| Show washington ITEMS WHAT CONGRESS WILL baroh WITH THESE DAYS the silver factious working hard for free coinage federal election bill apportionment 1 ENQUIRER correspondence dec 5 1890 while it ia wholly true that this congress at its second session haa under the letter of llie constitution every right to originate and pei feet such legislation as a majority of its members approve it may well be questioned whether in alie cir ia either wise or expedient to attempt the enactment of any measure for which there is no popular de mandrut mand but which may seem to be called for by the exigencies of party warfare since the force bill was passed by the house and introduced into the senate a general congressional election bas been held in which it is not unfair to suppose that the people acted in the cognizance of and with full reference to the proceedings of the first session of the fifty first congress that they did not approve of all these proceedings ce would seem to an impartial observer neither an unintelligent nor un enst conclusion from the results of that election in view of this disapprobation and of the further fact that a legislature truly performs its functions only when it the will of ohp it donld seem for this congress to devote the short period now remaining to it not to discredit partisan measures but to such practical business aa may be of benefit to the country that there is no lack of such business is shown by the number of measures now pending the supreme court needs relief commercial interests demand a bankruptcy law labor seeks alie due of its rights the several appropriation bills have to be thoroughly considered and various other measures of a purely practical and nonpartisan non partisan character await disposal the present would seem to be more favorable for the accordant action on auch matters than for the adoption of doubtful schemes for ostensible party advantages these considerations erat ions are applicable to the senate as well as the house it is very true that the late upheaval did bot as directly effect the upper as tho lower chamber but the territory concerned in it is represented in both and its indications should not go unheeded in either the short session is therefore most opportune for bringing up the arrears of practical legislation about which all parties are agreed and it is to be hoped that the majority in the senat will read the signa of the time artist and do its duty in the premises wisely and patriotically the silver men among the republicans of atie senate have been trying to make some agreement with relation to the federal elections bill which will secure the passage of a free coinage bill through both housea of congress As partisans they tte agreement should be with members of their own party but it is not improbable that if they cannot wk aliat aliey want in any other way they will combine against the election bill ons thing chiy are alive to is the fact that alie success of their own measure depends upon making terms before the election bill is disposed of they would probably have no difficulty in making an agreement with their party leaders to permit a free coinage bill to come to a vote in the senate but it would be blocked in the house what they insist on is that it shall have a fair show in both houses of congress this situation is liable to lead to a combination between the democrats and the silver republicans in the senate it is understood that alie republican members ef the census committee have reached an agreement upon a reapportionment tion ment of members of the house the present house consists of members this understanding has been arrived at after mature consideration and consultation with their party associates on the floor the ratio of representation is one to each of the po this is about the lowest number which will permit each state during the next decade to retain its present membership it is not at all likely that any anti gerrymandering features will be incorporated in the apportionment hill there is considerable divergence of opinion aa to tho advisability of doing this and in the opinion of some members it 19 doubtful whether congress can enact acy provision that will effectually check gerrymandering old reliable political franchise widespread dissatisfaction has given place to alie more modern widespread misrepresentation of the tariff bill did it some misguided party organs are calling un the senate to rush the force bill at a more rapid nace what it really needs is alie pace that kills L |
