Passaic City record., 1899-11-18
PROBLEMS FOR CONGRESS
The Effect Of the Elections on Our
Commercial Policy.
AMERICAN INTERESTS IN CHINA.

Action Likely to Be Taken by Congress
for the Government of Porto Rico
The Problem of Free Sugar and To
bacco From Cuba-The Revenue and
Currency Situation-Other Questions.
WASHINGTON, d. G. Especially D.-Signs O.
the approaching session of Congress are
multiplying. Senators and Representatives
living in Washington are already returning
to the city. Many appear on Pennsylvania
avenue in the autumn sunlight while max
ing the rounds OF the departments and at
tending to the wants of their constituents
The contest for the Speakership attracts
no attention because already settled. Az
know that David B. Henderson, of Iowa
will succeed Thomas B. Reed.
The results of the elections will probably
make it easier for the Administration to &C
forward with the organization of civil gov.
ernment and definite commercial relations
in the dependencies. President Mckinley
will feel able to carry out the programme
already made public for the protection of
American interests in China and for the
participation of the United States in the
struggle for the commerce of the unde-
veloped countries. His recent action In
regard to China was the result of gradual
ly ripening conviction and of the earnest
advice of Secretary Hay, who learned to
appreciate at London the Importance at
tached In England to the extension of com.
mercial opportunities. It Is not probable
that any legislation will he called for in
regard to China, or even any resolution by
Congress, except the general step involved
in strengthening the navy and making it
capable of sustaining with dignity the pro-
&c ~ Tod Csnfa
ence with Chinese sovereignty by Russia,
Germany, France or Italy.
The conservative legislation required In
the case of the dependencies, however,
will be extensive and more or less trouble
some. There is no reason apparently why
legislation should not be enacted for
Porto Rico which would lead to the grad
ual creation of complete civil govern
ment in the island. The situation In Cuba
is more complicated, because of the pledge
that the United States might withdraw
when u stable government had been es-
tabished. The most bitter conflict in
Congress over both these, islands promises
to come upon the question of tariffs. The
Ways and Means Committee will have to
deal with the question first and may de-
eide to throw down all tariff barriers be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States.
This will cause violent resistance from the
tobacco interests and the sugar-gro wing
interests. The volume of imports of to-
bacco and sugar from Porto Rico into the
the United States will not be such factor
as to greatly imperl the American pro-
ducers, but the contest over Porto Rico
will be the skirmish line of the contest
over Cuba, if that island seeks admission
to the United States.
The currency and revenue problems will
present themselves in sevaral forms before
the session is over. The Republican lead
ars In t he House are preparing to pass the
ha int pt
of most OF the committees and before the
Christmas holidays. The measure of tho
Senate Finance Committee is looked upon
with some anxiety by II few Republican
Senators from the extreme West. and they
will probably protest against it in caucus.
The revenue problem will not be taken up
II it can be avoided. Provision may be
made in one OF the financial bills for ex-
changing the bonds which mature In 1904
and 1907 for new issues at a lower rate. 1T
will be necessary to pay premium for the
old bonds, but the Government will save a
large amount In interest in the long run.
The banking problem is becoming more
pressing as the country feels the right
limits of the present currency pressing
tighter and tighter upon the limbs of CON-
merce. Senators and Representatives from
the West are declaring that something
must be done and are relikely to find support
among Eastern members, whose local in
terests have suffered by the high interest
rates In New York.
Two other important business projects
which will come before Congress will be
the Shipping bill and the amendment OF
the Bankruptcy laws. Barring the acci-
dents which often defeat action by Con-
gress, There is reason to believe that both
thsse measures will be acted upon. The
advocates of amendments to the Bank
ruptcy laws have reduced their proposition
to the simplest form In order to secure con-
sideration and action.
The Shipping bill will be put through
under the orders OF party leaders unless
there are more Republicans who refuse to
support 1t than now seems probable.
Just what will be done in reference to an
inter-oceanic canal is something OF apro-
blem. The natural order of events would
involve the postpone uent OF action until
after the report of the commission which
was directed to investigate the subject by
the last Congress. Some effort may be
made, however, to secure the Endorsement
OF the Nicaraguan project by the Govern
ment without waiting for the report of the
commission. 1t will be represented that
the French canal is being pushed rapidly.
at least on paper, and that the United
States ought not to postpone indefinitely
the creation of route under their own
control. There is a bare possibility that
authority to make new treaty with
Nicaragua and begin the construction OF
canal under the engineer officers of the
army will be granted by Congress.