The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-02
At Noon the Fifty fourth Con-
greSS Will Convene.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TUESDAY
The Republicans Will Attempt 10
ReorganiZe the Senate.
Cxar Reed VIII Re Installed as speaker
of the House and His Committees
VIII Be Announced This Week be-
yond the Introduction Of Bills, Noe
Much work WIN BE Done.

Washington City. Dec. The first week
of the Flfty-fourtls congress. which con-
VeneS 81 noon tomorrow, promises moth
ing a. either end of the capitol In the way
Of actual legislation. The time before tho
Christmas holidays : usually devoted 10
preliminary matters and ghe work Of thu
session does not begin until after the re-
cess The new congress will probably not
he an exception TO this rule. The senate
proceedings may be ealivenod by AN at
tempo at reorganization. hut in the house
nothing can be done until the committees
are appointed. Spesker-elect Reed says
the committees Will he announced this
week, with perhaps a single eXccption--the
committee on rules. This committee for
mulates the rules which are 10 govern the
house during its session. and & is custo-
mary for tho speaker 20 name 81 during
the first week IN order that Il can immedi-
ately begin rs labor While Il is believed
the rules Of the Fifty-sirst congress. over
which Mr.. Reed presided VIII he report
ed for the guidance OF the present house.
IL Is understood few changes viii he
made as result Of experience. designed
10 stiii further improve the house nachin-
cry and the fac3litatson OF public business.
Tomorrow Air. Kerr. clerk Of the lass
house. viii call the house TO order. After
the roll call the election OF officers NOM
mated by The Republican caucus Saturday
night will occur. and as soon as Mr.. Reed
INK or seats. which Is known as the con-
gressional rattle" will follow. This is a
somewhat tedious hut amusing affair and
VIII occupy the remainder of the after
noon. The reading of the presidents mes
sage VIII consume Tuesday, and at its
conclusion tho house will probably ad-
iotrn until THURSDAY, and on conyening
Thursday adjourn Immediately until Mon
day. These ad1ournments' win continue
probably until the committees are an
nounced This is the programme but the
unexpected might occur, as ii so often
does in the house. II some aspiring men,
her should introduce a sensational reso-
luton and ask for It's immediate consider
alton.
II Is not probable that the first week of
congress will witness much serious effort
at legislative work in the senate. II any
thing should, De accomplished beyond the
receipt Of the presidents message and of
the recess nominations and the introduction
Of bills. the session would be an excep-
ton in the history OF the senate In view
of the fact that the message will not be
received until Tuesday. the proceedings Of
Monday viii consist OF the swearing in Of
tha newly elected members who may ha
present and tho appointment of a COM
mlttee 10 wait upon the president. The
session VIII probably not continue beyond
] o'clock. when the Republicans will meet
in caucus.
The message viii he read on Tuesday and
The brief sessions or wednesday and Thurs
day Will be devoted largely to the intro
duction OF bills, of which there viii be sew
cral hundred. Following precedents the
senate viii adjourn on Thursday until thu
following Monday. One or two brief exe-
eltlve sessions for the reference of NOM
nations are also among the probabilities
for the week. If the Republicans decide
upon an effort 20 reorganlze. as Is now
generally conceded. the Democrats will
follow with a conference on Tuesday or
Wednesday, at which they probably VIII
decide upon n course Of action. Il nov
appears probable that all three parties win
place candidates for the president pro tenn.
in the field. and in that event the week
VIII be cnlivend somwhat by a triangular
contest for this and other Offices Of the
senate.