Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-05
mo EXTRA SESSION"
WatchWord OF the Majority in
the Present Congress, Now
Cleared for Action.
MESSAGE TIE CENTER OF INTEREST
ia Reading Listened to with an At
tention That Is Not Always
Givent to the Document.

Dominant Party at Both Ends of the Capt.
toi Determined to siave on an Extra
Session by Sticking Closely to the ReGu-
lar Business, with Little Legislation
Outside the Appropriation BiIls-The
Army and Hawaii To BE Looked After.
Washington, Dec. 5-The curtain
rang UP today at noon upon the clos
ing session Of the Fffty-fifth congress.
The war and the fruits of the American
victory carry in their wake many prob
lens which the national legislators must
solve. But though many questions
may press for solution the brief space
covered by this session. which expires
by limitation March /, precIUdes the
probability OF much being accomplished
beyond the passage Of the regular mon
e. budgets the legislation for the in
crease of the regular army, which tn
administration deems nee ssery to meet
the obligations imposed upon the coun
try by the result of the war and proba-
bly, the enactment of a law to give
permanent territorial government OF
the Hawaiian Islands. This covers all
the important legislation which the
congressional leaders expect to see en-
acted at this session.
Avoid an Extra Session Is the Word.
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 &icaTaguan canal who
viii strive TO secure its passage row,
and they may possibly be successful.
The leaders at both ends OF the Capitol
have put their heads together and the
work Of the session is To be entered up
on with the idea of avoiding an extra
session. With this purpose in view the
appropriation bills are To be given the
roads at both ends Of the Capitol ard
pressed through with all possible haste.
The Democrats of the house have not
disclosed their position, but it is not
believed they viii seek to obstruCt an
appropriation bill necessary for the
maintenance of the army now in the
field.
Great Interest in the Message.
Intense interest was manifested in
the presidents message which was sub
mittcd TO congress today. on account of
the great Importance of the many ques-
tons il Will nave to deal with. and no
presidential message in years has been
listened TO with the interest with which
the reading Of President McKinley's
message was heard today. The first
thing in order after Speaker Reed called !
roll was the usual appointment of COM
mittees to wait upon the president and |
senate to inform them that the house !
is ready to proceed to business. Pending !
the arrival of the presidents message !
several new members elected to fill va |
cancies caused by deaths or resigna-
lions were sworn In, and Immediately !
after the reading Of the message was !
completed the house adjourned out of |
respect to the memory Of Love of AIissis- |
sippi and Northway of Ohio, who died |
during the recess.
Senate Adopts . Waiting Policy.
The first days session Of the senate |
was given up almost entirely to the !
presidents message. After the reading |
of the message the senate adjourned |
until tomorrow. Al plans for leEisla-
ton OF general scope awaits the pro-
mitigation of this document.
The scenes at the opening Of congress
have been described over ard over
again. They We're re-enacted today all |
over the Capitol and in both chambers