The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-05

Washington, Dec. 4.-The curtain
win ring up tomorrow at noon on the
closing session of the Fifty-fifth 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 solu-
ton. the brief space covered by this
session, which expires by limitation on
March 4. precludes the probability of
much being accomplished beyond the
passage OF the regular money budgets,
the legislation for the increase of the
regular army. which the administra-
ton deems necessary to meet the obli-
cations imposed upon the nation as
result OF the war, and probably the
enactment of a law to give a 9erman-
ent territorial government to the
Hawaiian islands. This covers all the
important legislation which the con-
gressional leaders expect to see en-
acted 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
Nicaraguan canal who will strive to
secure the passage Of d canal bill now,
and in this they may possibly be sue
cessful. but neither it. nor any one Of
the measures like the pooling bill,
anti-scalpers bill, etc, which have
strong friends. viii be allowed to
interfere with the bills, the passage of
which is deemed absolutely necessary
to prevent an extra session The lead
ers at both ends of the capitol have
put their heads together at the begin
ming Of the session ana are bent u9on
the idea. of avoiding an extra session.
With this purpose in view the a9Dro-
priation bills are to be given the road
at both ends of the capitol and pressed
through with all possible haste. Two
committees of the appropriation
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 Jan. /. 1899 TO July 1, is
ready to submit to the full committee
tomorrow and the regular District of
Columbia appropriation bill will be
ready by the end Of the week. 1t 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 believed they viii seek to obstruct
any appropriation bill necessary for
the maintenance of an army now in the
field. Should there be a disposition to
open UP and prolong a debate upon the
conduct Of the war, upon this bill, it
is safe to assume that the committee
on rules viii be invoked TO bring in
an order OF closed debate.
Intense interest is manifested in the
presidents message. which viii be
submitted TO congress tomorrow, on
account of the great Importance of the
many questions it win have to deal
with, and no presidential message in
years. it is safe to say, has been
listened to with the eagerness and in
terest with which the reading of
President McKiniey's message will be
heard tomorrow.
The reading of the message viii 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
presence Of a quorum. Concerning this
there is little doubt as members are
arriving by every train and the hotel
! lohbies are already thronged with
a them. A quorum having been devel-
Nped, committees viii be appointed TO
wait upon the president and the SEN
ate to inform them that the house is
ready to proceed to business Pending
the arrival of the presidents message
several members elected to fill vacan-
cies caused by deaths or designations
viii be sworn in. and Immediately after
the reading of the message is complet-
ed 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 Tues
day or Wednesday. at the latest. the
house viii plunge into its work. Chair
man Cannon viii have the deficiency
bill ready, and it viii occupy the atten-
ton Of the house to the exclusion OF
everything else for the remainder Of the
week.