Evening journal., 1897-01-04
CONGRESS FORECAST.
what the Senators aud Representative
May DO THIS Week.

May DO THIS Week.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.-Boyond the fact
that the bill providing for free homesteads
on former Indian reservations on the cal
ondar Is the unfinished business tho sen
ate has no programme for this week.
There is liable to be "a sharp clash Of in
terests in the effort TO secure consideration
on nc least two questions and a possibility
that this clash may develop an interesting
situation. The friends of the Pacific rail
road refundng bill will make an effort TO
get that measure up for consideration un-
less they conclude that in doing so they
may impair It's chances OF passage Until
the last day or two it appeared certain
that the Cuban resolutions would be
sprung Immediately after the beginning
of business tomorrow.
It is now possible, oven probable, that
both questions will go over. at least for
few days. If tho movement to have the
committee on foreign relations again CON
slider the question as to when 10 shall be
taken up prevails, the question cannot be
raised until after the committee meeting
on Wednesday, and tho advocates Of delay
are becoming quite sanguine that II they
succeed in preventing consideration until
Wednesday they will secure q still further
postponement Senator Gear, chairman OF
the Pacific railroads committee, Is doubt
full of the advisability of pressing for the
consideration Of his funding bill until aft
er the action Of the house on the same
measure, and may wait upon that body. II
he does not delay on this account he will
make an effort TO got the bill up tomorrow
or Immediately after the homestead bill
shall be disposed of.
] nffhat. fha DnrfGo hill or fhn lfnInup
resolution secure consideration, there will
/ be sharp contest and much animated do
bate.
The homestead bill will be opposed by
Senator Platt and others, while Senator
Pettlgrow will take the lead in It's advoca-
cy.
The house will get down TO serious busi-
ness as soon as It reassembles after the
holidays recess tomorrow. Probably the
two most important pieces Of general legis-
lation to be acted upon at the short session
have been made special orders and will
consume the entire week. They are the
Loud bill 20 amend the laws relating e
second class mail matter so as Co prevent
the shipment of books and serial publicn
tions In connection with newspapers al
the cent per pound rate and to cut off th'
newspaper sample copy privilege, and the
bill. prepared by the Pacific railroad com
mittee. to fund the dohts OF the Pacific
railroads and extend their payment for 81
years at per cent The fund bill has al
ready been debated one day, and under tn
order adopted the debate will continue to
morrow and Wednesday, and the bin vii
be brought to n vote on the latter day .
4 o'clock
The Pacific railroad bill will be take
up on Thursday. The general definite vii
continue until Friday evening. On Satur
day the bill will be open TO amendmen
under the five minute rule, and on Mon
day the vote viii be taken on the bill an
pending amendments. The fate of th
measure will determine whether tho gov
ernmcnt will foreclose it's mortgages o
the Union and Central Pacific Both thes
roads have defaulted, and President ClevI
land served notice I'm so many words
his message 10 congress that unless SON
g congressional action was taken immediate
i " steps would be taken under the author
p ty OF the present law TO protect the goverl
e ment interest by foreclosure proceeding
Y The friends Of the roads realize fully thu
: this is the last chance they will have TO a
1 complish tho funding of the debt for whiC
they have striven for ten years and ths
$ will use all thcir influence In it's behal
But the bill has also many bitter enemie
3 especially in the west and on the Pacif
, coast Mr. Powers Of Vermont, chairma
1 of the committee, will be its principi
r champion on the floor, while Mr. Sulz'
e OF New York and Mr. Mcguire Of Califo
{ mia will lead the opposition Both sidl
= are now figuring on majority, and q
fate Of the bill is in grave doubt The d
/ bato Is expected 20 be Of n very lively nj
i ture, and there may be some sensation
incidents