The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-04
FORECASToF CONGRESS
Matters Which Will Be Considered by
Senate and House This Week. -,
Fight Expected on Pacific
Railroads Funding Bill.
Action on Cuban Resolution Likely 10 30
Delayed q Few Days.


congress will reconvene tomorrow. the
date fixed when adjournment was taken
for the holidays. The senate has no
program for the week except the In
dian homestead BILL which Is on the
calendar OF unfinished business.
There is liable to be a sharp clash OF
interests In the effort to secure consid-
eNtion and possibility that this clash
may develop an interesting situation.
The friends of the Pacific railroad re-
funding bill will make an effort to get
that measure up for consideration un-
less they conclude that in doing so they
may impair its chances of passage.
Until the past day or two 1t appeared
certain that the Cuban resolutions
would be sprung Immediately after the
beginning Of business.
1t Is now possible, even probable, tina.
both questions will go over, at least for
a few days. II the movement to have
the committee on foreign relations
again consider the question as to when
Is shall be taken up prevails, the ques-
ton cannot be raised until after the
committee meeting on Wednesday, and
the advocates of delay are becoming
quite sanguine that IL they succeed In
preventing consideration until Wednes-
day they will secure a still further
postponement
Senator Gear, chairman Of the Pa
cific railroad committee. is doubtful OF
the advisability Of pressing for the con-
sideration of his funding bill until after
tho action of the house on the same
measure, and may wait upon that body
II he does not delay on this account te
will make an effort TO get the bill up
or TUESDAY, or Immediately after the
homestead bill be disposed Of.
II either the Pacific bill or the Cuban
resolution secure consideration there
will be sharp contest and much ami
mated debate.
The homestead bill will be opposed by
Senator Platt and others, while Sena-
to- Pettigrew will take the lead in its
advocacy.
The house will get down to serious
business as soon as ii reassembles after
the holiday recess on Tuesday. Prob
ably the two most important matters TO
he acted upon at the short session have
been made special orders, and will con-
sumo the entire week. They are the
Loud bill to amend the laws relating
to second class mail matter so as to
prevent the shipment of books and
serial publications in connection with
newspapers at the / cent per pound
rate, and TO cut off the newspaper
sample copy privilege, and the bill pre-
pared by the Pacific railroad commit
tee to fund the debts of the Pacific rail-
roads and extend their payment for
SO years at per cent. The fund bill has
already been debated one day. and un-
der the order adopted the debate will
continue Tuesday and Wednesday, and
the bill will be brought to vote on the
latter day at o'clock.
The Pacific railroad bill will be taken
up on Thursday. The general debate
will continue until Friday evening. On
Saturday the bill will be open to amend
ment under the five-minute rule, and
on Monday the vote will be taken on the
bill and pending amendments. The fate
of the measure will determine whether
the government will foreclose Its mort
cages on the Union and Central Pa
cific. Both these roads have defaulted
and President Cleveland served notice
in so many words in his message to
congress that unless some congressional
action was taken Immediately steps
would be taken under the authority OF
the present law to protect the govern
rents interest by foreclosure proceed
ings.
The friends of the roads realize fully
that this is the last chance they Will
have to accomplish the funding Of the
Cebt for which they have striven for
10 years, and they will use all their in
fuence' in it's behalf. But the bill has
also many bitter enemies in the west
and tho Pacific coast. Mr.. Powers of
Vermont. chairman Of the committee,
will be it's principal champion on the
floor, while Mr.. Sulzer of New York and
Mr.. Mcguire Of California will lead the
opposition. Both sides are now figuring
on a majority, and the fate Of the bill
Il In grave doubt. The debate is ex-
lected to be Of a very lively .ture. and
there may be some sensational in