Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-07
WORK FOR CONGRESS- TO DO
Weighty Matters Discussed in Friendly
Way in Hotel Lobbes.
MARX HANNA THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION
Advance Agent of MCKINLEY Adminis-
trntion Talks with Many Party
Leaders ON Question Of Leg
islntion and Appointments.


the eve of a new session OF congress was
apparent in the Washington hotels. which
are always barometers Of political activity
under the dome. Senators and members COM
ing to the city by every train, reinforced
by the attaches and lockers on of congreus
were drifting into the lobbies, greeting one
another like schcolboys after a vacation; with
much handShaking, with "reminiscences Of the
campaign and many explanations of how their
re- election or defeat had been brought about
There had been comparatively small interest
in the work of the coming session ITSELF
apart from the presidents message but
clouds of speculation were afoat dealing with
the politics of the new administration to DO
inaugurated on the 4th of March and with
the personnel of the cabinet. 1t was unani-
mously conceded that the republican program
was to ignore the Dingley tariff bill and to
summon an extra session of the Fifty-fifth
congress for the 10Th Of March for the pur-
pose OF passing new tariff measure, so
these features of the situation which have
absorbed the attention of politicians recently
had ceased to be of interest. In their
place came tho cabinet predictions and tho
message. Curiosity was expressed over what
reference. If any, President Cleveland might
make to the issue and the result Of the
presidential campaign, and particularly as to
his policy upon the Cuban question.
The central figure of the night was Mr..
Marcus A. Hanna, who is looked upon here
as the advance agent of the Mckinley ad-
ministration, with a commission to feel the
pulse of congress and to communicate the
policy Of the presdent-elect to the leaders.
When Mr.. Hanna appeared In the Airing
ton lobby after his dinner, accompanied by
II. C. Payne Of Wisconsin, who is scheduled
as cabinet probability c. w. Dawes OF
Chicago, a member Of the republican COM
ha
shall of tho Inauguration parade, the party
was surrounded by congressman and other
politicians, who escorted them to Mr., Hanna's
rooms. The republican chairman had been
invisible during the day, trying to put aside
politics for Sunday, he explained; but
throughout the evening he was beset by visit
ors. Some Of the most conspicuous men about
the hotel. most of whom talked with Mr..
Hanna during the evening, were Senators
Plat of Connecticut, and Aldrich of Rhode
Island; Chairman Babcock and Vice Chair
man Mercer of the congressional campaign
committee: General Grosvenor Of Ohio, Con-
gressmen L9cey Of Iowa, Gillett Mccormack
and Wilson of New York, Fcss, Belknap and
Larlmer of Illinois, Chairman Cannon of the
committee on appropriations, and Deacon
S. V. White, the New York fnancier, who
served term In congress and seldom fails
to attend the opening OF session. With
most of his callers Mr.. Hanna did much
listening and little talking The chief pur-
engagements for the inauguration ceremonies,
was dropped over Sunday.
MARK HANNA'S BUSINESS.
Mr.. Hanna had breakfasted with Con-
gresham Butterwprth of Ohio and with w.
w Dudley former commissioner OF pensions,
and had spent the afternoon driving with
Senators Sherman of Ohio and Proctor of
Vermont Regarding the position Of chair
man of the Inauguration committee, which
has been rendered to Mr.. s. w. Woodward, a
prominent business man of the city, Mr..
Payne said: Mr. Woodward will give a
definite answer tomorrow. He fears that the
duties of the position would take more time
than he could spare from his business He
has talked with others who have been con-
nected with Inauguration committees, who
tell him that he would be Obliged to devote
two-thrds of his time this winter to the
work. He does not feel that he can make
the sacrifice. Mr.. Payne said omphatically
that Mr.. WoOdward's hesitation was not
inspired by the objections made against him
by local republicans on the ground that he is
a gold democrat. Mr.. Woodward will give
a definite reply tomorrow. The visit to
of Mr.. Dawes of Chicago is said
to be connected with the proposition to
permanent republican headquarters
at the capital. which will be discussed while
Mr. Hanna is here Chairman Babcock OF
the congressional committee was noncommit-
tai when asked whether his organization
would join with the national committee in
10 be discussed by the committee. Interest
In the affairs of the Hawaiian republic has
been rekindled by the dinner which was
given Saturday night by eXSecretary of State
John w. Foster to Mr. Hanna The guests,
Who numbered dozen, included the Hawaiian
minister OF foreign affairs, Mr. Cooper, who
S IN the city, Minister Hatch and Secretary
Hastings of the Hawaiian legation, and half
| dozen members of the senate committee on
oreign relations, among them Senators Nor
gan, Hale and Lodge. who are advocates OF
1t is believed that the move
nent for annexation is to be brought forward
igain, with the advent of the next admins
ration and ii is likely to he one OF tho
eading questions with which President Me-
<inley and the Ffty-ffth congress will
nave to deal.
Vice President Stevenson. VINO is now in
he city, will call the senate to order at noon
IN Monday. The first day of the session will
De devoted almost entirely to receiving tho
Presidents message providing 1t is sent in
IN Monday as ii iJ generally conceded IL
will be. Immediately after the opening
prayer. committees will be appointed TO notify
he president and the house of representa-
ives that the senate is organized and ready
o receive communications and proceed with
)uqlness. The senate will then in all proba-
)ility take n recess until 1t becomes known
whether the president will send his mes
sage In on that day. If presidents are fol-
owed there will be an adjournment soon
Ifter the receipt of the menssge.
LOOKING FOR LITTLE.
Tho nrst week is not expected to be pro-
luctiye of important results in legislative
yay. There are many senators who think
hat but little or nothing should be done
,eyond the passage of the appropriation bills
Il this session. and as these measuers
ecessarily originate IN the house, there will
70 a disposition to postpone tho season OF
ctivity until some Of these bills can be re-
eIved from the other end of the capitol.
'he probabilities are that the daily sessions
/ the beginning will be comparatively brief,
nd that the senate will content itself with
our days work each week, The calendar
resents wide range Of material for con-
liberation in case the senate shows a dis
ositon to busy itself In this Is included
he immigration bill, which Is the unfinished
The Pacific roads funding bill,
he statehood bills and the Dlngley tariff
nd bond bills, as well the Cuban and
Iawaiiln question. Senators Lodge and
handler have announced their determination
o press the immigration bill to a vote as
peedy as thy can II will be the first
egular BUSINESS TO he taken up and cannot
q displaced except by vote or unanimous
onsent They hope 10 get the bill through
ofore the holidays. II Is also possible the
residents message may suggest subjects for
peeches and there arc those who predict
he Cuban question win receive vigorous at
nntlon from the beginning Of the session. II
generally agreed that the republicans Will
old a caucus to determine upon a line OF
olicy, especially with reference 10 the tariff
nd even after tho nXclanrn of views which