The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-03
CONGRESS- CONVENES TODAY
But Few Members Have Arrived
As Yet.
'sPOp GUN'' BILLS WILL BE
BEFORE THE SENATE SOON.

Today VIII Be Occupied by the Presidents
Messaee-The Nicaragua Canal Bill
VIII Be One of the Most Important to
Come Before Congress and VIII Receive
Prompt Attention.
washington. December AT IL O'Clock
tomorrow. the House of Representatives
will convene the third and final session of
the 53rd Congress, and when its term runs
out at noon on the fourth of March next, it
will have been in session 1fteen months
The attendance of members on the opening
day is not expected to number much, if any
more than a quorum. The record of arrivals
at the post office of the House up to last
night was short of majority. For a day
OF two there probably will be no absolute
necessity for the presence of a quorum, as
the reading of the message of President
Cleveland will be listened to, and it is not
likley that anything else will be done to-
morrow. The House may hear the an
nouncement of the death Of Representative
Myron B. Wright of Pennsylvania, but no
programme of business is arranged by the
committee on rules.
Mr.. Cultivate, one of the majority men,
bers of the commiette had not arrived in
the city yesterday. Speaker Crisp and Mr.
Catchings have not consulted the minority
members, Messrs. Reed and Bul rows, and
meeting of the committee will be held after
the adjournment tomorrow, and will doubt
less agree upon some line of action. Among
the bills likely to come up are the Nicara-
guam canal bill, and bill to permit railroad
companies to pool passengers and freight
business under regulations by the inter.
state commerce commission.
The contested election case of Williams
VS.. Settle, of the fifth North Carolina dis
trict, postponed from the last session by
agreement, will be brought up, but the re-
suits of the late election have diyested it Of
interest.
Aside from the regular appropriation bills
there is not now much business in sight
likely to receive final or decisive action.
The new financial policy, the recent bond
issue, and the investigation of Judge Kicks
of the United States court, for the northern
district of Ohio, in relation to the action of
the court, will doubtless be discussed.
Chairman Sayers of The appropriation
committee, said that he will have the
pension appropriation bills in the calendar
VI LILO lAOuS0 cary al LILO WON ~ NJ ohdoA
more important business presents itself for
consideration the House will send them to
the Senate before the week closes. The
pension bill is nowssready to be reported and
the final meeting of the subcommittee
having charges of the bill will be held at IL
a. m. tomorrow, at which Gems. schoreld
and Batcheller will be examined. Gen.
Schofield, president of the ordinance board,
Fex 80
Fortress Monroe.
IN THE SENATE.
The Senate calendar contains 145 bills and
resolutions that have been reported by COM
mittees, many of them measures of great
Importance, which will be urged for action
as soon as the Senate emerge from the
inertia which characterizes the beginning
of the session. The most important from
a political point of view are the four pop
gum tariff bills sent over from the House
at the close of the last session and reported
favorably to the Senate August 20.
Mr. Jones of Arkansas, and Mr.. Harris of
the finance committee, said they intended
to call these bills up, especially the sugar
bill, at the earliest possible moment, but
1t is not likely they will urge them during
the first week AS it now stands on the
Senate calendar, the Houe bill providing
for free sugar, amended by the Senate
finance committee, by imposing a duty on
bituminous coal when imported from any
country that levies duty on American coal
this being understo to be directed chiefly
against Canada,) the House bill admitting
iron ore free. reported by the Senate
finance committee without amendment, and
the bill as to free ban he'd wire, reported by
a substitute providing for the free admission
not only of barbed wire, but of materials
whi. might enter in its manufacture.
In view of the recent complications at
Bluefields, Mr.. Morgan will take the earliest
opportunity 10 bring to the attention of the
Senate his bill relating to the construction
of the Nicaraguan canal, which he re
norted 10 the Senate April IA. This measure
is bound to be the cause of much discussion
and will be championed by Senators Morgan
and Frve. There is thought to be but little
doubt it will pass the senate, but it's fate in
the House is surrounded by elements of
doubt. The House bill to establish a uni
form system of bankruptcy, favorably re-
ported to the Senate the 3lst of July, will
he matter of earnest discussion, and the
ani-ontion bill may protrude early in the
session. Mr.. Washburk being as Jealous in
its support now as he was when the bill was
IN for conside Grafton in the preceding Con-
press. This.bill was reported to the Senate
the third of August and on the same day
also. were reported the House bills to admit
tbe territories of Arizona and New Mexico
to statehood. Mr.. Faulkner will endeavor
to add these new stars TO the flag before
the present Congress dies.