The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
Work For Congress.
Matters Likely to Come Up
for Consideration.

for Consideration.
Washington. Dec. 5.-The regular,
or long session Of congress, as 1t Is
called because there 10 constitutional
limits upon the period Of its duration.
opeos at noon tomorrow.
The leaders and q large majority OF
the members of both houses are here
to participate in the opening cere-
mopies, and Presideos Mckinley has
made the journey to Washington from
the bedside Of bis dying mother that
his absence might not delay the ns-
tiopal legislature at it's assembling.
The extra session robs the opening Of
the regular session of excitement ADD
interest shicb usually attaches to it
On the eve Of a regular session ordioa-
rily Washington thrills With excite
meu.. The hotel lobbies surge With
place huosers in the wake of the vari-
ous candidates. for speaker. clerk, door.
keeper, .eto The members are strug.
Cling for committee assignments aud
the air ia full of rumors and plots and
couo:erplots But as the house was
completely organized at the extra ses-
sion aud ali tBe committee assignments
we're made then. beyond the natural
stimulus produced by the returning
statesmen, the regular hangers on of
legislation aud the outlining Of schemes
by members of ..the third house." or
lobby, Washington tonight is tranquil
The programme of the house tomorrow
is very simple, and beyond the spec-
tacular show which it offers there ie
little attraction
The house will be called to order by
the speaker, who. after the chaplaio's
Invocation, will direct the clerk to call
the roll This having been accom-
plished aud the presence Of a quorum
demopstrated, the clerk will be directed
to notify the senate that the house is
ready for business aud committee will
be appointed to wait upon the Presi-
dent. After that there will be recess
to await the arrival Of the Presidents
annual message. which will be read
upon its reception and be followed by
an adjournment uutil Tuesday. This
is the regular routine. and unless some
thing uoforseen occurs, will not be de.
parted from.
It is the intention of the house lead
ers to proceed with the business of the
session as rapidly as possible. The
committees will all begin their labors
this week, and as all of them have
more or less bills ON haod which we're
introduced at The extra session there
will be no lack of material for the bouse
to work on after che committees have
begun work The appropriations com
mittee have been at work for ten days,
aud Chairman Cannon expects to pass
at least two Of the regular budgets be.
fore the bolidays-ehe legislative. exc
cutive aod judicial aud the pension ap-
preparation bills Ooe or the other of
these fills, it is expected, will be re-
ported by Wednesday. and the eod of
She week promises to see the house
down to business Among the early
general measures TO receive considera-
fion will be toe bankruptcy bill
Whether It will be the Nelson bill.
which passed the senate at the last ses-
sion. or q modification of the Torrey
hill, depends upon the temper of the
Judiciary committee. which will submit
the measure to the house Beyond
doubt there will be several resolutions
of inquiry during the 6rss week, which
may be more or less sensational and
some Of the radical pro Cuba members
will attemp. to get consideration for a
Cuban resolution before the foreign af-
fairs committee cao act. Congressman
Livingston Of Georgia is one Of these
But owing to the nature of the house
rules. all these hasty efforts will take
their regular course
There will be nothing except iodispo.
aition upon the pars Of embers to pre-.
vent the seoase's entering promptly
upon its work upon couveniug toaor-
row, as there is calendar ready made
for it containing about 500 bills reported
from committees doriog the special ses-
siop. If any circumstances should
prevent the receipt Of the Presidents
message on Monday the probabilities
are that the senate will adjourn over
without taking up any other business
until the message could be received
With the message read, it will remain
for the senate to decide whether it shall
enter seriously upon the work Of