Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-02
THB NATIOA'SCA
Opening Of he PiitJ-1ilt Csl-
6fess Today.
The Decrease In the Public Debt 0lnca
the First Of November.

WAsHISorox, Dec. 1.-The Fifsy-hfst
Congress will assemble ss nooa tomorrow
with prospect Of accomplishing an orderly
and unevensful organisation. 10 view. how
ever. Of the necessary consumption Of prac-
ticaily the entire day in organization Of the
new House Of Representatives. the Presi.
dents annual message will not bs sent 70
Congress until Tuesday. The annual report
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury will Be
transmitted at noon Wednesday.
The coming Congross will be asked to take
action on . number Of we'll discussed public
questions, among them the Blair educational
bill, bills to forfeit land grants, general and
special bills to declare trusts unlawful, de.
pendent pension bills, bills to repeal civil
service and oleomsrgarine tax laws, and
various measures relating to tariff, internal
revenue and general financial SYSTEMS.
There will also be presented to the Senate
the resulfs of Investigations made during the
recess by the several committees upon the
dressed beef business. subject Of irrigating
arid lands, iRnnleiion to Canadian railroads
and to the intl lite commerce Law, and the
CONNIE rcial relations exiting between the
United States and Canada, including the
Alaskan seal fisheries. The silver question
will speedily come up in some shape. The
Tripartite treaty with Great Britain and
Germany, respecting the control and direc-
tons Of affairs in Samoa. 10 the principal
topic to be discussed under the head of
foreign affairs
There are. however. fsheries and seal
questions which were up for the considers
ton of the last session which are likely to
appear again, also the proposed scheme to
promote = commercial union with Canada,
with view to its ultimate annexation; .
settlement of the Mexiesn and Alaskan bor-
ders BY the app0intmem Of commissioners
or by treaty, and declaration of the sense
of the United States with respect 70 the for
eign control Of the intef-oceanic canals on
the American continent.
The general expectation 10 that very little
business will be completed before the holi-
days. A good part of the time Of the Senate
up to the Christmas recess will be consumed
in disposing of long list of recess nomina
tiOns by the President. A republican caucus
will be held early in the week to place the
new senator's on the committees. Unlike the
Senate the House Of Representatives will
present = decided change in the political
complexion as compared with its predeces-
sors In 4 total Of $50 members only 1893
occupied seats in the last Congress. and
democratic majority of IL in the 50th Con-
gress has been replaced by = republican
majority of eight, as shown by the unofficial
list prepared by the clerk.
At noon tomorrow, Gen. CLARK, Clerk of
the last House, will call the members elect
to order, az prepared by him, and the House
will Immediately proceed to elect Reed
Speaker. The oath of Office will be admin
istered to him by Judge Kelley of Pennsylva-
mia, the member who has the longest record
Of continuous service. The first duty Of the
new Speaker will be to summons the men,
bers of the House to appear before the bar
and qualify.
There has been talk Of opposition to the
qualification of certain representatives whose
seats will be contested. but it 10 thought un-
likely that there will be any serious delay in
the organization. The remainder Of the
elective officers of the House will be chosen
and then will follow the biennial drawing for
seats with the attendant diverting scenes
which will consume the remainder Of the
6rsI days session.