
tees were appointed at the close of the
extra session and that the tariff is out
or the way which means large saving
IN time. But there are many important
questions to be considered and however
expeditions the house may be there
Is no prospect of preventing the usual
waste OF time in the senate by dreary
speeches and the reading of compositions
written for incompetent senators by per-
sons in their employ.
A number of important foreign ques-
tions Will come up for early considera-
ton. The resolution passed by the sem
ate at the extra session, recognizing the
belligerency OF the Cuban insurgents, Is
now before the house committee on
foreign affairs. The president will
deal with this subject in his message.
But the party i'm national convention
declared that "the government of the
United States should actively use its
influence and good offices to restore
peace and give independence to the
island" Cuba is in a far worse con-
dition now with 1000 persons dying
daily of starvation than it was when
the national convention adopted that
declaration. Spain's plea of autonomy
has been rejected by Senor Giberga and
other leading loyal autonomists in Cuba
as a snare and a delusion. 1t is not prob
able that the house will be influenced by
newspaper declarations of friendship on
the part of the Spanish ministry. This
country is not suing for Spain's friend
justice for Cuba and for protection to
our own people and their rights Unless
something takes place to change the
situation between now and the time con-
gress meets the probabilities are that the
senate Cuban resolution will be passed
by the house. But that will not involve
war with Spain.
The treaty for the annexation of Ha-
wall is now before the senate The ma
jority of the Hawaiian planters have en-
tered into contract to sell their raw
sugar to antitrust refineries although
trust rCfneries, under n contract that eX-
pires on Jan. !, are now receiving that
sugar. This change will make the greedy
sugar trust a more bitter opponent of
annexation than 1t has been while trying
to force the planters to renew their con-
tract with Sprcckcls. This will probably
cause delay in the ratification of the
treaty and may force the passage of a
Joint resolution. which will require a
majority vote only. to carry the treaty.
into effect There will then he a struggle
over the form of government for Hawaii.
o
At the last session a resolution was
passed calling on the president for in
formation as to whether or not Denmark
desires to sell her possessions in the
West India Islands. 1t is understood
that congress will be Informed that
Denmark intends TO dispose of her islands
and that if the United States does not
purchase them two other great nations.
probably Germany and England are
anxious to bid. The United States IS
very badly in need of coaling stations in
the West Indies, and it certainly cannot
afford to permit Germany or any other
European power TO secure these islands
This may prove a very important tonic.
The Nicaragua canal question. although
of great Importance, will probably have
to await a report from the commission
authorized at the last session. and which
for some reason not easily understood
has not vet even sailed for Nicaragua.
The sealing question will come uD for
action, and unless Great Britain becomes
party to the ARRANGEMENT with Rus
sia and Japan one of the numerous hills
introduced to provide for the destruction
of the seals on the Pribylov islands, in
stead of allowing the young to be starved
to DEATH will probably be passed The
news that the catch this year is only
about half that of last year shows how
rapidly the Canadians are exterminating
the herd. Other questions concerning
our relations with Canada and probably
some reciprocity legislation will come up
| for consideration.
o.
The currency question will occupy a
| good deal of time I'm the senate and per-
| haps in the house. The president. ac-
| cording to various newspaper renorts
will recommend creating q burao,, IL, III %
| treasury in which notes redeemed in gold
will be held until maid ont again in ex
change for gold, thus preventing "an end
| less chain" Secretary Gage. unless he
| changes that part of his report already
printed. will make much more radical
recommendations looking TO the retire
ment of the greenbacks These rocor-
! mendations, in connection with the re-
| port of the Wolcott bimetallic commits
| sion, will furnish food enough for weeks
| of spcechcs in the senate. Already tho
versatile senator from New Homnsbirn,
| Mr. Chandler is predicting that thp Dem
ocrats will control the next congress-
and that Rryan will he elected in 1000
unless 'somethinr is done for silver
But what can he done for the 40 cont dol
lar Mr. Chandler and others who n vear
ago predicted daily that Mr., Mckinley
| could not be nominated for nresident do
| NOT say The genial Nev uamnsbiro
senator is as far wrong now os be 1vos
then, but his signed nevsnaner articles
| go TO show what may he exnectod u,hen
| IL comes TO currency legislation in the
| senate norticular rIv in view Of tho do
mand for legislation in the direction of
making the gold basis more secure Sec