The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-07
THE OPENING OF CONGRESS
No Important Results Expected This
Week.
WILL IGNORE THE DlNGLEY BILL
The Republicans will Probably Call an
Extra Session of Congress For March
10Th Chairman Hanna Now Cen
tral Figure in washington.

WASHINGTON, Dec 7.-Vice President
Stevenson called the senate to order at
neon today. The first day Of tho session
will be devoted almost entirely TO receiv-
ing the presidents message. Immedi-
ately aftor the opening prayer committees
were appointed to notify the president
and the house of representatives, that the
senate was organized and ready to receive
communications and proceed with bust
ness. If precedents are followed there
will be an adjournment soon after the le-
ceipt of the presidents message.
The first week Of the session is not ex-
pected to be productive o. any 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 necessarily
originate in the house there will be a 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 N case the SEN
ate shows disposition to busy itself. In
this is included the Immigration bill,
which is the unfinished business" the
Pacific railroad refundinR bill, the state
hood bills and the Dlngley tariff and bond
bills, as well 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 bust
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
q line of policy especially with reference
TO the tariff, and until aftar 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 appropri a.
tions were at work all last week, and it 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
be begun In the house before the week
CLOSES, The 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 its consideration,
Beyond these two bills nothing Is In
sight at present, 1t is, of course, not un.
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
(like the Pacific railroad funding bill, the
Nicaragua canal bill, eto) will be de-
termined entirely by the rules committee
But it is safe to assume that nothing will
be allowed to take the place Of the apprG.
priation bills as they are reported for ac-
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 Dlngley
tariff bill, and to summon an extra session
of tho Fifty fifth congress- for the 10Th of
March for the purpose Of passing new
tariff measure, 50 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 adj
vance agent of the Mckinley administra-
ton, with n commission to feel the pulse
of congress and TO communicate the pol
Icy of the president-elect to the leaders.
When Mr., Hanna appeated in the Airing
ton lobby yesterday, accompanied by G,
IL. Payne, of Wisconsin, who Is slated as
Il cabinet probability Il O. j, Dawes of
Chicago n member Of the Republican
committee, and General Horace Porter,
the marshal Of tho Inauguration parade,
the party was surrouHded by congress-
men and other politicians, who escorted
them to Mr.. Hanna's rdoms.
The Republican chairln had been in
visible during the day, frying to put aside
politics for Sunday He explained, but
throughout the evening" he was beset by
Nlsltors' some OF the most conspicuous
men about the hotel, MOST of whom talked
with Mr. Hanna during the evening, were
Senators Platt OF C0H necticut and Al
drich Of Rhode Island chairman Babcock
and Vice Chairman M,rcer. of the CON
gressional campaign coinmittee. and Gen
eral Grosvenor, of Olli0I
With most of his calldrs Mr.. Hanna did
much listening and III tie talking The
chief purpose of his visiIt is to make pre-
nlillhary arrahgementsI for tho inaugura-
tion cGrehohles' Riding the position
of chairman Of the nait guration commit.
tee which has been tanf ,ered tn Mfr. s w
Woodward, a prominoi& business man ot
this city, Mr.. Hand Isaid. "NIr. Wood
ward will give a dei3 lite apsyVer hefor,
night. He fears thai N "a dutias Of the no
sition would take In4 IRA fine tbon h,
could spare from his BID sinossn
Intaract In ba NJ. AZ.