Evening journal., 1897-12-06
WORK OF CONGRESS.
What Is on the Tapis For the
Present Session.
THREE HUNDRED BILLS REPORTED.
Likely to BE Unusual Activity During the
Preholiday sittings Because Speedy
Consideration of the Hawaiian An
nexation Treaty Is Desired.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The regular
or long session of the ffty-hfth con-
gress. as it is called because there is no
constitutional limitation upon the peri
cd of its Duration has opened. The
leaders and a large majority of the
members of both houses were here to
participate in the opening ceremonies.
1t is the intention of the house leaders
to proceed with the business Of the ses-
sion as rapidly as possible. The COM
mittees 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 house to
work on after the committee hoppers
have begun to grind. The appropria-
tion committee has been at work for ten
days, and Chairman Cannon expects to
pass at least two Of the regular budgets
before the holidays-the legislative eX-
ecutive and judicial and the pension ap-
preparation bills. One or the other Of
these bills it is expected will be report
ed by Wednesday, and the end of the
week promises to see the house down to
business. Among the early general
measures 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 modifi-
cation of the Torrey bill depends on the
temper of the judiciary committee.
which will submit the measure to the
house. Beyond doubt there win be sew
eral resolutions OF inquiry during the
first week, which may be more or less
sensational.
There is nothing except indisposition
20. emf
the senate's entering promptly upon
work, as there is a calendar ready with
about 300 bills from committees dur
ing the special session. The indications
are now for little more activity than
usual during the preholiday session.
This is largely due to the fact that the
supporters Of the administration and
other advocates of annexation are very
anxious to secure the earliest possible
consideration of the treaty with Ha-
waii. Senator Davis, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, an
nounces his purpose of pressing annex
alton at the earliest possible moment.
but it is probable that the matter will
not be taken up seriously until the COM
mittee can have a meeting and decide
upon details of procedure. The COM
mittee will he called together on We'd
nesday for this purpose.
One point which the committee will
be called upon to decide is whether to
proceed to ratify the treaty Of annexa-
tion or to annex the islands by resolu-
ton. The annexationists have lost
some votes during the vacation, and
there is now apprehension that the two
thirds vote necessary to assure the rat
ifcation cannot be secured. No satis-
factory canvass is possible until all the
senators arrive. and II II IS then made
manifest that the necessary twO-thirds
vote cannot be secured, it is likely that
the proceeding by means of resolution,
which would require only a majority
vote, will be inaugurated. Some mem-
bers of the foreign relations committee
who favor annexation advocate this
course because they say they see no
reason for traversing the same ground
twice, as they would be compelled to do
in case the matter should be first con-
sidered in executive session, fail there
and then be taken up in the form Of a
resolution in open senate and house
The immigration bill, for which Sem
ator Lodge stands sponsor, is practical
ly at the head of the senate legislative
calendar and will be considered early
In the session. Senator Lodge repeats
uiS lHt1i'tivH va hteSSiiis eliS Dlil' 'Nt NN
will not antagonize the Hawaiian
treaty with IT, The first bill On the
calendar is Senator Gears measure pro-
viding for the adjustment Of the Pa
nifc railroad debt, but the sale of the
Union Pacific doubtless will have the
effect of causing the temporary with
drawal of this bill and the substitution
of others OF the 300 bills on the cal
endar about 200 are private pension
bills. and all of these win probably be
disposed of at one sitting wien taken
up. There are also several hundred re-
cess appointments TO be considered in
executive session.