Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-08
CONGRESS CONVENES
The Closing Session Of the Fifty
Fifth Congress Commences.
LEGISLATION LIKELY TOBE ENACTED.
Tho Leaders of Both Ends OF tho Capitol
VIII Try TO Avoid an Extra Session
Appropriation Bills to BE
Given tho Road.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The curtain
rung up at noon to-day on the closing
session Of the Fifty-dfth congress.
The war and the fruits Of the Ameri-
can victory carry in their wake many
problems which the national legisla-
tors must solve. But though many
questions may press for solution, the
brief space covered by this session,
which expires by limitation March 4,
precludes the probability OF much be.
ing 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
obligations imposed upon us as a re-
suit of war, and probably the enact
ment of law to give a per-
manent territorial government to the
Hawaiian islands. This covers all
the important legislation which the
congressional 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 leg
islate concerning the possessions &C
quired by the war with Spain at this
session. There are earnest advocates
of the Nicaraguan canal bill who will
strive to secure the passage now, and
they may possibly be successful, but
neither it nor any one of the othera
like the pooling bill, anti.scalpcrs' 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
session.
The leaders of both ends of the cap
itol have put their heads together for
the purpose 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 posi- BILE haste.
Two subcommittee on appropriations
of the house have been ut work for a
week. The deficiency bill to meet the
extraordinary expenses of the army
and navy curing the six months from
January 1, 1895, to July 1, is ready to be
submitted to the full committee to-
day, and the regular District of Column
bia bill will be ready by the end of the
week. 1t is necessary that the former
should become law before the holt
day recess, which this year is to be
shorter than usual, and Chairman Cam
non 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 that they will seek
to obstruct an appropriation bill nee
essary for the maintenance of an army
now in the field. Should there be a
disposition to open up and prolong a
debate upon the con duct of the war
upon this bill, it is safe te assume that
the committee on rules will be invoked
to bring in an order of closed debate.
Senators express a determination to
take up the work Of the session vigor-
ously in the beginning with the hope
of having it we'll advanced before the
holidays and they are counting upon
taking up the appropriation bills at a
very early date for the purpose of
preventing an extra session due to any
failure of the national budget. 1t is
expected that the army deficiency bill
will reach the senate during the pres
emit week, the understanding at the
north end of the capitol being that
the house will dispose of it within a
very few days after assembling The
committee on appropriations will
bring it in early for the double pur-
pose of having it passed quickly and
of testing the feeling of senators on
nuestions connected with the war