The evening times., 1899-12-04
WORK BEFORE CONGRESS
The Session Just Begun Promises
TO Be an Unusually Busy One.
Many Questions OF Great ImpOrt-
anc. 10 lie Discus>ed-The Narrow
Republicans Majority in the House
VIII RcsuIt I'm Full Attendance
of Me-tbers-ProbahIe Legislation.

1 ne 4 tuty-slAtn congress VIII De 4 DuSg
ore. 1t will have much notable legislation
before it, The session will be well at
tended. owing 10 the narrow margin the
Republican majority has on poll OF the
House. Republicans viii not be permitted
10 be absent except when paired, for fear
that the Democrats may catch then nap
ping when some important measure is TO
be disposed of. and the Democrats will be
forced TO attend unless paired, TO enable
them 10 take advantage of any mistakes
of the majority. The two forces are so
equally divided that all of the members
expect some very lively parliamentary
bouts and they believe there is no doubt
hut that every party measure OF the ma
jority will be fought with all the weapons
known TO such skilled pariiamentarians as
Richardson of Tennessee. SulZer OF New
York. Cox of Tennessee, Cochran of Mis-
souri,, Norton of Ohio, and others nearly
as well known.
At present legislation relative to the
colonial possessions. and particularly to the
Philippines, and the banking and currency
bill, or single gold standard bill. as il is
more commonly called. it is believed, will
create the most debate. IL is known that
il will be the policy Of certain Democrats
10 scrutiuiZe minutely every detail in all
10 expansion. and that every alleged flaw
that can picked out will be used in debate
for the purpose OF future use in the general
election to be held next fall. For this rea-
son il is the general belief at present that
legislation for the Philippines will be re-
sjTicted tc minimum, and as an excuse
for such action the Republicans viii claim
that those islands are not yet in a condi-
lion 10 be legisiated for except in general
way.
It is the expectation of the minority that
the proposed army bill will aford an op-
portunity fer the antl-expansionists to
make no; antiPailippine speeches and en-
able them to GenoCncc Imperialism and
such other sc-called adjuncts to expansion,
but these men will probably not be given
much opportunity fer defeating any meas
ure of this character When the last
Army Reorganization bill was introduced.
its authors found a strong Republican SEN
timent against it. and the bill was remod-
e!ed and after much hard work was finally
passed IN its present shape. II is believed
that if new bill for the army reorsaniza-
ton is introduced this session, it will be
made a caucus measure and its passage,
thereby assured.
The House Republican caucus single
gold standard will antagoIize every be-
lever in the doctrines OF the Chicago plat
be anticipated.
There has always been an objection TO
the passage of a River and Harbor bill at
q Congress just preceding 4 general cleo
tioa. l. is, therefore. believed that the
Republican leaders will endeavor to con-
vince the country Of their desire for econ
omy by permitting the River and Harbor
bill to remain in the hands cf the commit
Tee which viii have it in charge. Many
= ~,
leaders say it will take from the opposi-
ton campaign weapon. and they will in
sst on no; having the measure passed.
Just as soon as Speaker Henderson an
nounces the House committees, work N;ll
begin in preparing the appropriations. Mr..
Cannon. Of Illinois. will probably be re-
tained at the head Of the Committee ON
appropriations, and ii is understood that
he is determined to keep down to the low
est possible figure all estimates that will
ccme bsfoTe his committee. 1t is believed
that some appropriation bills will BE- ready
for the action of the House before the
holiday recess begins.
Il was said last night that Speaker Hen
derzon will appoint but two committees on
contested elections. because there are hut
ten contests 50 far isnown that will require
The attention OF the committees.
The contests that have been iled are as
fellows: Alabama, Aldrich VS.. Robbins;
Kentucky Evans IS Turner; Davidson VS.
Gilbert. and White IS. Boreing; Missis-
sippi. JCnes VS.. Catchings; North Carolina.
Dockery vs.. Be!iamy and Pearson vs..
Crawford; South Carolina. Tolbert VS..
Latimer: Virginia. Wise VS.. Young and
Walker VS.. Rhea.
OF the contestants Mdrich. Evans,
Davidson. Pearson. and Walker were mem
bers OF the last House. In the last Con-
gress Aidrich contested Robbins seat and
won. Mr. Evans, since filing his contest,
has been appointed United States District
Judge and it may be that he will abandon
his contest against Turner. Should he do
this, the House will then only have nine
cases to consider
The most unique case is that of White
VS.. Boreing, The contestants being one Re
publican against another, the former. how
ever making the race for Congress as an
Independent Republican. The prediction is
made that of the eight Democrats whose !
seats are contested. four will be unseated. !
The Presidents Message will be read in
both Houses of Congress tomorrow, and
much interest is being manifested il The .
legislation he will recommend. and what
colonies. T
Senator Morgan has already given notice /
that he will re-introduce the Nicaragua
Canal bill. He will probably do this i'm
mediately after the reading of the Pres
ident's Message. and he says he will lush
the bill as rapidly as possible The Sen
ator is firm in the belief that the country