The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-15
SPEAKER REEDS POLICY.
Speedy Action by the House. hut the
sennte's Course Uncertain.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Fifty
fifth Congress meets in extraordinary ses-
sion tomorrow at noon in pursuance or
President McKinley's proclamation. The
work before it-passage of a tariff bills
pretty we'll cut out in advance, but the in
dications are that it will be a stormy ses-
sion and it's length and scope yet
mere matters of speculation. Tine present
secretary of state, Mr.. Sherman, remarked
several years ago. on memorable occa-
sion in the Senate. that the President. like
Aladdin, could rub the lamp and cause the
geuii to appear but that once they had
appeared they were masters of their own
destinies. So that Congress, once in ses-
sion. may go much farther or not so far
as the President may wish. So far as the
House. which will be organized tomorrow
is concerned. the present determination of
the leaders is TO direct the energies of the
lower branch TO the accomplishment of the
task before it with all expedition and throw
the responsibility for any complications
which may arise out OF delays in the Senate
on that body. That was made manifest by
Speaker Reeds speech at the Republican
caucus last night. when he spoke of the
necessity of bringing the work of the ses-
sion TO a speedy close. Whether the lead
Senate when the bill reaches that body by
a programme of three-day recesses remains
TO be seen. but ii seems likely that the
speaker will. at least for the present, re-
frain from appointing any save the actual
committees necessary for the transaction
OF the business in hand This will prove
an effective bar to the passage of misceI-
laneouS general bills, as the rules of the
House are such that all legislation must
come through the agencies of committees.
But even this is not absolutely necessary
as the committee on rules can be invoked
TO furnish special orders. And IL is by
means of special orders that the apDropria-
ton bills which failed to receive Mr. Cieye-
lands approval are 10 be put through at the
extraordinary session. Consideration i'm
committee would involve great delay and
result besides. in almost interminable be-
bate i'm the House. il is the peculiar
characteristic of new House TO use every
opportunity TO talk Mr.. Cannon, the chair
man of the appropria tions committee. SAYS
the bills, they went TO Mr.. Cleveland are
all right and he favors their rspasage UNI
der special rules without the formality OF
again putting them through the regular
channels. This Will be the plan followed
and all the time before the actual debate
on the tariff begins will be devoted To I q
appropriation bills.
Inc new tariff bill. on which Republican
members of the ways and means committee
nave been working laboriouSly for three
months, is complete and will be formally
introduced tomorrow. Ii will then be
fTnteU ana submitted To the Democratic
minority and receive formal consideration
py the full committee. IL is not expected
that this Will require more than three or
four days at most, although the Democrats
may. and probably Will protest vigorously
against such expedition. AT any rate the
House leaders hope to enter on the consid-
Grafton of the bill i'm the House before the
end OF the week. Some of them tonight
nxed Thursday as the day on which the
debate would probably commence AL
though the limits of the debate have not
yet been decided on, the prevailing opinion
Is that IL VIII not last over ten days. Night
sessions WILL OF course. be held throughout
the period allowed for debate. This will
give the new members an opportunity TO
make set speeches for the benefit of their
constituents.
Unless some unexpected hitch occurs the
new tarin Dill may be sent 10 the Senate
week from next Saturday. or "A fortnight
after the session opens. The organization
OF the House tomorrow, while a perfume
tory performance, Will no doubt attract a
large attendance The new House will be
called 10 order by the clerk Major Nc