The Bourbon news., 1897-03-16
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
The Republican Majority in the House
Adopted the Old Ticket
Republicans, In the Matter of Organic
cations, Playing a Waiting Game
The New Senators.

WASHINGTON, March 15.-Monday at
noon both houses of the Fifty-fifth
congress commenced in extra session.
1t is not likely that the senate will re-
main ia continuous session during the
week unless the president is much
more expeditions than he has been in
making nominations. There is moth
ing before the senate and there will be
nothing to require close application to
business unless the committee on for
eign relations reports the arbitration
treaty with great Britain. A special
meeting of the committee for the fur
ther consideration of this subject has
been called for Monday.
When Senator Davis motion to re-
fer the treaty back to the committee
was discussed at the special session
there was a general expression of
opinion that the designation of judges
of the United States supreme court as
members of the tribunal should be
eliminated. 1t was thought that as
jurists in the court of last
resort in this country the judges
might be called upon to pass on ques--
tions similar to those that might arise
under this treaty of arbitration, and
should this prove to be the case, the
situation would be more than embar-
RAISING, as the opinion of the judge
as a member of our own court
might act as an eXtOppel In
the exercise of his rights as an inde-
pendent member of the tribunal 1t
is almost certain that the treaty will
also be amended along the lines of the
Turpie amendments of last session, SO
as to provide that every case or ques-
tion intended to be submitted to arbi-
tration under this general treaty shall
first be submitted to the senate for its
ratification.
1t seems to be a general impression
that when the senator appointed by
the governor of Florida to succeed Mr..
Call, arrives he will be seated. The
legislature of Florida does not con-
vene until April Z. and six years ago
the senate seated Mr.. Posco ad interim
under precisely similar conditions.
The appointee from Oregon, in place
of Mr.. Mitchell, has not yet arrived.
His claim to a seat is regarded as res
adjudicata by the decision of the SEN
ate in the Montana, Washington and
Wyoming cases in the last congress.
His credentials will undoubtedly be
sent to the committee on privileges
and elections, as were those OF Ma. A.
T. Wood, the appointee of Gov. Brad
ley, Of Kentucky.
Meanwhile the repu blicans in the
matter of organization of the COM
al
They will make no effort to do more
than, fill their own vacancies The
legislatures of the two states elect.
1t is understood an agreement has
about been reached with the democrats
to this end. The proposition to con-
solidate all elements opposed to the
republicans for the purpose OF captur-
ing the organization and the commit
tees, appears to have fallen through
owing to the inability of these ele-
mentS to come together.
The republican majority in the house
having adopted in caucus with una
nimity the old ticket, the organization
of that body will take but little time.
and there is no reason outside of his
own possible desire for a days longer
time, why the president should not
send in his message to congress
on opening day-which is rather
an unusual happening. All the house
has to do after organizing is to draw
for seats, and this can easily be done
while the joint committee is on the
way to the white house to notify the
president that the Fifty-6fth congress
IS ready for business