St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-02
CONGRESS- TODAY.
CZAR REED AND HIS FOLLOW
ERS WILL SHOW THE
COUNTRY.
HOW NOT TO LEGlsLATE.
SESSION PROMISES NOTHING IN
TIE WAY OF ACTUAL
WORK.
SENATE MAY BE REoRGANIzED.
Nothing Further May Be Expected
During the Week Than COM
mittee Appointments.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The first
week of the Fifty-fourth congress,
which convenes at noon tomorrow,
promises nothing at either end of the
capitol in the way of actual legisla-
ton The time before the Christmas
holidays is usually devoted to pre-
liminary matters and the work Of the
session does not begin until after the
recess. The new congress will prob
ably not be, an exception 10 this
rule. The senate proceedings may
be enlivened by an attempt at reor-
ganiZation, but in the house nothing
can be done until the committees are
appointed. Speaker-elect Reed says
that the committees Will not be an
nounced this week with, perhaps,
single eXception-the committee on
rules. This committee formulates
the rules which are to govern the
house during its session and it is Gus
tomary for the speaker TO name it
during the first week in order that
it can Immediately begin its labofs.
While it is believed that the rules Of
the Fifty-first congress, over which
Mr.. Reed presided, Will be reported
for the guidance of the present
house, it is understood that a few
changes will be made as a result of
experience, which are designed TO
still further improve the house ma
chinery and the facilitation of public
business. Tomorrow Mr.. Kerr, clerk
of the last house. will call the house
to order. After the roll cali, the
election Of the officers nominated
by the Republican caucus Saturday
night will occur. and as soon as Mr.,
Reed is formally installed as speak
er, the drawing of seats, which is
known as the congressional 'raffie,"
will follow. This is a somewhat
tedious but amusing affair. and will
noon. The reading of the presidents
message will consume Tuesday, and
at its conclusion the house will prob
ably adjourn until Thursday, and
on eonvening Thursday adjourn i'm
mediately until Monday. These
adjournments will continue prob
ably until .. the committees are
announced This is the pro-
gramme, but the unexpected might
occur as it so often does in the house,
if some aspiring member should in
troduce a sensational resolution and
ask for its immediate consideration
IN THE SENATE.
It is not probable that the first week
of congress will witness much serious
effort at legislative work in the sen
ate. If anything should be accom-
pliShed beyond the receipt Of the preSi-
dents message and of the recess nom
nations and the introduction of bills,
the session would be an exception in
the history Of the senate.
In view of the fact that the message
will not be received until Tuesday,
the proceedings of Monday will con-
sist in the swearing in of the newly
elected members who may be present
and the appointment of a committee.
to wait upon the president The ses-
sion will probably not continue beyond
l o'clock, when the Republicans will
meet in caucus. The message will be
read Tuesday, and the brief sessions
of Wednesday and Thursday will be
devoted largely to the Introduction of
bills, of which there will be several
hundred.
Following precedents, the senate will
adjourn Thursday until the following
Monday. One Or two brief executive
sessions for the reference of nomina-
tions are also among the probabilities
for the week.
If the Republicans decide upon an
effort to reorganize, as is now general
ly conceded, the Democrats will follow
with a conference Tuesday or Wednes-
day, at which they probably will de-
eide upon a course of action. 1t now
appears probable that all three par
ties will place candidates for president
pro tenn in the field, and in that event
the week will be enlivened somewhat
by a triangular contest for this and
the other offices Of the senate.