The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-05
SHORT AND BUSY SESSION.
CONGRESS TO CONSIDER ONLY NEC-
EsSARY LEGISLATION.

Appropriations, Army and Hawaiian
Government Bills About Only
Ones to he COnsidered-NO Legis-
latiOn Expected With Regard to
New POsSessions-Not Believed
Democrats VIII Pursue Any OBJ
structive Tactics-ShOrt Holiday
Recess.
Washington, Dec 4.-The curtain will
ring up tomorrow at noon upon the clos
ing session of the Fifty-ffth Congress.
The war and the fruits of the American
victory carry in their wake many prob
lens which the national legislators must
solve
But though many questions may press
for solution, the brief space covered by
this session, which expires by limitation
March 4, precludes the probability Of much
being accomplished beyond the passage of
the regular money budgets. The iegls-
lation for the increase of the regular
army, which the administration deems
necessary to meet the obligations imposed
upon the country by the result of the
war. and probably the enactment of a law
to give a permanent territorial government
to the Hawaiian Islands. This covers all
the important legislation which the con-
eress!onaI leaders expect to see enacted
at this session.
It is almost the unanimous sentiment
of the leaders that no attempt should be
made to legislate concerning the possess
-r.rffI, "a
this session. There are earnest advocates
of the Nicaragua canal bill who will strive
to secure its passage now, and they may
possibly be successful, but neither il nor
anv one of the other measures like the
polling bill. anti-scaplers bill, etc, which
have strong friends, will be allowed to IN
terfere with the bills, the passage OF which
is deemed absolutely necessary to prevent
| an extra session. The leaders at both ends
of the capitol have put their heads togeth-
er. and the work of the session is TO be
entered upon with the idea of avoiding an
extra session.
with this purpose. in view the appropria-
ton bills are to be given the road at
both ends of the capitol, and pressed
through with all possible haste. TWO SUD
committees Of the appropriations commit
tee of the House have been at work for
week. The deficiency bill to meet the ex-
! traortfnary.- expenses of the army ana
navy during the six months from Jan. j.
1899 TO July /, is ready to be submitted
40 the full committee tomorrow, and the
REGULAR District of Columbia appropriation
bill will be ready by the end of the week.
If is necessary that the former should be-
| come a law before the holiday recess when
this year is to be shorter than usual, and
Chairman Cannon hopes to see 1T through
the House and into the Senate before the
end of the present week
The Democrats Of the House have not
| disclosed their position, but it Is not be-
neved they win seek to obstruct an ap-
propriation bill necessary for the main
tenance OF the army now in the field.
Intense interest is manifested in the
Presidents message which will be submit
ted TO Congress tomorrow, on account Of
tbe great Importance of the many ques-
tions il will have to deal with. The first
,bing in order after Speaker Reed calls
/ the House to order tomorrow VIII De a
call of the roll to determine the presence
of a quorum.
Concerning this there is little doubt, as
the members are arriving by every train,
and the hotel lobbes are already thronged.
| A quorum having been developed, commit
tees will be appointed TO wait upon the
President and the Senate to inform them
that the House is ready to proceed to busi-
ness
Pending the arrival of the President s
r1essage several new members elected to
| fill vacancies caused by deaths or resigna-
tions will be sworn in, and Immediately
after the reading of the message is com
pleted the House will adjourn out of re-
spect to the memory of Messrs. Love of
mississippi and Northway of Ohio, who
died during the recess.
on Tuesday or Wednesday al the lat
est the House will plunge into its work.
Chairman Cannon will have the deficiency
bill ready, and it will occupy the atten-
zion of the House, TO the exclusion OF
everything else for the remainder of the
week.