The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-16
ANTE-HOLIDAY BUSINESS.
May De Some Lively DisputatiOn In
Canrress ThIs Ueelr

huy DC some LVely D1Sputat1On In
Congress This Week.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-This will be the
last week In the House before the recess
for the Christmas holidays, and practically
the only thing that will be accomplished
will be the appointment, of the committees,
which Speaker Reed will announce on FRI
day or Saturday when the recess is taken.
AS a preliminary to the appointment Of the
committees. however, the proceedings win
probably be enlivened by couple of days
Of active skirmishing. The House is OPP
Grating under the rules OF the Fifty-first
Congress. In that Congress the member
ship Of the leading committees. like ways
and means. appropriations, judiciary, ETC.,
was fifteen. Owing to the increase in the
membership of the House, as result OF the
eleventh census and the admission of the
four Northwestern Territories in $780, the
membership Of those committees was in
creased in the Fifty-second Congress to
seventeen. 1t will be necessary, therefore,
to bring In amendments to the rules under
which the House is operating to in
crease the membership Of these committees
to seventeen. Although the general debate
committee makes its report after the holi-
days, still it Is not unlikely that the propo-
si1On 10 increase me @ @ ot @ sne
eral debate. Certainly, IL Ii does not, an
other resolution to be offered tomorrow
will. This will be in the shape of resolu-
tion to divide the committee on elections.
There are twenty-nine contested seats In
the present House, an unprecedented num-
ber. Experience has shown that the con-
sideration of election cases are long, tedi-
Gus affairs, and 1t has repeatedly happened,
as in the last Congress, that the end OF the
second session and final adjournment Is
reached with some cases still pending. The
House leaders, therefore, considered Ii wise
to divide the committee this year in order
to facilitate the consideration of the cases.
The Democrats charge that this plan is to
be pursued that Democrats may be more
promptly ousted from their seats, and the
debate will doubtless develop considerable
ence over the Venezuelan boundary line be
not sent to Congress tomorrow or Tuesday,
g. resolution calling for Ii may be passed.
1t is not improbable, also, that the report
OF Secretary Carlisle, which will be SUBJ
mitted tomorrow. may be brought before
and made the subject of an exciting debate.
Speeches are promised in the Senate dur
ing the week on various topics now before
that body. Senator Hill, probably, will talk
on the Monroe doctrine. Senator White on
the Senate rules, and Senator Stewart on
rate of exchange on agriculture and manu.
features between gold-standard and silver
standard countries There also Is PROBABLE
ity of some speeches on Senator Peners
bill regarding senatorial funerals. This Is
the only bill of general importance which
has been reported from committee 1t Is
possible that the reorganization question
may come UP during the latter part OF the
week. but the best opinion is that the re-
organization will not be perfected before
the holidays. The adjournment for CHRIST
mas is expected TO take place on FRIDAY.