The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-14
CONGRESS MAY ADJOURN AS EARLY
AS FRIDAY FOR THE HOLI-
DAYS.
APPROPRIATION BILLS FIRST
ON THE CALENDAR OF THE HOrsn
LODGE BILL IN THE
SENATE.
FREE HOMES FOR SETTLERS.
Peftisrew Making Warm Fight
for Passage of the Bill Open
Ing Indian Lands.

WASHINTON, Dec. 13.-It has not
yet been decided when the holiday re-
cess shall begin, but yesterday at the
conference Of the Republican members
Of the ways and means committee. a
date as early as Friday of this week
was suggested. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the recess will begin about
Wednesday Of next week and continue
until the Monday after New Years.
This week, except tomorrow, which is
District of Columbia Day, and an
hour of Tuesday, which has been set
aside for the consideration Of the bill
to transfer the present rights of the
Atlantic & Pacific railroad under its
government charter to the mortgages
when they reorganize, will be devoted
the consideration Of the army and
legislative appropriation bills. The
former is completed and the latter will
be put in final shape tomorrow: 1t is
the expectation of the leaders that
both these bills can be passed before
the recess. Should any time remain
it will probably be given to the COM
mittee to call up such bills as they
have on the calendar.
IN THE SENATE.
The Lodge immigration bill as the
diminished business" will have the
right OF way each day after o'clock
until disposed Of and the friends of tho
measure have announced their de-
termination not to cease their labors
In its behalf until vote shall be
secured upon 1t. 1t is impossible to
say how much time will be required
on the bill, but Senator Lodge is hope
week.
Senator Gibson, Of Maryland. has an
nounced his purpose to talk in oppt,-
sltfon to the bill, but he declines to
state whether he will resort to other
tactics to defeat it. Those who oppose
concede that the bill will pass if it
should reach a vote
After the immigration bill comes thar.
providing for free homesteads on lands
formerly occupied by Indians as resar-
vatlonS. The present homestead Law
Goes not apply to these lands. and it Is
claimed that the fact that it does nor
mas cost many settlers their homestead
rights. The question is vital one In
many portions of the West, and has
been particularly prominent in Okla
homa. Senator Pettigrew is the espe-
cial champion Of the bill, and he viii
show that 1t was indorsed by the ma
1Aoih1i COIVeIltlOIlS OF all the parties last
summer. The bill will be vigorously
opposed, as its enactment into law
would cost the government no less
than $25, ,OOO, ,000
It is probable that these two mea-
sures will consume the greater parr
Of the time of the senate this week
and 1t is quite possible that they NAV
not be disposed of. The bill providing
for the election Of senator's by the di
rect vote of the people is a special
order for Monday, but it may go over
to future date. Senator Allen. Of
Nebraska, probably will occupy the
floor for a short time tomorrow in a
speech on his resolution concerning the
validity of contracts. He is expected
to say something in this speech about
the policy of Western states which
have elected Populist state administra
tions, and to pay his respects to some
of the critics Of these states. The Ne
braska senator is also likely to call
up the Dingley bill at any time
There is possibility that congress
may on Thursday or Friday adjourn
over until after the holidays. The Gu
ban question may furnish a topic for q
sensation at any time.