The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-23

Congressman William Connell has
returned from Washington to spend
the Christmas holidays at his home
here. He will return to Washington
to be present when congress assem-
bles on Jan. 3.
This has been a very interesting
session, so far" said Mr. Connell yes
terday, "and it promises to be very
important session before it Is brought
to close. Already currency bill has
been passed by the house and substan-
tial progress has been made in the way
of considering other important matters
that are of great interest to the people
of these United States.
There is a disposition on the part
of the members of the house to frown
upon the great mass of bills that clog
the calendar at every session and for
which there is no very general or ur-
gent necessity and to give time and at
tention to the measures that are vital
to the welfare of the people.
THE ROBERTS CASE.
The case of Congressman Roberts
of Utah when before the house was
productive of many dramatic incl
dents" continued Mr.. Connel. There
is no doubt in my mind that the house
will refuse to seat him. His case is
now being considered by a committee
which will present its report when
congress reassembles. That report
will in all probability be against Rob-
erts and from present indications it
will be adopted. I never had any doubt
hot Doh
cupy a seat in the congress of the Unit
ed States, but if l had they would
have disappeared when l saw him and
heard him talk before the house"
Mr. COnnell said that Speaker Hen
derson has made a splendid impression
thus far and promises to make a very
popular presiding officer. He is a fine
parlamentarian and quick in making
his rulings. He possesses the firmness
of Tom Reed. but has a more genial
nature and succeeds in keeping the
members of the house in good humor
even when they feel the curb the
rules impose. With reference to the
bill creating a new federal court dis
triCt in this state, which Mr.. Connell
has again introduced, he said;
FEDERAL COURT BILL.
"The bill has gone to the judiciary
committee, of which Congressman
Ray, of New York, is chairman, and
for the present l will bend my ener-
ges in the direction of having it re-
| ported favorably. The first step in
that direction will be the fixing of the
| time for hearing arguments on the
hi fria nf ha Nt.iI
| then have an opportunity of stating
the reasons why the creation of this
new federal judicial district is essen
! tial for the convenience of the people
and the proper administration of just
| ice.
| IF the committee is faVOrably inn
pressed with the merits of the bill and
| so reports think it will pass the house
| although it will unquestionably have
some opposition. This project has
| been before congress now for upwards
of ten years and must eventually be-
come law, because the needs of sucf
a district are more and more apparent
as each succeeding year rolls around.
Mr.. COnnell has this year been re-
appointed on the committees on mines
and mining and agriculture, on whici
he served in the former congress
When asked about the possibility o.
legislation for our new possessions by
the present congress, Mr.. Connell re
piled that he did not think anything
of the kind will be attempted.
1T seems to be generally conceded,
he said, that it would be the par
of wisdom to go slowly in this matter
and first find out just what is needed
in the way of government in the isl
ands on which our flag now floats. Thi
can not be done satisfactorily in {
day or a week. When the next con
gress meets it will be much better pre-
pared to handle this difficult problem
than the present one is"