The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-07
OPENING Of CONGRESS-
No Important Results Expected
This Week.
WILL IGNORE THE DINGLEY BILL.
The Republicans VIII Probably Call an
Extra Season of Congress for March 10.
Chairman Hanna Now o Central Figure
In Washington.

Extra season. of Congress for March 10.
Chairman Hanna Now Central Figure
in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Twice President
Stevenson called the senate to order at
noon today. The first day of the session
will be devoted almost entirely to receiv-
ing the presidents message. Immedi.
ately after the opening prayer committees
were appointed to notify the president
and the house of represen tatives that the
senate was organized and ready to receive
communications and proceed with bust
ness. II presidents are followed there
will be an adjournment soon after the le-
ceipt of the president message.
The first week of the session is not ex-
pected to BIO productive o. any important
results in a legislative way. There are
many senators who think that but little
or nothing should DO done beyond the
passage of the appropriation bills at this
session, and as these measures necessarily
originate in the house there will be u dis
position to postpone the season of activity
until some Of these bills can be received
from the other end of the Capitol. The
probabilities are that the daily sessions at
the beginning will be comparatively brief
and that the senate will content itself
with four days work each week.
The calendar presents wide range Of
material for consideration in case the sen-
ate shows disposition to busy itself. In
this is included the immigration bill,
which is the unfinished business" the
Pacific railroad refunding bill, the state
hood bills and the Dingley tariff and bond
bills, as we'll as the Cuban and Hawaiian
questions.
Senators Lodge and Chandler have an
nounced their determination to press the
immigration bill to a vote as speedily as
they can. 1t will be the first regular busi-
ness to be taken up and cannot be dis
placed except by vote or unanimous con-
sent They hope to get the bill through
before the holidays. 1t is also possible that
the presidents message may suggest sub
jects for speeches, and there are those who
predict that the Cuban question will re-
ceive vigorous attention from the begin
ming of the session.
1t Is generally agreed that the Republi-
cans will hold caucus to determine upon
line of policy especially with reference
to the tariff, and until after the exchange
of views which this conference will per-
nit no step is likely to be taken which
will commit the party to any position on
any question of political significance.
The opening week promises to see the
house put its shoulder to the wheel of the
regular appropriation bills. Chairman
Cannon and the committee on appropria-
tions were ut work all last week, and 1t is
their earnest intention to pass two and
possibly three of the bills before the Christ
mas holidays The pension and legisla-
tive appropriation bills are about ready,
and work on one or the other of these will
closes. Tho pension bill, although 1t car
ries larger amount of money than any
Of the other supply bills, is very brief, and
unless some political discussion is pre-
cipitated is not likely to consume much
time in It's consideration.
Beyond these two bills nothing Is in
sight at present. 1t is, Of course, not I'M
likely that the committee on rules will
provide something for the house to do in
case the committee on appropriations is
not prepared to go ahead with either of
these appropriation bills The course Of
the legislation, SO far as the important
measures on the calendar is concerned
Qike the Pacific railroad funding bill, the
Nicaragua canal bill, etc., will be de-
termined entirely by the rules committee.
But 1t is safe to assume that nothing will
be allowed to take tho place Of the appro-
priaton bills as they are reported for &C.
ton. They always have the right of way
at the short session.
1t is unanimously conceded that the Re-
publican program is to ignore the Dingley
tariff bill, and to summon an extra session
Of the Fifty-afth congress for the 18th Of
March Tor the purpose of passing new
tariff measure, so these features of the sit
uation which have absorbed the attention
of politicians recently have ceased to be of
interest. In their place come the cabinet
predictions
A central figure is Mr.. Marcus A.
Hanna, who islooked upon here as the ad-
vance agent of the Mckinley administra-
ton, with commission to feel the pulse
of congress and to communicate the pol
icy of tho president-elect to the leaders.
When Mr.. Hanna appeared in the Arling-
ton lobby yesterday, accompanied by G.
II. Payne, of Wisconsin, who is slated rs
n cabinet probability; G. j. Dawes, of
Chicago, member of the Republican
committee, and General Horace Porter,
tho marshal of the Inauguration parade,
the party was surrounded by congress-
men and other politicians, who escorted
them to Mr.. Hanna's rooms
The Republican chairman had boon in
visible during the day, trying to put aside
10 Cur ho nj nj h1t
throughout the evening he was beset by
visitors Some of the most conspicuous
mon about the hotel, most of whom talked
with Mr.. Hanna during tho evening, were
Senators Plat of Connecticut and Al
drich of Rhode Island. Chairman Babcock
and Vice Chairman Mercer, of the con-
gressionnl campaign committee, and Cen
eral Grosvenor, of Ohio.
With most of his callers Mr.. Hanna did
much listening and little talking. The
chief purpose of his visit is to make pre-
liminary arrangements for tho inaugura-
ton ceremonies Regarding the position
of chairman of the Inauguration commit
tee which has been tencered to Mr.. S. w.
Woodward prominent business man Of
this city, Mr.. Hanna said: Mr.. Wood
ward will give definite answer before
night He fears that the duties Of the po-
sition would take more time than he
could spare from his business"
Interest in the affairs of the Hawaiian
republic has been rekindled by the dinner
which was given Saturday night by ex-
Secretary of State John w. Foster to Mr..
Hanna. The guests, who numbered q
dozen, included the Hawaiian minister of
foreign affairs, Mr.. Cooper, Minister
Hatch and Secretary Hastings, of the TIa-
waiian legation, and half "a dozen mem
bers Of the senate committee on foreign
relations among them Senators Morgan,
Hale and Lodge. who are advocates of an
nexation. 1t is believed that the move
ment for annexation Is to be brought for
ward again with the advent of the next
administration, and 1t is likely to be one
of the leading questions with which Presi.