The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-19
MET IN EXTRA SESSION
Fifty-fifth Congress Assemblies
In Pursuance to the Pres
ident'S Call.
Work Cut Out in Advance but
Indications Point to
Lively Time.
Expected the House VIII Pass
the Tariff Bill Within a
Fortnight.

WASHINGTON, March l5-The Fifty
fifth congress met in extraordinary
session at noon in pursuance of Presi.
dent McKinley's proclamation. The
house at once organized by the selec-
ton of Thomas B. Reed, speaker; Rev.
Henry M. Couden, chaplain; Alexan-
der Mcdowell, clerk; Benjamin F.
Russell, sergeant-at-arms WI Glenn,
doorkeeper, and Joseph @. McElroy,
postmaster
The work before the extra session
the passage of tariff bills pretty
well cut out in advance, but the indi-
cations are that it will be stormy ses-
sion, and its length and scope are as
yet mere matters of speculation. So
far as the house is concerned, the pres
emit determination of the leaders is to
direct the energies of the lower branch
to the accomplishment of the task be-
fore it with all expedition and throw
the responsibility for any complications
which may arise out of delays in the
senate upon that body This was made
manifest by Speaker Reeds speech at
the Republican caucus Saturday night,
when he spoke of the necessity of
bringing the work of the session to a
speedy close.
The Tariff Bill Complete.
The new tariff bill, upon which Re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee have been working
laboriously for three months, is COM
plete 1t will be introduced at once,
then printed and submitted to the
Democratic minority and receive for
NAL consideration by the full commit
tee 1t 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 upon
the consideration of the bill in the
house before the end of the week. Some
of them fix Thursday as the day on
which the debate will probably COM
mence Although the limits of the de-
bate have not yet been decided upon,
the prevailing opinion is that it will
not last over 10 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 tariff bill may be sent to the
senate a week from next Saturday or
fortnight after the session opens.
In the Upper House.
The week does not promise to be a
busy one in the senate, except in the
event that the arbitration treaty be-
tween this country and Great Britain
is considered. Senator Davis, chair
man of the committee on foreign re-
lations, said that he would force the
question of ratification to as speedy
determination as possible. The treaty
will be considered in executive session.
There will be considerable opposition
to it even in its amended form, but the
friends of the treaty assert that there
will not be to exceed 20 opposing
votes when the final result is an
nounced. A number of bills, major
ity of which will be those that failed
in the last congress, will be introduced
during the week, but as none of them
can be taken up until they receive COM
mittee action, there will be but little
or no legislative work.
Considerable time during the week
will be spent by the leaders of the
various parties in the senate in an eff
fort to reach harmonious adjustment
of the senate committees.