The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-18

WASHINGTON, March l5.-The Fifty |
fifth congress met IN extraordinary |
session to-day at noon in pursuance of
President McKinley's proclamation.
The new house was called to order by !
the clerk, Major Mcdowell of Pennsyl-
vania the roll was called, after which
the candidates of the several parties for
speaker were placed in nomination and
the result of the vote determined the
political alignment for the new house
of representatives. There are 206
Republicans, 1879 Democrats and %
fusion, Silver and Populist representa-
tives in the new house The percentage
Of new members is unusually large.
There are l4S new men. OF these l32
have never served in congress before
and 16 have served prior to the Fifty
fourth.
The Republican slate chosen Satur-
day night went through as follows
Thomas b. Reed, speaker; Rev. Henry
M. Couden, chaplain Alexander Nc
Dowell, clerk Benjamin +. Russell,
sergeant at arms; w. J. Glenn, door
keeper; Joseph 9. McElroy, postmaster.
The Democrats nominated Bailey of
Texas for speaker. Kerr of Pennsylva-
MIA was their candidate for clerk.
After the house was organized com.
mittee was appointed to wait upon the
president and inform him that the
house was ready for business. Pending
the appearance of the presidents mes
sage the biennial seat drawing occurred.
This is always an interesting and anus
ing proceeding and the feature of the
opening day.
The presidents message was then
read.
The work before congress-the pass
age of q tariff bill, is pretty well cut
out in advance, but the indications are
that it will be a stormy session and its
length and scope are as yet mere mat.
tary of state, Mr.. Sherman, remarked
several years ago on memorable occa.
sion in the senate. that the president,
like Alladin, 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 con-
gress once in session may go much fur
ther, or not so far as the president may
wish.
So far as the house is concerned the
present determination of the leaders is
to direct the energies of the lower
branch to the complishment Of the
task before it with all expedition and
throw the responsibility for any com.
plications which may arise out of de.
lays in the senate upon that body.
This was made manifest by Speaker
Reeds speech at the Republican caucus
Saturday night when 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 re-
cesses remains to be seen, but it seems
likely that the speaker will, at least for
the present, refrain from appointing
any save the actual committees neces-
sary 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 orders. And it is by
means of special orders that the appro.
priation bills, Which failed to receive
Mr.. Cleveland's approval, are to be put
through at the extraordinary session.
Consideration in committee would in.
yolve great delay and result, besides, in
almost interminable debate in the house,
as it is the peculiar characteristic of a
new house to use every opportunity to
talk. Mr.. Cannon, the chairman of the
appropriation committee, says the bills,
as they went to Mr.. Cleveland, are all
right, and he fayors their repassage un.
der special rules without the formality
of again putting them through the reg
ular 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 Re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee have been working
Ilaboriously for three months, was form
ally introduced this afternoon. 1t will
be Immediately printed and submitted
to the Democratic minority and receive
formal consideration by the full COM
mittee. 1t is not expected that this will
require more than three or four days at
most, although the Democrats may, and
probably will, protest vigorously against
such expedition. At any rate the house
leaders hope to enter upon the consid.
Grafton 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 commence. AL
though the limits Of the debate have
not yet been decided upon, the prevail
ing opinion is that it will not last over
ten days. Night sessions will, of course,
be held throughout the period allowed
for debate. This will give the new
members an opportunity to make set
speeches for the benefit of their con-
stituents.
Unless some unexpected hitch occurs,
the new tariff bill may be sent to the
senate week from next Saturday, or q
fortnight after the session opens.
Vice President Hobart raped the
senate to order at noon. The chief
business of today's session was the
reading of the presidents message.
The week does not now promise to be
busy one in the senate, except in the
event that the arbitration treaty be-
tween this country and Great Britain
is considered. Senator Davis, chairman
OF the committee on foreign relations,
says that he will force the question of
ratification to as speedy determination
as possible. The treaty will be con.
sidered in executive session. There
will be considerable opposition to ii
even in its amended form, but the
friends of the treaty assert that there
will not be to exceed 20 opposing votes
when the final result is announced
.H