Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-03


Government for Alaska.
Lewiston, Me-, December 1.-THE
Journal this afternoon prints an inter-
view with Congressman Nelson Ding
ley, VINO lert tor Washington to-day.
Mr.. Dingley said:
"Inasmuch as this will be the first
regular session OF the Fifty-fifth Con-
gress and, thereforth, the session un-
limited in length by the Constitution
and laws, it is difficult to forecast the
duration. The business of the APP
preaching session will be expedited by
the fact that the House, as well as the
Senate, is already organized and the
comittees appointed, but the Senate has
no means of limiting debate, 50 that it
is always in the power of a very few
Senators to greatly extend the sitting.
see no reason now, however, to be-
lieve that this session will continue
later than June. Probably bankruptcy
legislation will be the first to come up
after such appropriation bills as may be
ready.
If the Senate were Republican and in
harmony with the majority of the
House on monetary questions, should
look for currency legislation, but with
free silver majority in the Senate an
tagonistic to the ideas of the majority
OF the House as to what constitutes a
sound currency system, I do not see
how it is possible to secure a desirable
currency legislation of an important
character until the Senate is brought
to harmony with the house.
Possibly some desirable amend
ments of the national banking law
might be passed by the Senate. The
House joint resolution for joint COM
mittee to consider the report on need
ed currency legislation passed at the
extra session, is still in the hands of
the finance committee of the Senate
and may be reported back and con-
sidered by the Senate as soon as-Con-
gress .reassembles.
while l should be pleased to see
legislation which would remedy the
want of flexibility of our banking sys-
tenn and would separate those func-
lions of the busy department which
relate to the government demand notes
and certificates used as currency from
those which relate to current receipts
and expenditures, and thus better
protect the reserve, yet l believe that
it is sufficient for all immediate pur-
poses to know that the administration
has the power and is determined to
defend the present monetary stand
ard.
immigration legislation is likely 20
be consummated. Some legislation
may be required to strengthen the
hands of the interstate commerce COM
mission, whose power for good has
been largely taken away by the decis-
ion of the courts. 1t is said that the
railroads will again urge their pool
ing bill. Preliminary census legisla-
ton is necessary. Undoubtedly the eff
fort to secure the admission of Arizona
and New Mexico as States will be re-
Hc"Cu. couuC pCtICi loi III VI 5O'Ci II
ment must be given Alaska, and the
Postmaster General will urge his pos
tai savings system.
unless those who have canvassed
the Senate are much mistaken, the
Hawaiian annexation treaty will either
be promptly ratified by the Senate or
annexation resolution passed and Ha-
wall brought into the Union as Ter
ritory. Speaking for myself, | think
that sound policy and the best inter-
ests of Cuba require that the question
of our attitude toward the island and
Spain be left with. the President, who
has already done much for the Cuban
cause"