The Flagstaff sun-democrat. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1896-1897, 1897-03-18
THE NEW CONGRESS.
Tho Fifty-Fifth Congress Meets In
Extraordinary Session.
ITS CHIEF WORK A TARIFF BILL.
The Appropriation Bills which Failed to
Pass the Old Congress win Also he
Put Observation-Disclosures
Treaty In the Senate.

WASHINGTON, March 15.-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
tariff bill, is pretty well cut out in ad-
vance, but the indications are that 1t
will be stormy session and its length
ana scope are as 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
Tor 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
programme of three-day recesses re.
mains to be seen, but it is likely that
the speaker will, at least for the pres
emit, 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, as 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 it is by means of special or
ders that the appropriation bills which
failed to receive Mr.. Cleveland'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 interminablc
debate in the house. as it is the pecul.
lar characteristic of 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 favors their repassagc
under special rules without the formal
ity'of again patting 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 a 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 it even in its amended
form, but the friends OF the treaty as
sert that there will not be to exceed 20
opposing votes when the final result is
announced. A number of bills, una
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.