The herald., 1897-03-15
OF the Congress Which Con-
venes Today
M'KiNLEY RUBBED THE LAME
And the Political 0enil Make Haste to
Appear
But They May % Not 50 Par - or Very Much
FARTHER Than the President
Desires
Associated Press Special wire

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE
Fifty-fifth congress meets in extraordi-
nary session tomorrow at noon, in pur-
suance Of President McKinleys procla-
nation. The work before 1.-THE passage
of tariff bill. is pretty we'll cut out in
advance, but the indications are that it
will be a stormy session and its length
and scope as yet are mere matters Of
speculation. The present secretary Of
state, Mr.. Sherman, remarked several
years ago on a memorable occasion In
the senate, that the president. like Alad-
din. could rub the lamp and cause the
genii to appear but that once they had
appeared they were masters of their own
destinies. So that congress, once in ses-
sion, may go much farther or not so far
as the president may wish.
So far as the house, which will be or
ganized tomorrow, is concerned, the
present determination of the leaders is
to direct the energies of the lower
branch to the accomplishment of the
task with all expedition and throw ali
responsibility for any complications
which may arise out of delays in the sem
ate upon that body. This was made
manifest by Speaker Reeds speech at
the Republican caucus last night He
spoke of the necessity of bringing the
work of the session to speedy close.
Whether the leaders will emphasize any
inaction by the senate when the bill
reaches that body by program of three
day recessee, remains to be seen, but 1t
is likely that the speaker, for the present
at least, will refrain from appointing
any save the usual committees neces
sary for the transaction Of the business
on hand. This will prove an effective
bar to the passage of miscellaneous or
general bills, as the rules of the house
are such that such legislation must
come through the agencies Of commit
tees. But even this Is not absolutely
necessary as the committee on rules can
be invoked to furnish special orders.
And 1t is by meane Of special orders thai
the appropriation bills which failed to
receive Mr.. Cleveland's approval are to
be put through at the extraordinary ses-
sion. Consideration in committee will
involve more delay and result besides in
almost interminable debate in the house
house to use every opportunity to talk
Mr.. Cannon, the chairman of the appro-
priations committee, says the bills. as
they went to Cleveland are all right and
he favors their re-passage under special
rules without the formality of again
putting them through the regular chan
nels. This Will be the plan followed and
all the time before the actual debate on
the traiff begins will be devoted to the
appropriation bills.
The new tariff bill, upon which Re-
publican members of the ways ami
means committee have been working
laboriously for. three months. is com
plete, and will be formally introduced
tomorrow. 1t will then be printed and
submitted to the Democratic minority
and receive consideration by the full
committee. 1t is not expected that this
will require more than three or four
days at most, although the Democrats
may. and probably will, protest vigor-
ously 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 is that 1t will not last
over ten days. Night sessions will. If
course. be held throughout the period
allowed for debate. This will give the
new members an opportunity to make
speeches, to the benefit of their constitu-
ents.
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. The
organization Of the house tomorrow,
while perfunctory performance, will
no doubt attract a large audience. The
new house will be called to order by th-
clerk. A. ]. Mcdowell. of Pennsylvania:
the roll will be called. after which the
candidates Of the several parties for
speaker will be placed In nomination,
and the result of the vote will deter
mine the alignment of the new house.
There are 206 Republicans. 122 Demo-
Gratis and 20 Fusion. Silverite and Popu-
ist representatives in the new house.
The percentage of new members is un-
usually large. There are 14s new men,
bers. OF these 1872 have never served in
congress before and ID have served prior
to the Ffty-fourth congress.
After the organisation q committee
will be appointed to wait upon the
president and inform him that the
house is ready for business. Pending the
appearance of the presidents message,
the biennial seat drawing will occur.
This always is an interesting and anus
ing proceeding and the feature Of the
first day.
IN THE SENATE