New-York tribune., 1893-12-03
WORK BEFORE CONGRESS.
A SESSION OF GREAT IMPORTANCE OPENS
TOMORROW
TIE TARIFF, HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, THE OAIEs
" :.
BANKRUPTCY LAW THE NEw-YORK AND
HwJERSEY BRIDGE BILL AND
OTHER MoMENTOus MATTERS


TO BE ACTED UPON.
Washington Dec 2.--The regular session Oh
the Lid Congress, which opens on MONDAY a'
noon. will probably become historical by us ies-
,slation. The extra session, which lasted from
August to November 3, was only an ihteriuue
or a dress rehearsal. Now the actual play Will
begin There will be preliminary work 10
delay business, Speaker to choose nor COM
mittees to appoint The curtain can ring up
at once for action.
For the first time since 1860 the House can
resume the consideration of unfinished busi-
ness Immediately on meeting. UP 10 ana IN
cl,idng the second session Of the last congress
dhe LID the rules of the House proVided 'ha'
six days must elapse before the unfinished o"s-
mess OF the previous session could be taken up
The ruIe WAS an old one. and it's inconsistency
WAS brought to light at the beginning OF the
second session of the last Congress py MI
Kilgore of Texas The House tried 10 take up
an unfinished measure. but Mr. kiigore Waoe
the point that six days must elapse beiore the
matter could come up. under the rules lie
carried his point. but the Committee on Rules
the next day reported a resolution whch WAS
adopted. repeating the six-day clause The pres
ent rules OF the House were accordingly lraiheh
so as to allow business to go ahead as IL no
recess or adjournment had taken place
/ Little II anything Il Is thought. will be ac-
/ complished in the Senate during the first week
Of the session. not much because there VIII
| be nothing to do for the reason that there
| appears To be a disposition on the part OF SEN.
| ators To take things easy at first, and 10 await
the trend of affairs in the House ana the re-
ccption of the suggestions thrown out by the
/ President in his message This latter may, how
ever precipitate an unexpected debate IL Is
well known that there are Senator'S ahxiousiy
awaiting the utterances OF the Executive on
! Hawaiian affairs. This may lead TO an AMI
mated discussion at the start, especially as
| prominent Senators known to entertain
views antagonstc to the policy of the Ad-
minis,ration and To desire the immediate pas
sage Of resolutions Of inquiry relative TO the
| Hawaiian question.
THE SENATE CALENDAR FULL
The Senate calendar Is full Of business. There
are ffty-six bills. seven miscellaneous docu-
ments and one resolution awaiting action, and
number Of other measures lying on the table
subject TO call. Not much headway will be
| made in the Senate, at least until after the
Christmas holidays. The most important bill on
the calendar is Senate bill No 453 introduced
by Mr. Voorhees, August 15 and referred to
the Committee Finance which provides for
the Increase of National bank circulation up to
the par value of the bonds deposited to secure
such circulation II is doubtful whether or not
this bill will be called up again. Mr.. Voorhees,
stated this afternoon that he would take no
steps In regard to any matter before his COM
mittee until there had been a meeting OF the
committee. and this meeting Will be held Tues
day morning at the usual hour Of II o'clock
There are two conference matters which
might properly come up for action. both OF them
being held In allegiance during the recess. pend
ing an agreement on the part OF the cohieiIees'
These the Urgent Deficiency Dill ana the
New-York and New-Jersey Bridge bill The
Senate will insist upon its amendment TO the
Deficiency bill. providing for the payment OF the
clerks To Senator'S and per diem clerks to com
mittees retained In the service OF the Senate
during the recess Of the List Congress, which
the House rejected. after the Senate had voted
for the clause in the bill providing for the pay
ment of the new clerks TO Representatives
authorized by the law passed late In the session
Of the LID Congress There are some items IN
this bill which demand immediate attention. but
the Senate will not recede from It's contention
and unless the House agrees 10 the amendment
Of the Senate the bill II IL asserted, will never
pass The Senate takes the view that the ques-
tion has gone beyond the domain of a mere eX-
pendture. and has resolved Itself into an effort
on the part Of the House TO act as the guardian
of the Senate
NEw.yoRK AND NEW w.JERsEY BRIDGE BILL.
An early settlement Of the differences between
the two houses ON the New-York and New
Hin and Murphy. and it may be that this matter
can be disposed Of before the week ends.
The Senate made some material changes In the
House bill the most important being one provid-
ing that disputes relative to the use of the
bridge and the tracks should be submitted To
the Secretary Of War Instead Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and taking from the
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund of New
York the authority to regulate the approaches
to the bridge in the city of New-York. new
section vas also added to the bill granting to
lri.p he
rights as those granted to this company in con-
necton with the detail of construction the
length Of span. height, etc.
An early subject for discussion Will be the
proposed changes in the rules which the long
debate on the Silver bill brought To the promi-
ncnt attention Of the Senate and the country.
There are several amendments now pending
before the Committee on. Rules and that com
mittee will meet to consider them at the
earliest practicable moment. Most OF these
amendments are in the direction of closure.
Any report made by this committee recommend
ing closure will be the signal for the opening
OF prolonged and hot debate.
The death of Representative O'Neill. OF Penn
sylvania. the Father Of the House may be
announced early in the proceedings Of the first
day I'm both House and Senate. and an adjourn
ment out Of respect to his memory VIII neces-
sarIly follow.
In the House on Wednesday Representative
Oates OF Alabama. will call up the Bankruptcy
bill (which was under consideration AT the con-
cusion Of the first session. as unfinished busi-
ness General debate on this measure has
lasted some time, and Mr.. Oates Will ask that
IL close i'm two days. Afterward, amendments
will be I'm order. and debate under the five
minute rule will begin Mr.. Oates hopes to
bring the measure to vote In eight or ten
days He thinks ii will pass and he will en-
deavor to have 1t voted on before other meas
ures Of more urgency get the attention OF the
House
TARIFF TO HAVE PRECEDENCE.
The Ways and Means Committee is anxious to
get the Tariff bill up as soon as possible. and
t,li.l.
other measures will then retire In the House
and give the right of way to the tariff.
Chairman Sayers of the Appropriations Com
mittee will have two or three appropriation
bills ready for the House to act upon by the
end Of the first weeks session. but he VIII not
IL. e.. ell aIa.p Ia ihnI