The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-12-03
THE SHORT SESSION.
Last Meeting Of the Flity.Thlrd Congress-
viii Convene at the Capitol at
Noon To-day.
FORECAST OF PROBABLE ACTION
Not Much VIII Be Definitely Known Before
the Presidents Annual Message
Is Read.

Washington. Dec, 2.-The second ses-
sion Of the nfty-third congress- begins
nt noon tomorrow. Beyond the pass
ing of the regular appropriation bills.
II seems probable little Ia the way OF
legislation will De accomplished at tho
short session although several import
ant propositions will doubtless b1
pressed 10 the front. Among mcm-
bers OF the dominant party In the house.
over half Of whom were defeated for re-
election there is n great deal OF bitter
feeling against the administration for
real or fancled grievances. IL Will be
the purpose OF the democratic leaders
TO curb. as far as possible. any display
OF resentment. but the republicans will
spare no pains to provoke and gond
their defeated adyersaries into letting
loose their Walls OF wrath.
II the president outlines n financial
scheme In his message tomorrow. aa
anticipated. It viii probably furnish the
opponents Of his banking and financial
Views their desired opportunity. In
the course Of the session IL is understood
the Nicaragua canal project will be
brought prominently forward. At the
opening Of the congress, however, rou-
tine matters win be kept 10 the fore.
TO stave of, as far as possible. unpleas-
ant references to the election, which
would prove distasteful TO the major
ity, but this policy can be only par
TALLY successful, as the latitude allowed
in debate on appropriation bills Will
throw the door open to remarks on any
subject.
Before adjournment for the holidays
il will be necessary 10 pass an approprl-
alton TO carry out the tariff bill provis-
ion levylng a tax on incomes, the coll
lection OF which begins Jan. 1, and
while It will no doubt meet with much
opposition, and lead to a general re-
view OF the arguments against such tax,
the general impression Is that 1t will
pass by large majority.
The Impeachment OF Judge Kicks, or
the northern district OF Ohio, will also
furnish a diversion before the holidays
II the judiciary committee. which inyes-
tigated the charges, should present u
resolution OF impeachment and 1t should
carry. The trial would occur in the
senate, the chief justice presiding. I'M
peachment proceedings are rare and
novel. and this one. the first one since
the trial Of President Johnson, would
attract no little attention.
Tomorrow, II quorum Is present In
the house, as seems almost certain,
after the calling OF the roll nothing
will be done probably beyond the read
Ing Of the presidents message. No
definite programme has been arranged
for the remainder OF the week. The
committee on appropriations, however.
has two bills almost prepared, the PEN
sion and fortihcation bills, and they
will be reported on Tuesday. so that
work upon them can be entered upon
Wednesday.
The senate will be called TO order
Monday at ~ O'Clock noon. The vice
president is in the city and VIII pre-
side The session will begin with full
calendar the result OF committee action
during the long sessionS>and It collects
at least 200 items. covering wide range
Of matters, Nothing has transpired to
indicate which of these 200 questions
will receive first attention, whether
they will he taken I'm their order. or
! whether the calendar will he followed at
all.
Much interest is felt among senator's
OF all political beliefs In the presidents
message and in the recommendation
which the secretary OF the treasury will
make on financial questions. These will
| have much to do in directing the course
of the senate. II there are recommen-
datlons for radical departures ON imam
cial methods they are sure to lead To
much speech making early I'm the ses-
sion. and later to form basis OF COM
mlttee action. Significance Is also at-
| tachcd 10 Senator Voorhees, declaration
that he will ask the finance committee
| 10 sit on Tuesday. Tuesday is the day
for the regular meeting OF this commit
tee. but IL does not ordinarily meet SO
promptly after the assembling OF the
senate. Chairman Voorhees, declines TO
state the object Of the meeting. except
70 say 1t is being held for the purpose
1f permitting an exchange OF Views
among members. IL the presidents
message Is received Monday executive
| recommendations could. uf course he
taken up, hut as there had been no posi-
| tive assurance as 10 when the message
would come in, when the meeting WAS
decided on. IL would appear that Chair
man Voorhees, had other objects ia vicw
IL Is possible his purpose may be 10
arrange policy upon the supplemental
tHriT bills. These bills have all been
reported by the committee but Il may
be considered necessary TO discuss them
| further before deciding upon plan of
action. The democratic majority OF the
finance committee Is on record In favor
of the passage OF the bills. and Il Is not
improbable that early action OF tho
committee is sought 10 frustrute any
attempt to prevent legislation. This Ia
not altogether surmise, FOR IL is known
that some Of the so-called conservative
senators have advised that a general
party conference be- held after the sem
ate conycnes for the consideration of
this question, The experience ~ the
last session showed that whenever cau-
cuses were held the conservatives car-
ried their point. Hence there II reason
for the pIumpt action OF the friends OF
the supplementary bills
There appears to be nothing outside
of financial or tarim questions likely To
excite ripple during the week After
receipt Of the presidents message. and
when 70 gets 20 business, the senate may
take up the calendar I'm regular order.
or II may proceed 10 consider out of
order some of the more important bills
which have been reported, such as those
for the admission Of Arizona ana New
Mexico, or the bankruptcy, the anti
option. or the Nicaragua bill In any
event, the daily sessions of the week
will be- short. with the probabilities
strongly IN favor ~ adjournment from
Thursday to Monday of the week fol-
| lowing.