Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-05
PLENTY OF WORK
Is Outlined for Congress Dur
ing the Present Week.
Loud Postal Bill and Pacific Railroad
Finance in the House.
The Cameron Resolution On Cuban Affairs
Expected In the Senate.

Holiday recess. the House, upon the
recommendation of the committee on
| rules, arranged the business of the
House for the first week of the new
year. Tuesday and Wednesday, the
Loud bill to amend the postal laws to
prohibit the transmission in the mails
of serial novel publications and sam
pie" copies of newspapers at the
second class rate, will be the special
order.
Discussion under the general rule
will continue from Immediately after
the reading Of the journal, Tuesday,
until p. NJ, Wednesday. and under
the five minute rule upon the proposed
amendments until o'clock, when vot-
ing will begin upon the pending
amendments and the final passage of
the bill.
When the bill was called up. rather
unexpectedly. several weeks ago, it de-
veloped surprising strength, but since
then the opposition has been active
and the chances Of it's passage are now
considered rather doubtful.
After this bill has been disposed of,
the rest of the week-Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday-will be devoted to
the consideration of the Pacific Rail-
road funding bill, reported by, Judge
on Pacific Railroads. Two days win
be given TO general discussion. one
day to debate and action in the com,
mittee of the whole upon the proposed
amendments.
The bill will be reported to the House
at .. Saturday. and a vote on its passage
will be taken. Monday. Jan. H. immedi-
ately after the reading of the journal
Debates on this measure will doubt less
be interesting. owing 10 the opposition
which exists among the members of the
House 10 the action of the majority of
the committee.
The bill proposes to extend a govern
| ment lien over all the physical properties
OF the companies. which 1t Is claimed the
present lien does not cover. and suDsti-
tute for all outstanding obligations u new
| 4 per cent. mortgage. the government
debt To be Carried at per cent. per an
mum.
In addition to this. the Southern Pa
citic Railroad Go. Is required TO pay the
amount charged against the CentraA Pa
cific Co. so long as 1t remains the lessee
thereof. The amount OF the Union Pa
cilc mortgage will be 81. 600. and Of
the Central Pacific. net 81. sol 600.
Hubbard of Missouri. and Bell of Texas
have made minority reports. opposing the
recommendations of the committee. the
former recommending a bill drawn by
Attorney General Harmon and intro
duced by Senators Brice and Morgan, to
enforce the government liens upon the
property by proceedings in the court of
appeals of the District of Columbia; and
the latter that the debts of the com
panies be extended at 8 per cent, instead
of 2. secured by first mortgage upon all
properties. They will probably lead the
debate against the committees bill.
By the terms of the orders making
these measures the special business. the
consideration of any other matters is
shut out. and il will take unanimous con-
sent to act on anything else until the or
ders are exhausted. The only exception
is that: Friday, night. private pension
bills Will be discussed for 2la hours as
usual without a quorum
When the Senate meets. Tuesday morn
ing. it is quite likely that debate on the
matters pertaining to our foreign rela-
lions and the position assumed by Secre
tary Olney for the Executive will at once
begin to take shape. Whether Mr.. Cam
eron will call up the Cuban resolution on
the opening day of the session. is not yet
known, for that senator has not returned
to the city. and the subject is entirely in
his hands. 1t is hardly thought shat he
will seek to force the issue on the open
ing day. owing to the fact that there is
not likely to be quorum of the Senate
present.
During the morning hour. under any
guise that may be put forward. debate
on the subject can be commenced. but it
must give way to unfinished business at
2. unless there are sufficient votes TO dis
place the Oklahoma free homestead bill
with the more pressing question of Cuba.
The homestead bill. which is championed
by Mr.. Pettigrew, is not to have smooth
sailing. A strong minority report by Mr..
Platt is to be presented and that senator
will lead the opposition to the measure
on the floor of the Senate.
Mr.. Hale. who is looked upon as the
leader of the anti-Cuban sentiment in the
Senate. said. Saturday. that several SEN
ators heretofore silent on the subject had
come out against the Cameron resolution
and there was no possible chance for its
passage. Cameron. Lodge. Chandler,
Morgan and Mills assert that the senti-
ment favoring action by Congress is be-
coming more vigorous and the fighting
will be forced from the start.
Mr.. Hale. who. in the absence of Mr..
Allison, is acting chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations. expects to have
the army bill reported to the Senate;
Wednesday. and this will be put forward
to antagOnize the Cuban proposition.
Two speeches are booked for the COM
ing week. one by Mr.. PETER. probably
Wednesday. on his resolution for the APP
pointment of national monetary con-
ference, and another by Mr.. Proctor on
| the joint resolutions providing for the
election of President and Vice President
and senators by popular vote.