The herald., 1898-12-05
Associated Press Special Wire,

| WASHINGTON, Dec 4.-The curtain
will ring up tomorrow at noon on the clos
ing session Of the Fifty-fifth congress. 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 solu-
| ton, the brief space covered by this session.
which expires by limitation March 4th, pre-
cludes the probability Of much being accom-
plished beyond the passage OF the regular
money budgets, the legislation for the in
crease of the regular army, which the adj
minstration deems necessary to meet the
result OF the war, and probably the enact
ment of a law to give permanent territor-
ial government to the Hawaiian islands
This covers all the important legislation
which the congressional leaders expect to
see enacted at this session. 1t is almost
the unanimous sentiment of the members
that no attempt should be made to legislate
concerning the possessions acquired by the
war with Spain at this session.
There are earnest advocates of the Nicara-
qua canal who will strive to secure the pass
age Of a canal bill now, and in this they NAV
possibly be successful, but neither it, nor
any of the measures like the pooling bill.
ant-scalpers' bill, ETC., which have strong
friends, will be allowed to interfere with the
bills, the passage of which is deemed abso-
lutely necessary to prevent an extra ses-
sion.
NO EXTRA SESSION.
The leaders at both ends of the capitol
have put their heads together at the be-
ginning 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 posi-
BILE haste. The subcommittee on appro-
priations of the house has been at work for
week. The deficiency bill to meet the
ordinary expenses of the army and navy
during the six months from January l, 1898,
to July |, is ready to submit to the full
| committee tomorrow, and the regular Dis
| trict of Columbia appropriation bill will be
ready by the end of the week 1t is neces.
say that the former should become law
before the holiday recess, which this year is
to be shorter than usual, and Chairman Can
non hopes to see it through the house and in
the senate before the end of this week.
The Democrats of the house have not dis
closed their position, but it is not believed
they will seek to obstruct any appropria-
tion bill necessary for the maintenance of
an army now in the field. Should there be
disposition to open up and prolong de-
bate upon the conduct Of the war. upon this
bill, it is safe to assume that the committee
on rules will be invoked to bring in an order
to close the debate
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Great interest is manifested in the presi-
dent S message, which will be submitted to
congress tomorrow, on account of the many
questions which it will have to deal with.
and no presidential message in years has
been listened to with the eagerness
and the interest with which President
Mcklnley's message will be heard to-
morrow The reading of the message will
occupy probably two hours. The first thing
III order after Speaker Reed calls the house
to order tomorrow will be call of the roll
to determine the presence of a Quorum.
Concerning this there is little doubt, as
members are arriveing by every train and
the hotel lobbies are already thronged with
them. A quorum having been developed,
committees will be appointed to wait upon
the president and the senate to inform them
that the house is ready to proceed to busi-
mss. Pending the arrival of the presidents
message, several members electd to fill va
cancies caused by deaths or designations will
be sworn in, and Immediately fter the read
ing OF the message is completed, the house
will adjourn out of respect to the memory of
Alessrs. Love of Mississippi and Northway
of Ohio, who died during the recess. On
Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest the
house will plunge into the work. Chairman
Cannon will have the deficiency bill ready
and it will occupy the attention of the house
to the exclusion of everything else for the
remainder of the week.
REED HAS ARRIVED
The hotels are rapidly filing up with men,
bers OF congress preparatory TO the opening
session tomorrow. Included in the arrivals
today was Speaker Reed, who paid num-
ber of congressional calls during the after
noon and evening.
SEM A M, ENpENAcn