The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-05
THE WORK IS CUT OUT
But Little Will Be Accomplished
in Congress This Winter.
THE GAG TO BE APPLIED
The Appropriation Bills. Increase of
the Army and the Hawaiian Bills
Are the Only Ones to Be
Given q Chance.

Washington. Dec. 4.-The curtain will
session of the Fifty-ffth congress. The
war and the fruits of the American vic
tory carry i'm their wake many prob
lens which the national legislature
must solve. But though many ques-
tions may press for solution. the brief
space covered by this session. which ex-
pires by limitation on March 4, pre-
cludes the probability of much being
accomplished beyond the passage OF
the regular money budget. the legisla-
tion for the increase of the regular
army, which the administration deems
necessary to meet the obligations i'm
posed upon the nation as a 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 legisla-
ton which the congressional leaders ex-
pect to see enacted at this session. IL
Is almost the unanimous sentiment of
the members that no attempt should be
made to legislate concerning the pos
sessions acquired by the war with Spain
at this session. There are earnest advo-
Gates of the Nicaraguan canal who will
strive to secure the passage of a canal
bill now. and in this they may possibly
be successful but neither II nor any
one of the measures like the pooling
bill. anti-scalpers bill. etc, which have
strong friends. will be allowed to inter-
fere with bills the passage of which is
deemed absolutely necessary to prevent
an extra session.
The leaders at both ends Of the capi-
N hai he,
beginning OF the session and are bent
upon the Idea of avoiding an extra ses-
sion. 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 appropria-
ton committee of the house have been
To meet the extraordinary expenses of
the army and navy during the six
months from Jan. 1, 1898. to July l. is
ready To submit to the full committee
tomorrow, and the District appropria-
tion bill VIII be ready by the end of
the week. IL il said that the former
should become a law before the holiday
recess. which this year is to be shorter
than usual, and Chairman Cannon
hopes To see II through the house and
into the senate before the end of this
week. The democrats of the hause have
not disclosed their position. but IL is
not believed they Will seek to Cbstruct
any appropriation bill necessary for the
maintenance of the army now i'm the
field. Should there be a disposition to
open up and prolong a debate upon the
conduct of the war. upon this bill. IL is
safe to assume that the committee on
rules will be invoked to bring i'm an
order Of closed debate.
Intense interest Is manifested in the
presidents message. which will be sub
mltted TO congress tomorrow. on ac-
count of the great Importance Of the
many questions IL will have to deal with.
and no presidential message in years, IL
Is safe to say, has been listened to
with the eagerness and interest with
which the reading of President Nc
Kinley's message will be heard to-mor-
row.
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 arriv-
ing by every train and the hotel lobbies
are already thronged with them. A
quorum having been developed. COM
mittees viii 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 men,
bers elected TO fll vacancies caused by
deaths or designations will be sworn in,
and Immediately after the reading OF
the message Is completed the house will
adjourn out of respect to the memory
of Messrs. Love OF Mississippi and
Northway Of Ohio, who died during the
recess. on Tuesday or Wednesday. at
the latest, the house Will plunge into
it's work. Chairman Cannon will have
the deficiency bill ready and IL will oc-
cupy the attention OF the house TO the
exclusion Of everything else for the re-
mainder Of the week.