, 1897-12-06
CONGRESS OPENED.
CALLED TO ORDER BY THE PRE-
SIDING OFFICERS AT HIGH
NOON TODAY.

Session-The Presidents Message
Occupies the Time OF the Opening
A Few Sensations.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The regular. or
long session of Congress, as it is called
because there is no constitutional lin.
i.ation upon the period Of its duration.
opens at moo tomorrow. The leaders
and a large majority of the members
CT both houses are here to participate
in the opening ceremonies, and Pres
ident Mckinley has made the journey
to Washington from the bedside of his
dying mother hat his absence might
not delay the national Legislature at
its assembling. The extra session robs
the opening of the regular session OF
the excitement and interest which usu-
ally attaches to it. On the eve of a reg
ular session ordinarily Washington
thrills with excitement. The hotel lob
bies surge with place-hunters in the
wake of the various candidates for
speaker, clerk, doorkeeper, etc, the
members are struggling for committee
assignments and the air is full of rumors
and plots and counterplots. But as the
house was completely organized at the
assignments made then, beyond the
natural stimulus produced by the re-
turning statesmen, the regular hang
ers-on of legislation and the outlining
Of schemes by members of the third
house, or lobby. Washington tonight
is tranquil.
The programme of the House tomor>
row is very simple. and beyond the
spectacular show which 1t offers to the
curious has. in itself, little attraction.
The house will be called to order by the
speaker, who. after the chaplain's invo-
cation, will direct the clerk to call the
roll.
This having been accomplished, and
the presence Of a quorum damonstrat,
ed. the clerk will be directed to notify
the senate hat the house is ready for
business. and a committee will be ap.
pointed to wait on the president. After
that there will be a recess to await the
arrival of the presidents annual mes.
sage, which will be read upon its recep.
ticn. and be followed by an adjourn.
ment until Tuesday. This is the reg.
ular routine and unless something un,
f~orseen occurs. will not be departed
from.
1t is the intention of the house lead.
ers to proceed with the business Of the
session is rapidly as possible. The
committees will all begin their labors
this week. and as all of them have more
or less bills on hand. which were intro
duced at the extra session. there will be
no lack of material for the hous + to
work on after the committee hoppers
have begun to grind. The appropriations
committee has been at work for 10
days, and Chairman Cannon expects to
PASS at least two of the regular budgets
before the holidays-the legislative,
executive and judicial and the pensions
appropriation bills. One or the other
of these bills, it is expected. will be re-
ported by Wednesday and the end OF
the week promises to see the house
down to business.
Among the early general messages
to receive consideration will be the
bankruptcy bill. Whether it will be the
Nelson bill which passed the senate at
the last session or a modification of the
Torrey bill 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 first
week which may be more or less sensa-
and some of the radical pro-Cu-
ba members will attempt to get con-
sideration for a Cuban resolution be,
fore the Foreign Affairs committee can
act Congressman Livingston Of Geor-
gia is one of these. But owing to the
nature Of the House rules, all these
hasty efforts will prove abortive, and
they probably will take their course.
There will be nothing but indisposl-
ton on the part Of the members to pre-
vent the Sebate's entering promptly up
on its work upon converting tomorrow,
as there is a calander already made for
1t. with about 300 bills reported from
committees during the special session.
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 1t will remain
with the senate to decide whether it
shall seriously enter upon the work OF
the session Monday, or begin a system
of delay intended to throw all Import.
ant questions over beyond the Christ
mas holidays.
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