The record-union., 1897-12-01
CONGRESS WILL
MEET NEXT MONDAY.
Members Unusually Slow in Putting
in Appearance.
But Few Leaders Of Either Branch Have
Yet Arrived.
Congressman Reticent Regarding
What Action May be Taken in
tie Probability of Any Import
ant Financial Legislation.

WASHINGTON, Nov 30.-Members
of Congress are unusually slow in put
ting in their appearances here for the
regular session, which convenes next
Monday. Up to this time there have
been scarcely more than half a dozen
arrivals each day. From now on, how
ever, it is expected that the rush Will
begin, and that full attendance will be
in their places on the opening day.
Few of the leaders of either house are
here yet. This is especially true of the
Represent atives. Neither Speaker Reed
nor Mr.. Dingley, the floor leaders of the
majority, will reach Washington until
Saturday or Sunday.
With the exception of pronounced and
radical and anti-Cuban Congressman,
the members of both houses, as a rule,
seem to be holding their judgments in
allegiance until they ascertain from Of
fetal sources exactly what the situa
tion is as TO Cuba.
In the matter of the currency it seems
already established that the Democrats
and their free silver allies will oppose
stubbornly anything the majority is
likely to propose. and the fact that the
opposition in the Senate seems insur-
nlountable inclines many OF the Repub-
lican members of the House to the opin-
ion that it would be wisdom not to at
tempt any legislation whatever.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa is one of these.
He thinks the futility of passing a
measure in the Senate makes it inexpe
dent for the House to attempt to put
through a measure, and besides he
doubts the propriety of the Republicans
Of the House attempting to make a Re-
publican policy upon a subject which
the Republican platform does not speak
Of to the point. He says if the President
should, as reported, recommend any
scheme for the retirement of the green
backs, it would be beyond the Repub-
lican platform, and every Republican
would be free to support or oppose it, as
his Judgment indicated.
There is some talk of Republican
caucus on this question, many of the
members believing that if a currency
measure is to be passed, differences
could be most easily adjusted. and con-
certed action secured in this way.
Mr. Walker of Massachusetts. Chair
man of the Committee on Banking and
Currency, some time ago sent a letter to
every member of his committee, urging
the Importance of currency legislation,
and asking each member to be prepar-
ed, as soon after the opening of the ses-
sion as possible, to work to the end that
some measure may be submitted to the
House for action,
Mr.. Hepburn, who is Chairman of the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, says he has received many
letters during the recess, particularly
from mercantile bodies, urging action on
the anti-scalping and pooling bills, and
he expects both of these questions to re-
cefve early attention.
Representative Cannon. Chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations, ar
rived in Washington to-day. Speaking
to a representative of the Associated
Press, he said that his policy for the
approaching session of Congress, as
Chairman of the House committee.
would be to hold the appropriat tions, so
far as he could control them, down to
existing conditions.
Il believe in a liberal but not extrav-
aeant policy in making appropria-
tions,'' he said, "and until our revenues
increase I shall oppose entering upon
new enterprises requiring the expendi-
ture of Government funds"
MIR. Cannon expressed the opinion that
by the beginning of the next fiscal year
the Dingley tariff bill would afford rev.
enue sufficient to meet the legitimate de-
mands of the Government. He also
stated his belief to be that the coming
session would b. a comparatively brief
one
I'VE should be away from here easily
by the 1st of June" he said. Indeed,
there is very little for us to do beyond
pass on great appropriation bills. 1t is
needless for us to attempt to secure cur
rency legislation, because of the impos-
sibility of getting anything through
this session so long as the Senate is
anti-Republican as at present, and all
efforts to get currency reform legisla-
tion will be so much waste of time and
energy"