Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-18
THE NEW CONGRESS,
The Fifty-Fifth Congress Meets In
Extraordinary Session.
ITS CHIEF WORK A TARIFF BILL.
The Appropriation Bills Which Failed to
Pass the Old Congress viii Also BE
Put Through Arbitration
Treaty In the Senate.

WASHINGTON, March l5.-The Fifty
Fifth congress met in extraordinary
session to-day at noon in pursuance Of
President McKinley's proclamation.
The work before 1.-THE passage Of a
tariff bill, is pretty well cut out in ad-
vance, but the indications are that it
will be stormy session and Its length
and scope are Us yet mere matters OF
speculation. So far as the house is
concerned the present determination
Of the leaders Is to direct the energies
Of the lower branch TO the accomplish
ment OF the task before it with all ex-
petition and throw the responsibility
for any complications which may arise
out Of delays in the senate upon that
body. Whether the leaders will en-
phasize any inaction by the senate
when the bill reaches that body by q
programme Of three-day recesses re-
mains to be seen, but 1t is likely that
the speaker will, at least for the pres
ent refrain from appointing any save
the actual committees necessary for
the transaction Of the business in hand.
This will prove an effective bar to the
passage Of miscellaneous or general
bills, us the rules Of the house are such
that all legislation must come
through the agencies of committees.
But even this Is not absolutely
necessary, as the committee on rules
can be invoked to furnish special or
ders And 1t is by means OF special or
ders that the appropriation bills which
failed to receive Mr. Cleveand's APP
proval are to be put through at the ex-
traordinary session. Consideration in
committee will involve great delay and
result, besides, in almost interminable
debate In the house, as it is the pecul-
lar characteristic of a new house to
use every opportunity to talk. Mr..
Cannon, the chairman of the appro-
priations committee, says the bills as
they went to Mr.. Cleveland are all
right and he fnvors their repassage
under special rules without the formal
ity of again putting them through the
regular channels. This will be the
plan followed, and all the time before
| the actual debate on the tariff begins
will be devoted to the appropriation
bills. The new tariff bill, upon which
the republican members of the ways
and means committee have been work
ing laboriously for three months, is
complete and will be formally'intro-
duced to-day.
Vice President Hobart raped the
senate to order at noon to-day for the
beginning Of the work of the Fifty
Fifth congress. The week does not
now promise to be busy one in
the senate, except in the event that
the arbitration treaty between this
country and Great Britain Is consid-
cred. Senator Davis, chairman Of the
committee on foreign relations, said
yesterday he would force the question
of ratification to as speedy determi-
nation as 1t would be possible TO do.
The treaty will be considered in execu-
tive session. There will be considera-
BILE opposition to 1t even in its amended
form, but the friends of the treaty as
sert that there will not be to exceed 90
opposing votes when the final result Is
announced. A number of bills, ma.
jority Of which will be those which
failed in the last congress, will be in
troduced during the week, but as none
Of them can be taken up until they re-
ceive committee action, there will be
little or no legislative work.