Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-04
55th CONGRESS-.
Congress Reassembles After
Holiday Recess, Today.
Peace Treaty Will B. Considered as
Soon as Reported in Senate.
Nicaragua Canal Bill One Of Important Meas-
ures to He Disposed Of.

" ,O'' ".'' '
reconVene' tomorrow, III accordance
win the terms Oh tne ilolday au!ouri,-
meht resoiution. Inc oehale VIII al
most iihineoldeiy auJourii iol the Jay
as an evidence OF respect lor Inc Hiei"-
DRY Oh senator ,Morriii. - Is customary
not 10 TRANSACT any business whateNei'
on such occasions, Dut tnere IS d pos
slpiiity that message may Ne receive"
from the fresioeht trahs'ial.ins tne
peace treaty, as II is known 20 De the
general desire tnat the treaty snai 10Y
maily De laid peiore the committee on
foreign relations at the earnest POSI-
Die moment SO tnat the committee may
make It's report as promptly as CONSIST
ent with It's duty In the premises.
A session OF the Senate VIII De heid'
Thursday, but thereisa movement look
ing to an adjournment from that uate
until the following Monday Dased upon
the probability that there VIII not DC a
full attendance of senators so soon al
ter the holidays. This plan VIII be an
tagonized by the friends OF the Nlcara-
qua canal and by other senators VINO
are championing especial measures ana
it now appears quite probable that
they viii be able to hold the Senate Tor
at least another day OF the week.
There will be two months to day or
the session left from the date OF recon-
vening. and the time VIII be fully occu-
pied II half the work is to be done that
is planned. None of the regular appro-
priafion Dills have passed the senate
and the river and harbor bill is to be
added to the regular list this session.
None regard the treaty OF less import
ance than the supply bills and 1t Will be
pressed along with them when report
ed. practically without regard to other
bills.
OF other measures of magnitude
which will press for consideration in
the Senate during the session the Mic
aragua canal bill will take precedence.
but there will be urgent pressure in be-
half of the Hawaiian government bill,
the anti-scalping bill and the interstate
commerce commission bill. to say MOTH
ing of the probabilities concerning
measures for the increase of the stand
ing army and of the navy.
Senator Elkins and other friends of
that measure will also continue to urge
the bill regulating the registration of
foreign built vessels wrecked in Amer
lean waters. These are only the most
important questions demanding con-
sderation in the few weeks remainipg,
Every senator has number of meas
ures of less Importance.
The Nicaragua canal bill will COM
mand the right of way at the begin
ming of the session and will hold its
place if it is made evident that vote
can be secured upon it before the APP
preparation bills and the treaty are to
be taken up. If it cannot be disposed
of before these are brought in it will
be temporarily displaced from time to
time. The friends of the bill maintain
however that debate is practically ex-
hausted and they are hopeful of secur
ing a vote at no very distant date
They profess to feel very much en-
Outraged by the preliminary report Of
the Walker commission which was
made public last week. Senator Gull
ION hasgiven notice of a motion to
take up The anti-scalping bill as soon
as the canal bill may be out of the
way.
There is growing belief that the
treaty will not DE made the subject of
long debate. Nothing less'than some
UNFORESEEN emergency can prevent the
Senate's favorable action upon it at
the present session. There are features
IN the treaty which many senators con-
sider Objectionable. but the fact that it
IS theaty OF peace and that they as
rule nave nothing in it's stead to Of
[er, VIII prevent any factious opposi-
ton. 50 far as the opponents a plan
$ to let the treaty go through and then
devote themselves to shaping legisla-
non CONSEQUENT upon its ratification.
iney may oHer their amendmenv COM
but they do not expect it