The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-07


administration, and it is likely to be one
of the leading questions with which Presi-
dent Mckinley and the Fifty-fifth Congress
THE SENATE FORECAST.
Vice President Stevenson, who is now in
the city, will call the Senate to order at
noon on Monday The first day of the
session will be devoted almost entirely to
receiving the Presidents message. provid-
vided it is sent in on Monday, as is gener-
ally conceded it will be. Immediately after
the opening prayer committees will be ap-
pointed TO notify the President and the
House Of Representatives that the Senate
is organized and ready to receive COM
munications and proceed with business.
The Senate will then in all probability take
a recess until 1t becomes known whether
the President will send his message in on
that day. III precedents are followed there
will be adjournment soon after the re-
ceipt of the message. The first week OF
the session is not expected TO be productive
of important results in a legislative way.
There are many senators who think that
but little or nothing should be done beyond
the passage of the appropriation bills at
this session, and, as these measures neces-
sarily originate in the House, there will be
"a disposition TO postpone the season of ac-
tivity until some of these bills can be re-
ceived from the other end of the Capitol.
The probabilities are that the daily ses-
sions at the beginning will be comparative
~
itself with four days work each week. The
calendar presents wide range of material
for consideration in case the Senate shows
a disposition TO busy itself. In this Is in
cIuded the Immigration bill, whicn is the
unfinished business; the Pacific railroad
refunding BILL the statehood 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 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 be-
fore 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. III is generally agreed
that the Republicans will hold a caucus TO
with reference TO the tariff and until after
the exchange OF views which this confer
ence will permit no step Is likely to be
taken which will commit the party to any
nifcance.
The opening week promises to see the
House put its shoulder to the wheel of the
regular appropriation bills. Chirman Can
non and the committee on approprfa tions
were at work all last week, and 1t Is their
earnest intention to pass two and possibly
three of the bills before the Christmas hol-
idays. The pension and legislative appro-
priation bills are about ready. and work
on one OF tne olIiei VI tioSe WI, oo NC ~ =
in the House before the week closes. The
pension bill. although ii carries larger
amount of money than any of the other
supply bills, is very brief and unless some
political discussion is rrecipitated is not
likely to consume much time in its conSid-
Grafton. Beyond these two bills nothing is
i'm sight at present. 1t is. of course. not
unlikely that the committee on rules VIII
provide something for the House TO do I'm
case the committee on appropriations is
not prepared to go ahead with either of
these anproDriatiOn bills. The course of
the legislation. so far as the important
measures on the calendar is concerned 0ike
the Pacific railroad funding bill. the Mica
>ragua canal BILL etc), Will be determined
entirely by the rules committee. But it is
safe to assume that nothing will be al
lowed to block the appropriation bills as
they are reported for action. They always
have the right of way at the short ses-
sion. Tomorrow. the opening day. will
probably be devoted entirely to- the read
ing of the Presidents message.