New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-04
THE SESSIONS or CONGRESS.
HOUSE WILL LOSE NO TINE IN GETTING
TO WORK.
THE ROBERTS CASE AND FINANCIAL BILL
AMONG THE EARLY IMPORTANT CUES
TIONs-CAsE OF QUAY IN THE SENATE


AMONG THE EARLY IMPORTANT CUES
TIONs-CAsE OF QUAY IN THE SENATE.
Washington. Dec. 3.-The opening week Of the
session in the House promises to be crowded
with stirring events. There is always a good
deal OF glamour in connection with the assem-
bling Of a new Congress. which is a social as
well as a political event The galleries are al
ways crowded. and there is intense interest In
the election Of Speaker. the swearing In OF mem
bers at the bar Of the House, the reading OF
the Presidents Message. the biennial seat draw
ing. the introduction OF bills and resolutions
into the legislative hopper and the general
clearing for action later on. But as the com
mittees not appointed until Just before the
holiday recess actual business Is transacted
usually until after the recess
This year It will be different At the opening
OF the session Will come the contest the ad-
mission of Representative-elect Roberts OF Utah,
and later In the week the House will plunge into
an important and possibly a protracted debate
upon the financial bill which prepared by
the Republican leaders last spring at Atlantic
City
The Roberts case has attracted the attention
OF the whole country The Republican leaders
have adopted plan Of procedure which Is de-
signed to prevent Mr.. Roberts rom taking the
oath OF office until after the charges In connec-
tion with his alleged poygamous practices have
been investigated by special committee MT
Taylor. OF Ohio, will make the objection to the
administration of the oath to Mr. Roberts ana
will offer a resolution to refer his 10
special committee. There is considerable scat
tered opposition to this method of procedure on
the ground that the refusal Of the House to per-
NIT a Representatives. bearing proper ere
dentials 10 be sworn In upon unproven charges
would create a bad precedent and might result
in chaos at some future time when political teeI-
ing ran high But there are several precedents
for this course in the case Of members charged
with disIoyalty after the Civil War and these
will be used in support OF the procedure Every
member Of the House has been bombarded with
petitions In the Roberts case. and there undoubt-
edly will be large majority. without regard to
party lines in support Of the plan outlined by
the Republican leaders owing TO the time
which will be consumed in the disposition Of the
Roberts case tomorrow. the drawing Of seats
which usually requires several hours, probably
Will be postponed until Tuesday.
The announcement Of Vice-President Hobarts
death will be made probably Immediately atter
the Roberts case is disposed OF, and the House
will adjourn out of respect to his memory. Inc
drawing of seats and the reading OF the Presl-
dents Message will occupy Tuesday on Iues-
day night the Republicans will caucus on the
financial bill. 1t is the intention OF the Repuo-
lican leaders to make this a caucus measure
and proceed and pass It before the holiday re-
cess The caucus will decide II the present In
tention is followed. not to walt for the appoint
ment OF the Committee on Banking ana Cur
rency but to bring the bill into the House torth-
with probably under special oroer iro'I hasin Gin
Committee on Rules. The debate may Desln
on Wednesday The length OF time 10 pe IiVeu
to debate has not yet been determined 10y
some il Is thought that three or four days may
suffice
THE SENATE.
While the session promises 10 be upon the
uhole busy one in the Senate, the nrst "eeN
probably will be marked by considerable le'h
argv. Indeed It would be exceptional II any act
ual work were done. on Monday the ne" oe"
ators will be sworn in. but beyond this nothing
will be done Ordinariv the Presidents Message
&c received on the first day Of the session, but Its
rece,n, will be POSTPONED for day at this ses-
sion out of respect to the memory OF Vice-Presi-
don't Hobart whose death Senator Sewall VIII
announce on Tuesday little will be done be-
vond the receipt of the annual Message, the
nresent purpose being to adjourn Immediately
after the reading of the Message 10 give to the
Republican Senators an opportunity 10 hold
caucus over the reorganization of the commit
tees Wednesday and Thursday Will be devoted
largely TO the introduction Of bills. There prob
ably Will be no session either on Friday or Sat
urday.
Among the first bills to be introduced VIII be
the financial measure prepared by the Republ-
can members Of the Finance Committee. 1t VIII
be offered by Senator Aldrich and will be re-
ferred 10 the whole Finance Committee. includ-
ing the Democratic members.
While comparatively little time Will be spent
in the Senate Chamber during the early days OF
the session. much attention will be paid to get
ting ready for the important matters to receive
attention later These include the financial BILL
the policy TO be pursued in the Philippines and
Cuba the form Of government 10 be provided
for Hawaii and the ratification of the various
reciprocity treaties negotiated in the recess
questions in Porto Rico and the seating OF Sen
ators appointed by Governors. Up to date only
one Senate appointment has been made. This
is in the case OF Senator Quay but II he Is
seated there will be effort to nll the vacant
seats from Utah. California and Delaware by
the same method. There is unusual interest In
Mr. Quay's case. and both his friends and op-
posing Senators are already working zealously
Mr. QUAY will make effort 10 be seated on
Monday.