, 1898-12-05
CONGRESS OPENS
THE SESSION WILL BE A VERY
MOMENTOUS ONE IN AMERI-
CAN HISTORY.
Presidents Message Very Long and
Contains Much Concerning New
Conditions and New Problems
Leaders Wish to Avoid an Extra
Session.

VIII ring UP tomorrow at noon on the
closing session of the F~ifty-ifth con-
gress. The war and the fruits of the
American victory carry in their wake
many problems which the national leg
islators must solve. But though many
questions may press for solution, the
brief space covered by this session,
which expires by limitation on March
4, precludes the probability of much be-
ing accomplished beyond the passage of
the regular money budgets, the legis-
lation 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
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 earn
est advocates of the N~icaraguan canal,
who will strive to secure the passage
of a canal bill now, and in this they
may possibly be successful, but neith-
er 1t nor any one of the measures like
the pooling bill, anti-scalping bill, etc,
which have strong friends, will be al
lowed to interfere with the bills the
passage of which is deemed absolutely
necessary to prevent an extra session.
The leaders at both ends of the capt.
tol have put their heads together at the
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 sub-cclmittees of the appropria-
ton committee OF the house have been
at work for a week. The deficiency bill
TO meet the extraordinary expenses of
the army and navy during the six
months from January l, 1898, to July
l, is ready to submit to the
full committee tomorrow, and
the regular district of Columbia
appropriation will be ready by
the end of the week. If it is necessary
that the former should be come a law
before the holiday recess, which, this
year, is to be shorter than usual, and
Chairman Cannon hopes to see it
through the house and into the senate
before the end Of this week.
The democrats of the house have not
disclosed their position, but it is not
believed they will seek to obstruct any
appropriation bill necessary for the
maintenance of an army now in the
field. Should there be a disposition t o
open UP and proiong a debate upon the
conduct of the wal Upon this bill, it is
safe to say that the committee on rules
will be invoked to bring in an order to
close debate.
Intense interest is manifested in the
presidents message, which will be SUBJ
mitted to congress tomorrow, on ac-
count of the great Importance of the
many questions it will have to deal
with, and no presidential message in
years, it is safe to say has beer listened
to with the eagerness and interest with
which the reading of President Nc
Kinley's message will be heard tomor-
row. The reading Of the message will
occupy 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 congressman. A quorum
having been developed, committees will
be appointed to wait upon the presi-
dent and the senate to inform them
that the house is ready to proceed to
business. Pending the arrival of the
presidents message, several members
elected to fill 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 mem
DRY of Messrs. Love of Mississippi and
Northway Of Ohio. who died during the
recess. On Tuesday OF Wednesday, at
the latest, the house will plunge into
its 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.
Senators express a determination to
take up the work OF the session vigor-
ously In the beginning, with the hope
of getting well advanced before the
holidays, and they are counting upon
taking up the appropriation bills at a