The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME.
Measures THAT VIII Come Before Both
Houses This Week.

Measures That viii Come Before Both
Houses This Week.
WASHINGTON. Dec. u. - The work of
the Senate, so far it has been mapped
out for the week. includes the consideration
of the immigration bill. which stands on
the calendar as unfinished business, the
probable debate of the census bill and the
pronouncing of eulogies the late Repre-
sentative Holman, of Indiana. The general
opinion among friends of the measure is
that there will be very serious opposition
to the immigration bill and that ii may be
passed after brief debate. When a similar
bill was before the Senate last session it
had its principal opponent in Senator Glib
son. of Maryland, and. as he has retired
from the Senate, the friends Of the bill are
hopeful that no one will be found who will
feel called on to champion the opposition.
They remember, however, that when it was
necessary in order to have the bill become
law to pass it over the Presidents veto,
the two-thirds vote requisite for that pur-
pose could not be secured. Hence, while
they are hopeful of the speedy and favor
able consideration of the bill they realize
the possibility of delay on account of OPP
posing speeches. There appears to be no
reason to doubt that when the vote shall
be reached the bill will pass.
BY special arrangement between Senators
Carter and Lodge, in charge, respectively,
of the two bills, the immigration bill will
be temporarily displaced on Tuesday in
der to give Mr.. Carter an opportunity to
call UP the bill providing for the next CEN
sus. When this agreement was made on
last Thursday Senator Carter expressed the
opinion that very brief debate would be
necessary to get the bill through, but there
are now some indications that the civil
service question will be raised in this con-
nection, and. if it should, prolonged de-
bate may be inaugurated.
The friends of annexation on the commit
tee on foreign relations are now expecting
to ask the Senate to take up the treaty dur
ing the week, though quite well aware of
the impossibiity of securing final action be-
fore the holidays. They are decided. also,
upon taking the treaty up as such instead
of attempting to secure legislation on a
joint resolution. They may postpone their
request for the consideration until January.
The Senate leaders express themselves as
agreeable to the House programme for ad-
journment for the holidays on saturday.
The Senate eulogieS upon the late Repre-
sentative Holman will be delivered on
Friday.
If the present programme is carried out
Congress will adjourn for the holiday recess
next Saturday The week in the House
promises to be made memorable by the
formal Inauguration of the war against the
civil-service law. The legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation BILL which will
be taken up on Tuesday, contains the regu-
lar appropriation for the Civil-service Com
mission and whether or not all the members
who favor the repeal or modification of
the law unite strike down the provision
for it's maintenance as the quickest and
most direct method of crippling its opera
ton, undoubtedly some will advocate this
course and the whole ciVil-serVice question
will be dragged into the arena of debate.
How long the debate will last it is impoSsi-
bic to predict but as this is the only item
contest Chairman Cannon hopes and be-
lieves the bill can be passed before Satur-
day. This latter day, under an order made
on Thursday, has been set aside for paying
tribute to the memory of the late Repre-
sentative Cooke. of Illinois. Tomorrow
Chairman Hit. of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, will again seek to secure the pas
sage of the bill to prohibit pelagic sealing
by citizens of the United States. There
sage of this measure in its present form, and
the whole question of the Bering sea
negotiations may be precipitated when it is
called up. Mr.. Hopkins, OF Illinois, and
other members favor a limitation on the
period of the operation of the act, If it is
to be passed. so that in case Great Britain
citizens may not be placed at disad-
vantage. Others like Mr.. Johnson, of North
Dakota, think the extinguishment of the
seal herds in the near future is certain and
are not disposed to favor any legislation
looking to their preservation.
The indications are that this Congress
will pass a general bill for the entire re-
habilitation of Indian Territory The meas
ure, as now planned, is to make it embrace
everything that has been sought to be ac-
complished in the past by the Dawes In
dian Commission, which is still negotiating
with the five civilized tribes, but which
will be here next week to. report the dis
couraging existing condition. The bill will
cover all the questions of citizenship. allot-
ments of lands, disposition of town sites.
mineral lands, full jurisdiction of the United
States courts over the present reservations
and other matters bearing on the extin-
guishment of tribal organization. The first
steps in the matter have been taken by
the Indian committees of both the Senate
and House 1t is understood that in a few
days there will be a joint session of the
subcommittees of the Senate and the House
at which all these matters will be gone over
and significant steps taken the way of
settling the problems by co -sional en-
actment. In view of the la mount of
work necessary to be done, ever, it is
not probable any bill can be assed until
well towards the end of the session.