The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-14
Probable Work Of
The NeSt Congress
From the Washington Star.

- HE WORK of the next congress
may be predicted with something
more than the usual accuracy,
now that TIE spClkGrShip has
- been settled and the general pol
icy of the Republican majority is known.
The regular session-and there does not
now seem much prospect of an extra
session-will be one of constructive work.
The most important work of the last con-
gress, however-the revision of the reve-
nue. laws-will not receive any serious
attention at either session of the new
congress. Secretary Gage has demon
strated In a recent magazine article
what was already known to those who
have studied the treasury figures, that
the revenues will be sufficient to meet the
expenses of the next two fiscal years, II
business conditions continue favorable,
or that, upon the worst showing, they
will be so nearly sufficient that the large
surplus in the treasury will cover any
trifling deficit which may arise. The
war revenue law, with the stamp taxes
and proprietary taxes, and the duty on
tea will, therefore, continue in force for
two years longer, and probably for three
years. 1t is certain that no action will
be taken toward repeating them at tho
long session and there is very little prob
ability of such action at the short session
which ends on March 4, 1901. This will
throw the whole subject over to the regu-
lar session of the Fifty-seventh con-
gress, which will meet in December, 1901.
and in the natural order of things would
hardly pass a complete revenue bill to
take effect before the close of the fiscal
year on June so, 1902 If the pressure of
revenues should become excessive. some
partial measure might be possible at the
short session in the winter of 19O0-19Ol, or
special session might be called in the
following spring. AS matters stand how
ever, the danger is wholly on the side of
excessive rather than insufficient revenue
so long as business prosperity prevails,
and the Republican managers do not look
for another panic until long time after
the reelection of President Mckinley,
which is confidently anticipated by them.
o
The choice of General Henderson for
speaker apparently insures some progress
sive action on the currency problem.
General Henderson was chairman of
the caucus committee which met in April
at Atlantic City, and is reported to have
agreed upon a vigorous assertion of the
gold standard and the adoption of means
which will maintain the standard under
all conditions. 1t is not unlikely, If Mr..
Reed had continued to be speaker, that
General Henderson would have been made
chairman of the banking committee or of
d
sides of the monetary problem. General
Henderson will now have the whole mat
ter in his own hands, and is likely TO
name a vigorous supporter of the Allan
tic City progremme as chairman of the
banking committee. 1t has not yet been
decided by the Republican leaders just
what method shall be pursued in put
ting the currency bill on the statute
book. The regular course would be to
| ref I IN
as it represents the mandate of a Repub-
lican Cauncus, 1t may not be thought
| necessary TO refer it to any COM
mittee before passing 1t through
the house by the solid Repub-
| lcan vote. This does not mean that the
banking committee will have nothing to
do during the coming congress- The
| bill framed at Atlantic City is avowedly
only one of several steps in tho drec-
tion of putting the currency of the coun-
| try upon a scientific basis. The banking
committee will perhaps be encouraged to
continue the process of popular educa-
| tion by reporting another comprehen-
| sive banking bill, like that framed by the
| subcommittee in the last congress-
! Messrs. McCleary, Of Minnesota; Prince,
| OF Illinois, and Mitchell, of New York
even if it is not thought desirable TO pass
! the bill, These Republican leaders who
have examined the question are satis-
| fled that some steps must be taken very
soon to permit an expansion OF the paper
! currency to meet the demands OF busi-
ness and the growth of population. They
| do not favor Increased greenback issues,
! and practically the only resource, when
| the country is ready for it, is the adop-
| ton OF an elastic banking currency.
/ o
! Some amendment of the bankruptcy
| law are likely to be considered at the
| coming session. General Henderson was
| one of the most careful students of tho
bill which was reported by his commit
| tiou TO understand the need of changes
and their scope II the subject is taken up.
Colonel Ray, Of New York, who was the
ranking Republican on the judiciary
committee in the last house, Is consid-
cred in the speculation on the subject as
likely to be chairman in the present
house. IL Is said that II was largely by
his labors that Senator Nelson, OF Mime
sota who at first favored a purely volun-
tary bill was brought 10 the acceptance
of a moderate bill for involuntary bank
ruptcy. Whether an amendatory bill
| shall be put through both houses will de-
pend 10 some extent upon the Importance
and scope Of the amendments and the
demand for them by the business COM
munity. There Is always a disposition
IN congress TO give a new measure u
trial without amendment, especially
where a hard fight is likely to be re-
| o,,irad 10 nut amendments nnon the