The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-02
AT THE BIG CAPITOL
The Fifty-FOurth Congress Will Con-
Vene at Noon To-Day.
NO COMMITTEES THIS WEEK
There VIII Be No Serious Effort at
Legislative Work for Several
Days - What the Sena-
tors Propose to Do.

Washington. Dec. 1.-The first week
of the Fifty-fourth congress, which
viii convene at noon tomorrow, prom
ises nothing at either end of the cap
itol in the way of actual legislation.
The time before the Christmas holi-
days is usually devoted to preliminary
matters. and the work of the session
does not begin until after the recess.
The new congress will probably not be
an exception to this rule. The senate
proceedings may be enlivened by an
attempt at reorganization. but in the
house nothing can be done until the
committees are appointed. Speaker
elect Reed says the committees will
not be announced this week with, per-
haps, single exception-the commit
tee on rules. While II is believed the
rules of the Fifty-first congress, over
which Reed presided, will be reported
for the guidance of the present house,
II is understood few changes will be
made. as a result of experience, de-
signed to still further improve the
house machinery and the facilitation
of public business.
Tomorrow Kerr, clerk Of the last
house. will call the house to order.
After the roll call the election of off,
GERS nominated by the republican eau
Gus Saturday night will occur and as
soon as Reed ds formally installed as
speaker. the drawing of seats, which
Is known as the congressional "raffie,' -
will follow. This is a somewhat tedi-
Gus affair and will occupy the remain
der of the afternoon. The reading of
a
Tuesday. and at dts conclusion the
house will probably adjourn until
Thursday, and on reconvening Thurs
day adjourn Immediately until Mon
day. These adjournments will con-
tinue probably until the committees
are announced. This is the programme,
but the unexpected might occur. as 1t
so often does in the house, IL some
aspiring members should introduce a
sensational resolution and ask for its
immediate consideration.
1t is not probable the first week of
congress will witness much serious ef-
fort at legislative-wor -in--the senate
If anything should be accomplished be-
yond the receipt of the presidents
message and of the recess, nominations
and the introduction of bills, the ses-
sion would be an exception in the his
tory of the senate.
In view OF the fact that the message
will not be received until Tuesday the
proceedings of Monday will consist of
the swearing in of the newly elected
members. who may be present, and the
appointment of a committee to wait
upon the president. The session will
probably not continue beyond O'Clock,
when the republicans will meet in eau
Gus. The message will be read on
Tuesday and the brief sessions OF
Wednesday and Thursday will be de-
voted largely to the introduction of
bills. of which there will be several
hundred. Following precedents, the
senate will adjourn on Thursday until
the following Monday. One or two
brief executive sessions for the refer
ence of nominations are also among
the probabilities for the week.
If the republicans decide upon an ef-
fort to reorganize. as is now generally
conceded. the democrats will follow
with a conference on Tuesday or
Wednesday. at which they probably
will decide upon a course of action. 1t
now appears probable that all three
parties will place candidates for presi-
dent pro tenn. in the field, and in that
event the week will be somewhat en-
livened by a triangular contest for this
and other offices of the senate.