The San Francisco call., 1901-11-18
PROBLEMS FOR CONGRESS.

N proaches reports from Washington concerning
\ its probable action during the session become
more and more contradictory and confused. 1t is no!
strange that should be So The old issues upon which
the parties have fought in recent elections have been
settled Free silver is longer live question, and
consequently the political leaders will have to align
themselves this winter upon new questions. Repub-
licans, of course have only to stand firm upon the
ground now occupied, but the Democratic leaders
will try to shift the contest to point where they
may at least hope for an advantage and consequently
large part of the debates of the session will be taken
up with partisan skirrnishing for position.
1t is gratifying that the sthrnan canal question
and that OF the re-enactment OF a Chinese exclusion
law partisan issues 1t is possible that each
of these much desired may be provided dur
ing the session without much trouble. The opposi-
ton to the sthmian canal, however, is still formida-
bic, and the people will remember that many ses-
sion in the past has opened with every prospect for
the passage OF canal bill, but has been brought to
a close without anything being done than the
appointment of another commission. The interests
antagonstic to the canal strong, and, notwith-
standing no political party avowedly supports those
interests they have still considerable following in
both houses and in both parties and We cannot be
OF the beginning of the enterprise until the bill
providing or it has been duly enacted and is signed
by the President.
The partisan interest in the session will center
round the efforts made to bring about some kind of
tariff revision to provide for extensive system
of reciprocity treaties. Ample evidence is before the
country that the Democratic leaders quite willing
renew their attack upon the protective system and
will do what they can during the session to furnish
their party with policy upon which appeal to the
people in the coming Congressional elections.
The ski1mishing these questions is going to be
the more interesting because several Republicans
have declared themselves in favor of tariff revision
and of the reciprocity treaties before the
try. 1t remains to be how strong that element
is and whether any considerable number of Repub-
licans will vote against their party either of the
two issues 1t is of course not likely that the de-
lection will be great but if there be any all it will
encourage the free traders and the Democrats to
make tariff fight fall and the party issue of the
immediate future will be practically determined
Along with the tariff issue will be that of the enact
ment of an adequate measure for the promotion of
merchant marine. The Republican party has
yet fulfilled its pledges to the people that sub
ject. The shipping bill should have been enacted
promptly the protective tariff bill, and every de-
velopment of trade and industry under the protective
system has demonstrated the need of giving
governmental support to merchant marine. Our
foreign commerce is almost wholly in the hands
OF foreign shipowners and consequence we pay
to the foreigner heavy tribute upon our own trade
"a tribute that increases as the trade increases.
The partisan skirnishing these and kindred ques-
tions will be the more keen because the increasing
surplus the treasury proves that the of the
country larger than needed at the present rate
OF expenditure. There who favor the under
taking of internal Improvements on an extended
come and thus provide for prompt return of the
money in the treasury to the channels of trade.
Others would cut down the income by reducing in
terna taxes Still others would reduce the customs
foreign imports. 1t is to these questions Congress
will have to address itself, and around them party
leaders will stirlish for position 1t is going to be