Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-04

WASHINGTON, december Sine
opening week of the session in the
House promises to be crowded with
stirring events. There is always a
good deal of glamor in connection with
the assembling of a new Congress,
which is social as well as a political
event. The galleries are always
crowded and there is intense interest
in the election of Speaker, the swear
ing in of members at the bar Of the
House, the reading of the Presidents
message, the biennial seat drawing
the introduction of bills and resolu-
lions into the legislative hopper, and
the general clearing of decks for action
later on. But as the committees are
not appointed until just before the hol-
iday recess, no actual business is trans
acted usually until after the recess.
This year it will be different. At the
very threshold Of the session will come
the contest over the admission of Rep
resentative-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 was pre-
pared by the Republican leaders last
spring at Atlantic City. The Roberts
case has attracted the attention of the
whole country. The Republican lead
ers have adopted plan of procedure
which is designed to prevent Mr.. Rob-
erts from taking the oath OF Office until
after the charges in connection with
his alleged polygamous practices have
been investigated by special commit
tee. Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio, will make
the objection TO the administration of
the oath to Mr.. Roberts and will offer
a resolution to refer his case to the
committee. There is considerable OPP
position to this method of procedure
on the ground that the refusal of the
House to prevent a Representative
elect, bearing proper credentials, to be
sworn in upon unproven charges would
create bad precedent and might result
in chaos at some future time when
political feeling ran high. But there
are
SEVERAL PRECEDENTS
for this course in the case of members
charged with disloyalty after the war,
and these will be used in support OF
the procedure. Every member of the
House has been bombarded with petit
tons in the Roberts case, and there
undoubtedly will be a large majority,
without regard to party lines, in sup
port Of the plan outlined by the Repub-
lican leaders. Owing TO the time which
will be consumed in the disposition of
the Roberts case tomorrow, the draw
ing of seats, which usually requires
several hours, probably will be post
poned until Tuesday.
The announcement Of Vice President
Hobart's death win be made probably
after the Roberts case Is disposed OF.
and the House viii adjourn out OF
respect to his memory.
The drawing Of seats and the reading
Of the Presidents message will occupy
Tuesday. Tuesday night the Republi-
cans will caucus on
THE FINANCIAL, BILL.
II l. the intention Of the Republican
leaders 10 make this a caucus measure
and proceed and pass it before the
holiday recess. The caucus will decide
If the present intention is followed. not
to wait on the Committee on Banking
and Currency. but to bring the bin into
the House forthwith, probably under
q special order from the Committee on
Rules. The debate may begin on We'd
nesday. The length Of time to be given
to debate has not yet been determined.
It is thought that three or four days
may suffice.
IN THE SENATE.
While the session promises to be up
on the whole q busy one IN the Senate,
the first week probably will be mark
ed By considerable lethargy. Indeed,
i would be EXCEPTIONAL II any actual
work should be done. On Monday. the
new Senators will be sworn in. but be-
yond this nothing viii be done. Or
dinarily the Presidents message Is re-
ceiFed on the first day OF the session,
but IT'S receipt viii be postponed for
day this session. out OF respect TO the
memory Of the late Vice President Ho-
bart, whose death Senator Sewall viii
announce. Tuesday little will be done
beyond the recent Ct the annual mss
sage, the political purpose being To adj
journ Immediately after the reading OF
the message 70 give the Republican
Senators an opportunity 20 hold eau
Gus oyer the reorganization OF the COM
mitteeS. wednesday and Thursday
will be devoted largely 70 the iEtroduc-
ton Of bills. There probably viii be
no session either Frs1ar or Saturday.
AMONG THE FIRST BILLS
10 be introduced will be the financial
measure prepared 6y the Republican
members Of the Finance Committee. II
viii be offered by Senator Aldrsch AMI
viii be referred 20 the Whole finance
committee including the Democratic
members
While c0mnaratfve7y little time win
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