The Press., 1898-01-06
WnahInRton Letter. .
Washington. Nov. 70, lsS

Congress will reassemble on Wednes- day with as much uncertainty as to what will be accomplished this year as existed on the first day of the session, nearly a month ago. Instead of bringing the senators and representatives closer to- gether, the holiday recess has served to aocentuate their differences and to show how very far apart they are upon almost every subject upon which Legislation will be attempted. The extreme gold standard republicans are insisting that the party must put Legislation through the house, In which they have Q majority, that will prove the sincerity of the party towards the gold standard the republican silver senators are talking of the certainty of a big party detection if this advice Is follow cd, and the conservative republicans are ~tryinR to get tho consent of their radical colleagues to a program that will either finance alone entirely or only include some measure that can be supported by all members of the party. The democrats and popullsts, having declared themselves in caucus to be opposed to all the financi- al recommendations of President Mo- Klnley and Secretary Gage, are now merely watching their opponents and waiting for them to try to do something.
 The opponents of existing civil service conditions have so far only been able to agree upon the thing-that they want a change. The committee appointed at the caucus of republicans to prepare bill Is divided in sentiment, and likely to report two bills, one to modify the law and one to repeal 1t outright, and it Is stated that neither can command the solid vote of those who attended the caucus. The democrats have in caucus agreed to vote for bill for tho repeal of the law, but against any bill modifying 1t, and the popullsts have decided to vote against any bill proposing n change. Just after that republican caucus was held 1t was stated that President Mckinley had de- cided to foEestall Legislation on the sub- ject by materially modifying the extent of the civil service rules, but he Is said to have changed his mind since he ascertain cd the divided condition of the opponents of the law.
 Senator Teller will seldom express his opinion on what congress will or will not do, but of the outlook for financial legis- lation, he said: There will be no cur roncy Legislation passed by the senate at this session, and predict that the forcing of Mir. Gage's financial scheme will result in a split between the president and the blmetalllc senators. There Is no possi- billty of any Legislation touching national banks that will be of character to satisfy the banks and permit them to issue greater circulation than they have now, although have no doubt that the attempt will be made by the administration party to do so." Mir. Teller Is going to put the senate on record, he says, by offering a resolution, originally offered by Senator Stanley Matthews, in 1878 and adopted by the senate, declaring that all U. $. bonds are payable in silver dollars at the option of the government.
 It has been suggested by those who favor making public the pension rolls but are not certain as to whether they will support the bill authorizing the govern ment Go print 1t, because of the money 1t will eost-about $200, ,OO0-, that 1t would be cheaper and would place the name be- fore many more people If the list of pensioners of each county were published in the newspapers of that country. Whether this plan would be cheaper Is q matter of doubt, as congress as a body would hardly have the nerve to ask the press of the country to perform such service without compensation, however much individual ongTessmen may Im- pose upon the generosity of individual publishers, but there can be no doubt about its being the best way to get the list before the public. Every intelligent man reads the newspapers, while only those who have some particular reason therefor would take the trouble to even glance at the contents of twelve or fifteen ponderous volumes, even were they placed where access to them would be easy.
 Secretary Sherman has again denied the truth of the report revived for about the tooth time that he intends resigning. Ills friends say that his health Is as good Gs 1t has been at any time during the last Ave years, and that unless It gets worse, he will remain at the head of the depart ment of state during this administration.