The record-union., 1898-12-05

WASHINGTON Dec. 4.-The curtain
will ring up tomorrow at noon on the
closing session Of the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress. The war and the fruits of the
American victory carry in their wake
many problems 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 on March
4th, precludes the probability of much
being accomplished beyond the pass
age of the regular money budgets, the
legislation for the increase of the reg
ular army which the Administration
deems necessary to meet the obliga-
tions imposed upon the nation as a re-
suit Of the war and probably the enact
ment of a law to give a permanent ter
ritorial government to the Hawaiian
Islands. This covers all the important
legislation which the Congressional
leaders expect to see enacted at this
session.
1t is the almost unanimous sentiment
that no attempt should be made to leg
islate concerning the possessions ac-
session. There are earnest advocates
of the Nicaragua Canal who will strive
to secure the passage of a. canal bill
now, and in this they may possibly be
successful, but neither it nor any of the
measures like the pooling bill, anti
scalpers' bill, etc., which have strong
friends, will be allowed to interfere
with the bills, the passage of which is
-
vent an extra session. The leaders at
both ends of the Capitol have put their
heads together at the beginning of the
session and are bent upon the idea Of
avoiding an extra session. With this
purpose in view, the appropriation bills
are to be given the road at both ends
of the Capitol and pressed through with
all possible haste. Two subcommittee
of the Appropriation Committee of the
House have been at work during the
past week. The Democrats of the
House have not disclosed their position,
but it is not believed they will seek to
obstruct any appropriation bin neces-
sary for the maintenance of an army
now in the field. Should there be a
disposition to open up and prolong
debate upon the conduct of the war,
upon this bill it is safe to assume that
the Committees on Rules will be invok-
ed to bring in an order of closed. debate
Intense interest is manifested in the
Presidents message, which will be sub
mitted to Congress tomorrow, on ac-
count of the many important questions
it will have to deal with and no Presi-
Dental message in years has been lis
tened to with the eagerness and inter
est with which the reading of Presi-
dent McKinley's message will be heard
tomorrow.
The reading of the message will oc-
cupy probably two hours. The first
thing in order after Speaker Reed calls
the House to order tomorrow will be
a call of the roll to determine the pres
ence Of a quorum. Concerning this
there is little doubt, as members are
arriving by every train and the hotel
lobbies are already thronged with them.
A quorum having been developed, COM
mittees will be appointed to wait upon
the President and the Senate TO inform
them that the House is ready to pro-
ceed to business. Pending the arrival
of the Presidents message several
members, elected to fill. vacancies
,aused by deaths or designations viii
sworn in, and Immediately after the
ding of the message is completed.
House will adjourn out of respect to
memory of Messrs. Love of Missis-
and Northway of Ohio. who died
lg the recess. On Tuesday or
nesday at the latest the House will
lge into the work. Chairman Cam
will have the deficiency bin ready
it viii occupy the attention of the
use to the exclusion of everything
e for the remainder of the week.
senator's express a determination to
AXE up the work of the session Wig
)rously in the beginning with the hope
# getting we'll advanced before the
lolidays, and they are counting upon
taking up the appropriation bills at a
very early date for the purpose of pre-
venting an extra session, due to any
failure on the part Of the national bud
get. 1t is expected that the army de-
ficiency bin will reach the Senate dur
ing the present week, the understands
ing at the north end of the Capitol be-
ing that the House will dispose of it
within very few days after assem-
bling.
Inc Committee on Appropriations
viii bring it in early for the double
purpose of having it passed quickly
and OF testing the feeling of the Sena-
tors on questions connected with the
war The first days session will be
given UP almost entirely to the mess
age and there is great interest mani
tested in hearing the minutest detail
of the Presidents recommendations.
After the reading of the message the
Senate viii adjourn till the next day.
All plans for legislation of general
scope awaits the PRONUNCIATION of this
document and. as a consequence. one
hears fer less than usual of the meas
ures to be introduced.
1t is impossible to say what matters
viii occupy the week after the disposal
of the message, but it IS possible that
some speeches may be delivered upon
the policy indicated by the message,
and also that the calendar may be
taken up. There are many measures
which have been reported. and there
will he M difficulty +0 find ,,,