Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-14

What will Congress do? is a question
to which some thousands of American
newspapers have attempted to reply. Nor
Is interest In n confined TO this country
or this cos4&inent. What the Tifty-sixth
Congress at its .first session, which might
lawfully be extended to the first Mon
day In December next. but which will,
in all probability, end several months
before that time. will do must inevitably
affect, not merely the material interests
Of all our people. but their political views
and acts. And as no man in any COM
munity "liveth to himself" so no member,
and especially no great member. OF the
family of nations can avoid some degree
of responsibility toward other members
of that family. Recent events have made
our country more influential in interna-
tional affairs; have made other nations
more inclined to study our politics and
policies, and have charged us with great
err responsibilities touching the interests
of other countries than would have been
deemed possible before the war OF 1898
began. These facts account as well for
the intense domestic as for the greatly
augmented foreign Government in the
doings of the Congress now in session.
The Senate on Wednesday received
nearly 800 bills and resolutions. The
most important bills were the Finance
Committees currency reform measure,
Mr.. Cullom's Hawaiian government
measure and the Frye substitute for the
Hanna-Payne subsidy bill. Mr.. Mason
introduced resolution expressing sympa-
thy with the Beers and Mr.. Rawlins one
providing for an investigation into polyg-
amy. Mr.. Harris was added to the Com
mittee on Elections, which will consider
the Quay, Clark and Scott contests. The
House was not in session.
The Senate on Thursday received bill
from Mr.. Chandler to encourage athletics
at West Point and Annapolis. Sent to
Committee ON Contingent Expenses
Chandler resolution to investigate right OF
Senators Clark of Montana and Scott of
West Virginia to hold their seats. Re
ceived resolution from Mr.. Berry declar-
ing in favor of election of Senators by
popular vote. Adjourned until Monday.
Dec. IL. Before the House met the Re
publican and Democratic leaders attempt
ed to perfect an agreement for the de-
bate on the financial bill. But the nego-
tiations failed. The Republican leaders
then decided to resort to a special rule.
Mr.. Overstreet Qndiana). who is to have
charge of the bill, introduced the formal
resolution for a special order upon which
the Committee on Rules will act. 1t pro-
vides for the consideration OF the bill
continuing until date to be decided upon
by the Committee on Rules. Immediate
ly after the reading of the journal the
Speaker announced the appointment OF
the Committee on Rules as follows: The
Speaker, Mr.. Dalzell or Pennsylvania and
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, Republicans, and
Afsssrs. Richardson of Tennessee and
Bailey of Texas, Democrats. Announce
ment of the death of Representative
Greene of Nebraska was followed by ad-
journment as token of respect.
On Friday the House adopted a special
order for the consideration of the cur
rency BILL beginning Monday. Dec. III,
general debate to be allowed until the fol-
lowing Friday, amendments to be offered
Saturday and vote to be taken Monday,
Dec. 1S. Mr.. Dalzell presented an amend
ment to the rules, creating committee
on insuar affairs. to consist of seventeen
members, to have jurisdiction over all
matters, excepting revenues and appro-
priations. of the islands which came to
the United States through the treaty
with Spain in 1890, and to Cuba, and to
increase the committees on foreign af-
fairs merchant marine and fisheries. pub
lie lands, military affairs, naval affairs,
and District of Columbia from fifteen to
seventeen members, and the committee
on territories from thirteen to fifteen
members. Mr.. Robertson announced the
death of Representative s. G. Baird of
Louisiana. and after adopting the Gus
tomary resolutions, at 80, as a mark Of
further respect, the House adjourned un-
til Monday, Dec. IL.