The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-07
FOR THE SHORT DASH
This Is the Opening Day Of the Brief
Session Of Congress.
HANNA THE CENTRAL STAR
Hotel Hobbies Radiant with Faces
OF Lawmakers. Who shake
Hands and Speculate
on the Future.

Washington. Dec. 6.-That tonight
was the eve Of a new session OF con-
sress was apparent In the Washington
hotels. which are always barometers
OF political activity under the dome
Senators and members coming to the
city by every train, reinforced by the
attaches and lookeIs-on OF congress.
were drifting into the lObbles, greet
Ing one another like school boys after
q vacation with much handshaking.
with "reminiscences OF the campaign
ana many explanations of how re
erection or defeat had beel brought
dbout. There has been comparatively
small interest in the work CT the con-
greSs itself. apart from the presidents
message, but clouds OF speculation
were afiOat dealing with the policies
OF the new administration to be in
augurated on the l,h of March and
with the personnel Of the cabinet. IL
was unanimously conceded that the
republican programme was 10 ignore
the Dingley tarin bill and to summon
an extra session on the 18th of March
for the purpose Of passing a new tar.
III measure. SO these features of the
situation which have absorbed the at
tention Of politicians recently had
ceased to be of interest. In their place
came the cabinet professions and the
message. Curiosity was expressed
over all reference. II any, Cleveland
might make to the result of the presi-
dental campaign and particularly as
To his policy on the Cuban question.
The central figure of the night was
Marcus "A. Hanna. who is looked upon
here as the advance agent OF the Me
kinley administration with commits
sion to feel the pulse of congress and
10 communicate with the president
elett as to the leaders. When Mr..
Hanna appeared in the Arlingiol lob
by after his dinner accompanied by ii.
c. Payne of Wisconsin. WHO is slated
as cabinet probability. c. w. Dawes
OF Chicago. a member Of the republi-
can committee and Gen. Horace Por-
ter. the marshal OF the inauguration
parade. the party was surrounded by
congrossmen and other politicians who
escorted them to Mr.. Hanna's rooms.
The republican chairman had been in
visible during the day. trying to put
aside politics for Sunday. he explained.
but throughout the evening he was be-
set by visitors. Some Of the most con-
spicuous men about the hotel most of
whom taiked With Mr.. Hanna during
the evening. were Senators Plat of
Connecticut and Aldrich of Rhode Isl.
and; Chairman Babcok and Vice
Chairman Mercer of the congre ssional
campaign committee, General Grosve-
nor of Ohio. Congressman Lacey OF
Iowa, Gillctte, Mccormack and Wilson
OF New York: Foss. Belknap and Lar.
inner IL illinois, Chairman Cannon of
the committee on appropriations Of
the house and Deacon" s. V. White,
the New York financier who served a
term In congress and seldom fails To
attend the opening session. With mos,
If his callers Mr.. Hanna did much
Listening and little talking. The
chief purpose of his visit. to nuke pre-
liminary arrangements for the inaug-
uration ceremonies. was dropped over
Sunday and The local politicians in
terested In the matter were rot in evil
dcnce. Mr.. Hanna had breakfast,sd
late with ex-Congr6 ssman Benjamin
Butler OF Ohio and w. W. Dudley,
formerly commissioner o; pensions.
and had spent the afternoon driving
with Senators sherman of Ohio and
Proctor of Vermont.
Regarding the position OF chairman
of the Inauguration committee which
has been rendered to $. W. Woodward
prominent business man of this
city, Mr.. Payne. said: "Mr. Woodward
VIII give definite answer fo-morffw.
he Tears thc duties OF the position
would take more ilme tnan ne could
spare ifom us pusiness' he his talked
WIN or -iS whp nave been connect
ed win inauguration ceremonies. who
t'll MN he would be obllgtd 10 devote
tWo-thlfos or MS time thls winter To
the work. he docs not feel ne can
make the sacrince. Mr. Payne sad
emphaticaliy that Mr.. Woodward's
hesitation was not inspired ny the
opJections nnane against MIN by local
repupncans on 'ne GROUND that ne IS
soiu democrat MT. Noohwaru VIII
give uenhi.e reply to-morroW' The
Nish 10 washington OF MI Dawes or
,hieaso u sa.u 10 pe connected With
tne proposition To maintain republican
radluarterS az the capital which viii
be discontinued while Hanna Is here.
Chairman fabeock OF the congress
sional commftee was non-commitiai
when asked regarding his objection TO
join with the national committee in
the project. saying thar tine matter
would have to be discussed by the
committee.
Interest in the affairs OF the Hawai-
ian republic VIII be rekindlei by the
dinner given Saturday by ex-Secre-
,ary OF State John W. Foster IN Mr.
Hanna. The guests. who Numbered n
dozen. included the Hawaiian minis
ter OF foreign affairs, Mr.. Cooper. who
:, in the city. Minister Hatch and sec