New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-23
CONGRESSIONAL POSSIBILITIES.

Congress adjOurns over the holidays. and less
than sixty days of the short session remain in
which 10 finish all its work. II is now plain,
but not palmer than IL was when The Tribune
stated the fact before the session began, that
there can be no legislation this winter on the
currency or the tariff. Earnest and well-mean-
Ing people who are pleading for this or that
change in monetary or revenue laws are only
wasting their time and their influence For
practical men cannot fail TO infer that one has
screw loose somewhere and cannot be q safe
guide who shows entire ignorance Of the con-
dtiOns which necessarily govern Congressional
action, and they ale apt TO suspect that he may
have ignored practical and essential facts as
completely in the measure he urges as in the
time and manner of pushing Il.
The statement Of Representative Walker that
there is no possibility of action at this session
on the currency question conveyed no news 10
the minds Of people fairly informed. but did
call attention TO the fact that sundry of the
Jealous advocates of currency measures appear
not to be fairly Informed, and may therefore
have been as much mistaken In their plans for
removing existing evils as they obviously are
In urging multitudes to effort with the expecta-
ton Of some action at this session. The Sen
ate forms an nsupcrablc barrier to any wise
action on the money question. it Is said but
that was just as well known a year ago as it
Is now
Nor was the declaration Of Chairman Ding
ley necessary 10 show that no alteration Of the
revenue laws could be expected at this session.
Every measure Of that character, once brought
before either house, raises the whole question
Of taxation. and any one OF a thousand pro-
posals TO raise or lower or abolish particular
duties or Internal taxes becomes legitimate
amendment In the House special rules could
limit such amendments but in the Senate moth
Ing can limit the number of amendments or
the length Of debate on any one of them. This
Is not a merely theoretical difficulty. II should
be generally known that there are multitudes
OF changes which are strongly desired by peo-
pie OF sufficient influence TO command vigorous
representation in the Senate. II one change Of
the revenue laws comes before the Senate reg
ularly nothing can prevent the Offering OF as
many amendments as can find single Sen
ator to propose and discuss them
Few realize how many changes there are
which large and influential bodies OF citizens
desire The whole leather and boot and shoe
Industry has been advocating repeal OF the duty
on hides. which formed 10 part Of the tariff
passed by the House nor OF the measure framed
by the Repubiicans or the SENATE Committee.
Hides have been dear this year bat were also
dear before the tariff had passed either house,
owing 70 some decrease Ia the supply Of cat
tie. and the manufacturing interests claim that
the injury 70 their trade, especially abroad. Is
Increased 10y duty which limits foreign sup
plies of hides. The controversy about the duty
Of SO on fine lumber eXcites strong feeling on
she part Of mutltudes III this country. in
Canada. The form OF duty on skirted wool is
declared by wool growers associations most in
furious 10 them. Mere enumeration of the
changes Of tariff which are urged by impor-
hnt interests would take long time. and as
4, the internal revenue. changes are desired in