New-York tribune., 1898-12-05
CONGRESS MEETS TO-DAY.
INTENSE INTEREST IN MESSAGE OF
PRESIDENT MKINLEY.
WHAT THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE LVTH
CONGRESS WILL PROBABLY DO-PROD-
LENS GROWING OUT OF WAR
TO AVOID EXTRA SESSION
IF POSSIBLE.

IF POSSIBLE.
Washington Dec 4-The curtain will ring up
tomorrow noon upon the closing session of the
LVth Congress. The and the fruits or the
American victory carry in their wake many
problems which the National Legislature inust
solve. But though many questions may press
for solution. the brief time allotted for this
session. which expires by Limitation on March
4. precludes the possibility of much being ac-
cOmpished beyond the passage Of the regular
money budgets the legislation for the Increase
Of the Regular Army which the Administra-
tion deems necessary to meet the obligations
imposed upon the country by the result OF the
war. and probably the enactment OF law 10
give a permanent territorial government to the
Hawaiian Islands This covers all the impor-
tant legislation which the Congress leaders eX-
pect to enacted Mt this session
II IS almost the unanimous sentiment or the
leaders that no attempt should be made to legis-
late concerning the possessions acquired py '"e
with Spain at this session. There are ear
nest advocates Of the Nicaragua Canal bil VINO
Will strive tc secure its passage now. and they
may possibly be successful. but neither IL no'
any one OF the measures like the Pooling BILL
Anti-Scalpers' BILL etc. which have strong
friends. will be allowed to interfere with the
bills the passage Of which Is deemed absolutely
necessary 70 prevent an extra session.
TO AVOID NEED FOR EXTRA SESSION.
The leaders at both ends of the Capitol have
put their heads together. and the work or the
session Is to be entered upon with the idea or
avoiding an extra session. With this purpose In
View. the Appropriation bills are TO have the
lead at both ends Of the Capitol, and VIII De
pressed through with all possible haste Two
subcommittee of the Appropriations Commit
tee OF the House have been at work for a week
The Deficiency bill. to meet the extraordinary
expenses Of the Army and Navy for the SIX
months from January l. 1898 to July I. is ready
10 be submitted TO the full committee to-mor-
row. and the regular District of Columbia APP
preparation bill will be ready by the enc Of the
week. 1t is necessary that the former should
become a law before the holiday recess. which
this year Is to be shorter than usual and Chair
man Cannon hopes to see 1t through the House
and into the Senate before the end of the pres
week.
The Democrats Of the House have not dis
closed their position. but II is not believed they
will seek to obstruct an appropriation bill nee
essary for the maintenance Of the Army now In
the field Should there be disposition to open
up and proong debate 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 debate
INTEREST IN MESSAGE
Intense interest Is manifested In the Pres-
dents Message which Will be submitted 10 Con-
gress tomorrow. on account of the great nm
portance Of the many questions 1t will have 10
deal with. and no Presidential Message In years.
II is safe TO say. has been listened TO with the
eagerness and interest with which President
lo
The reading of the Message will occupy prob
ably two hours The first thing In order after
Speaker Reed calls the House to order to-mor-
row will be a call Of the roll 70 determine the
presence Of quorum Concerning this there Is
little doubt as the members are arriving by
every train and the hotel obbies already
thronged.
A quorum having been developed committees
will be appointed 10 walt upon the President
and the Senate 10 inform them that the House
Is ready to proceed to business Pending the
rival of the Presidents Message several new
members elected to fill vacancies caused by
deaths 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 Representatives Love,
OF Mississippi. and Northway. Of Ohio who died
in the recess. on Tuesday Wednesday at
X.
Chairman Cannon will have the Deficiency bill
ready, and II will occupy the attention of the
House to the exclusion Of everything else for
the remainder Of the week.
WHAT THE SENATE WILL Do
The Senator'S express a determination to take
up the work Of the session vigorously at the be-
ginning. with the hope of having it we'll ad
vanced before the holidays. and they are count
Ing upon taking up the appropriation bills at an
early date for the purpose Of preventing an
extra session, due TO the failure of any part OF
the National budget. 1t is expected that the
Army Deficiency bill Will reach the Senate in
the present week, the understanding at the
north end Of the Capitol being that the House
viii dispose Of 1t few days after assembling.
The Committee on Appropriations VIII bring it
in early for the double purpose of having it
passed quickly and Of testing the feeling Of Sen
atOrs on questions connected with the war.
The first days session Will be given up alnos.
entirely to the Presidents Message and there IS
great interest manifested In hearing the minut-
Est details Of the Presidents recommendations
After the reading Of the Message the Senate will
adjourn until the next day. All plans for legis-
lation Of general scope Will wait the promulga-
tion II this document. and as a consequence one
hears far less than usual OF measures 10 be in
trOdnced.
It is impossible to say wha, matters Will oc-
cupy the week after the disposal Of the Mes
sage hnt II Is probable thar some speeches
may be delivered upon the policy indicated by
the Message. and alsr that the calendar may
he taken up. There many measures which
have been reported. and there will be no diff
Guilty 10 find employment If the Senate is dis
posed TO settle 70 routine work so early in the
session
MAY TAKE Up NICARAGUA CANAL.
In the closing days Of the last session sena-
tor Morgan gave notice Of his intention 10 call
up the Nicaragua Canal bin at the beginning
OF the present session. He unquestionably Will
redeem this promise and would doubtless seek
the first opportunity. hut for the possibility Of
change Of sentiment In favor Of having the Gov
ernment undertake the entire responsibility of
building the canal All the Indications are that
this question will he one of tn, most prominent
subjects under consideration I'm the session
Opposition IL developing to the bill which the
Hawaiian Commission will bring n and for
which early consideration viii be asked There