The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-16
WIDE VARIETY.
Many Subjects Scheduled For Consid-
GRAFTON In the Senate,
SOME SKIRMIsHING IN THE HOUSE
Preliminary to the Appointment
of the Committees,

WASHINGTON, Dec. I8-Speeches arc
promised In the senate during 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 his
resolution regarding the effect Of the rate
of exchange on agriculture and man
ufactures between gold standard and sill
yer standard countries.
There Is also probability OF some
speeches on Senator PETERS bill regard
ing senatorial funerals. This is the only
bill OF general importance which has been
reported from the committee IL is pos
sible 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
Christmas is expected TO take place on
Friday.
waiting For Committees
This is the last week In the house before
the recess of the Christmas holidays, and
practically the only thing that will be ac-
complished will be the appointment OF
committees, which Speaker Reed will an
nounco on Friday or Saturday, when the
recess is taken.
Asa preliminary to the appointment of
the committees, however, the proceedings
will probably be enlivcned by couple OF
days Of active skirmishlng The house Is
operating under the rules of the Fifty
first congress. In that congress the mem
bership Of the leading committees, like
ways and means, appropriations, Judici-
ary, etc, was 10 members.
h. In tls. Iaar
ship of the house, as result OF the llth
census and the admission Of the four
northwestern territories In 1890, the MEM
bership of these committees was increased
in the Fifty-second congress TO IL. 1t will
DO necessary, therefore. to bring in amend
ments TO the rules under which the house
Is now operating to increase the member
ship of these committees 70 IL
Although the general debate on the
rules will not come until the rules COM
mittee makes its report after the holidays
still IL is not unlikely that the proposition
TO increase the membership of the COM
mittee referred To will prccipitate general
debate. Certainly, IL it does not, another
resolution which will be offered tomor-
row will This will be in the shape Of n
resolution TO divide the committees on
elections.
Contested Elections to Be Considered.
There are % contested seats in the pres
ent house, "an unprecedented number.
Experience has shown that the considera-
ton OF election cases are long, tedious af
fairs, and II has repeatedly happened, as
I'm the last congress, that the end of the
second session and final djc,lrnment arc
reached with somo cases SAIL pending.
The Louse leaders, therefore. considered
it wise to divide the committee this year
in order TO facilitate the consideration OF
the cases. The Democrats charge that
this plan is 10 be pursued that Democrats
may be more promptly oustcd from their
seats, and the debate will doubtless de-
yelop considerable partisan rancor.
In case the correspondence over the
Venezuelan boundary line Is not sent to
congress tomorrow, n resolution calling
for It may be passed II Is not improbable
also that the reports Of Secretary Carlisle,
which- ,vcrc- submitted today, may be
brought before the house by some parlia-
mentary device and made the subject OF
an exciting debate.