The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-12-10
GRIND AGAIN BEGINS.
CONGRESS AGAIN GETS TO-
GETHER.
Indications that the Session VIII BE
Business One-The Regular Routine
of Opening Both Houses-Important
Measures Ready for Action aud to
Come Up Early.
Assembling of Congress.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The reg
ular or long session of congress, as 1t
is called, because there is no constitu-
tional limitation upon the period of
it's duration, opens at noon today. The
leaders and a large majority Of the
members of both houses are here to
participate in the opening ceremonies,
and President Mckinley has made
the journey to Washington from the
bedside of his dying mother that his
absence might not delay the national
legislature at it's assembling.
The extra session robs opening Of
regular session of the excitement and
interest which usually attach to it. On
the eve of a regular session, ordinarily,
Washington thrills with excitement.
The hotel lobbies surge with place
hunters for the places of speaker,
doorkeeper, clerk, ETC., members strug-
Cling for committee places and the
air is full of rumors of plots and
cOunterplots. But as the house was
completely organized at the extra ses-
sion and all the committee assign
ments were made then. beyond the
natural stimulus produced by the re-
turning statesmen, the regular hang
ers-on of legislation and the outlining
of schemes by members of the third
house" or lobby, Washington tonight
is tranquil.
The program of the house today is
very simple, and beyond the spectac-
ular show which it offers to the curl
Gus has in itself little attraction. The
house will be called to order by the
speaker, who, after the chaplain's in
vocation will direct the clerk to call
the roll This having been accom-
plished and the presence of a quorum
demonstrated, the clerk will be di-
rected to notify the senate that the
house is ready for business and a
committee will be appointed to wait
on the president. After that there
will be a recess to await the arrival
of the presidents annual message,
which will be read on its reception and
be followed by an adjournment until
Tuesday. This is the routine and un-
less something unforeseen occurs will
not be departed from.
1t is the intention of the house lead
ers to proceed with the business of
the session as rapidly as possible.
The committees will all begin their
labors this week and as all of them
have more or less bills on hand which
were introduced at the extra session
there will be no lack of material for
the house to operate On. The ap-
preparations committee has been at
work for ten days and Chairman Can
non expects to pass at least two of the
regular budgets before the holidays
the legislative, executive and judicial
and the pensions appropriation bills.
One or two other of these bills. it is
expected, will be reported by Wednas-
day, and the end of the week prom
ises to see the house down to busi-
ness.
Among the early general measures
to receive consideration will be the
bankruptcy bill. Whether it will be
the Nelson bill, which passed the SEN
ate at the last session, or a modifica-
ton of the Torrey bill, depends on the
temper of the judiciary committee,
which will submit the measure to the
house.
Beyond doubt there will be several
resolutions of inquiry during the first
week, which may be more or less SEN
SatiOnal, and some of the more radical |
pro-Cuba members will attempt to get |
consideration for a Cuban resolution |
before the foreign affairs committee !
can act. Congressman Livingston of |
Georgia is one of these. But. owing /
to the nature of the house rules. all |
of these hasty efforts will prove abor-
tive and they probably will take their
course.
There will be nothing except indis-
position on the part of members to pre-
vent the senate's entering promptly
upon it's work upon convening tomor-
row, as there is a calendar already
made for it with about 800 bills re-
ported from committees during the
special session.