Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-03-19
Flfty-fifth Congress Assemblies
Ia Pursuance to the Pres
ident's Call.
Work Cut Out In Advance but
Indications Point to a
Lively Time.
Expected the House Will Pass
the Tariff Bill Within a
Fortnight.

nth congress met in extraordinary
session at noon in pursuance of Presl'
dent McKinley's proclamation. The
house at once organized by the selec.
ton Of Thomas B. Reed, speaker; Rev.
Henry M. Couden, chaplain; Alexan'
der Mcdowell, clerk; Benjamin +.
Russell, sergeant.at-arms; W. J. Glenn,
doorkeeper, and Joseph @. McElroy,
postmaster. II. ...a-.-
The work before the extra session.
the passage of tariff bills pretty
we'll cut out in advance, but the indi-
cations are that it will be stormy ses-
sion, and its length and scope are as
yet mere matters of speculation. So
far as the house is concerned, the pres
ent determination of the leaders is to
direct the energies of the lower branch
to the accomplishment of the task be-
fore it with all expedition and throw
the responsibility for any complications
which may arise out of delays in the
senate upon that body This was made
manifest by Speaker Reeds speech at
the Republican caucus Saturday night,
when he spoke of the necessity OF
bringing the work of the session to .
speedy close.
The Tariff Bill Complete.
The new tariff bill, upon which Re.
publican members of the ways and
means committee have been working
laboriously for three months, is COM
plete. It will be introduced at once,
then printed and submitted to the
Democratic minority and receive Tor.
NAL consideration by the full commit
tee. It is not expected that this will
require more than three or four days at
most, although the Democrats may,
and probably will, protest vigorously
against such expedition. At any rate
the house leaders hope to enter upon
the consideration Of the bill in the
house before the end Of the week. Some
Of them fix Thursday as the day on
which the debate will probably COM
mence. Although the limits Of the de-
bate have not yet been decided upon,
the prevailing opinion 10 that 1t will
not last over 10 days, Night sessions
will, Of course, be held throughout the
period allowed for debate, This will
give the new members an opportunity
to make set speeches for the benefit Of
their constituents s -,
Unless some unexpected hitch occurs
the new tariff bill may be sent to the
senate = week from next Saturday or .
fortnight after the session opens.
In the Upper House.
The week does not promise to be
busy one in the senate, except in the
event that the arbitration treaty be.
tween this country and Great Britain
IL considered. Senator Davis, chair
man of the committee on foreign re.
1ations, said that he would force the
question Of ratification to - speedy q
determination as possible. The treaty
will be considered in executive session.
There will 30 considerable opposition
to it even in its amended form, but the
friends Of the treaty assert that there
Will not be to exceed 10 opposing
votes when the final result is an
nounced. A number Of bills, major.
ity of which will be those that failed
in the last congress, will be introduced
during tho week, but a. none Of them
can be taken up until they receive com.
mittee action, there will be but little
q no legislative work.
Considerable time during tho week
viii be spent by the leaders OF tho
various parties in the senate In an ct.
fort to reach harmonious adjustment
q tho senate committees.