The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-04
CONGRESS CONvENES TO-DAY
THE SESSION mar BEGIN WITH The
READING or THE MESSAGE

Nay he the First \ ct OF the Session To He
Sent 20 the Prr-ident-Aar. Hurs Cioture
Proportions Not Likely 20 lie Adopted.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3 Vice. President Steven
son arrived here tonight. and with him came
a large delegation OF Senators and Representa-
tlves from all parts OF the country. IL is gem
orally understood that Tomorrow will be de-
voted to the reading OF tho Presidents mes
sage. after which the formal announcement OF
the death Of the late Representative O'Neill OF
Pennsylvania will be made and followed by an
adjournment The uptown hotels presented
an unusually busy scene tonight. and Sena-
tors Representatives. officers Of tho Admins
tration and their friends mingled together
and discussed the probable work OF the sos
sion.
Probably the first act Of the session to reach
the final stage will DO tho agreement OF the
Conference Committee on tho New York and
New Jersey Bridge bill. This Till passed the
House on Oct. Is and was sent to the Senate.
where It remained In the Committee on Com
merce for IL number Of days and was reported
almost too late in the session to pass. num-
Der OF amendments were made to IL in COM
mittee and as reported the hill was passed. Ow-
ing to the immediate adjournment OF the sea-
sion the conferrees agreed that the bill should
remain in conference until Congress shall
meet again. and now that Congress will be
here this week Mr.. Hill can be counted upon
to see that the conterrees get at 1t at the ear
Hest possible moment. Tho effort will DO
made to have the differences Of the two
Houses settled. and the bill sent to the Presi-
dent for his signature before the expiration OF
the week. The Senate made o number OF
minor amendments in the text OF the bill.
which. however. did not change the construc-
ton OF the act The other and the i'm
portant changes made were those which
took from tho Interstate Commerce Commits
sion tho settlement Of all disputes as to the
equality or equity OF the terms upon which
railroads should be permitted to use the
bridge and connect their tracks. and trans
ferred that authority to the Secretary OF War.
The House also inserted n provision that no
roads should be operated on the approaches to
the bridge In the city of New York. except on
such approaches as had been located in the
CITY. with the approval OF the commissioners Of
the sinking fund OF New York. and that nothing
in the. act should authorize the. laying
proaches in the city Of New York. except as
might he approved by the same Commission
mated from the bill. although 1t permitted to
stand the provision that the location Of all APP
Be Of 9S f Ey IL snn
Fund Commissioners.
Another amendment. and one over. which
the addition o. another section to the bill.
which is IN reality an amendment OF tho char
the length q the span was Objectionable. and
length the other ought to have The
could be done in an amendment to
the charter Of the old company. but In order
which gave to any! any other company the sans
rights bestowed upon the New York and New
iii. THIS section de"s entrefy With the dee dee
tails Of construction and regulates the length
and height Of the span and other matters con-
amended bill, and that tho differences be-
Senator Hill has returned TO Washington
docket. One is the Federal Elections law.
which has already passed the House, and the
rules. with view to placing limit upon do
bate and thus eNpediting the public BUSH mess.
eur ar the PnSsage Of the bil repSane the
Federal Election laws but he probably has ga
follow his advice and vote to establish
a limit for discussion He VIII soon discover
were disposed to vote Tor a change in the
rule when the repeal Of the silver bill was
minds mil on that subject "a Late in The extra
session the Committee on Rules. Of which Mr.
consider the question and report to the Senate
what measures were needed TO facilitate the
sessions during The recess. but will get to
work on this perplexing subject at the earliest,
practicable moment after the reassemlIing OF
that have been turned over to this committee
they may be able to construct rule TINT will
terinG' and In the senate " ieliberaton."
MIR. Hlll's resolutions look to the eiectment
subject. a lack OF a quorum. and tho fixing Of
cast-iron eloture provision. one Of his pro;
no quorum shall not he made ottener than
once every hour and that no senator shall pc
this 20 the provision OF course not 70 apply
when IT,. ,.Osence Of a quorum Is disclosed on
cal OF the yeas and nS'T AnR wbo 1ass.
Ss,,o: n s Stafff rs ; 5slp, sSa hi i:
counted TO mako q quorum; Mr.: liill seeks
also to do away with much Of he trouble
which has frequently made II Impossible TO
secure quorum. II provides that upon any
OF quorum any senator paired may an-
nounce his pair ana then he counted us pres
emit, but not voting, Tor the purpose of making
a quorum. The remaining amendment Of Mr.
Hills Is brief. bur RcroEl plishes everything IL
atdT Am a%S En- sn SS lnsoutioa hps Geen de.
batsd for thirty DAYS; II shall be IN
order tor ts ANY vote @a the LII and %
shall be- taken. and this motion, which shall
not 10 deLatable shall BIO put without amend
MIR Lodge OF Massachusetts, has also offered
an amsu!nrnt that would, II adopted. 20 a
long way toward shortening debate. 1t pros
hibIts the reading Of written or printed
spec hes. There Is no possible chance for
such a rule TO be adopted.
Senator Plait OF Connecticut. one OF the Re-
pubiicans. who has always advocated cloturo
said ha lid not believe there would be- any
nerrssity flr changing the rules OF the senate
10 secure the passage OF tho Wilson Tarin bill
lie had not consulted any Of his Republican
associates. on the subject. but there did not
aPpear to he any reason why the Republicans
should resort T. dilat0Ty tactics TO prevent the
passage Of the bill lie believed that the sub
give tho people al the light possible. aud then
vote should be taken. IL would be hett to pass
whether II H. the best thing for them to have,
than 10 keep the business OF the country in a
prolonged state Of uncertainty. The Demo-
Gratis he SAID, believe that they can give away
the trade Of this country and az The sAme ttmo