The daily news., 1900-03-14
SENATE LEGISLATION.
Measures to Be Acted Upon at
This Session.
EARLY ADJOURNMENT DEMANDED.

congress Getting Tired of Hearings
Before Committees - Records Lum-
bered with Useless Mntter-Brcnk-
ing Into society.
WASHINGTON. March II Especial. J.
There - a great pressure in the senate
now for the consideration Of measures
of Importance that are pending before
congress The advisory committee,
sometimes called the steering" com
mittec. which is selected ut each CON
greSs to arrange a programme of busi-
ness TO hc considered, is having quite
a serious time in preparing Il satisfac-
tory schedule of bills which are To be
taken up at this session. Public ne
cessity and party eXpediency enter into
the determination of what measures
should be acted upon. OF course 1t is
we'll understood that the Porto Rican
bill must he passed and possibly the
SpOoner bill declaring the policy Of the
country relative to the Philippines.
Besides these there are the Alaska code
bill. TO which there is no objection. and
the Hawaiian hill. which will come
back from conference with the house.
Then comes the tug Of war over the
shipping bill the Nelson bin for IA de-
partmcnt of commerce, til" Hay
Paunccfote treaty, the French reciprOc-
ity treaty and the election cases. 1t i
we'll understood that the Quay and
Scott cases will be decided at this seS-
sion. but there is some doubt about the
Clark ease. which will no doubt be de
batcd at great length To the exclusion
Of other business. The steering COM
mittcc has It's hands full 10 determine
what should be done and the order of
taking them up. especially as there is
very general demand for an early adj
jOuTnmCnt
Hearings In Congress.
There has developed in the last few
years Il great fad on the part of some
congressman to have people heard in
arguments before committees on all
concriyaIln subjects This has proba-
bly, been brought about by the desire
Of these men who wish To talk and
have their remarks printed in govern
mput publications 80 that they can be
circulated at government expense.
There are hundreds of men of this
character who haunt congress at near
ly every session, and by some method
or other they have the bill introduced,
generally by request after which
they arrange through som" representa-
tive or senator to be given al Oppor-
tunity 10 speak on the bill before the
committee. Much OF tn" time OF III"
committees of congress is taken up III
hearings and arguments OF this CHAR
actcr on all kinds Of subjects, AMI the
records are numbered mp with these
.nenchcS upon iupracticablc subjects,
in which hut worry few people have the
least interest Some of the NOR" prac-
tjrll members OF congress ar" com
pla.uiuy ut the way their tim" Is con
suIapd to til" exclusion OF legitimate
business. and ia some committees d'-
termination has been reached 10 cut
off hearings in the future. Alr'auE
some of the more important Of the son
ate committees have refused 10 give
hearings. except in tn" most eXtra"r-
binary cases. but rather ask those Wh"
wish - be heard 10 submit their views
in writing. Then. if they Law" any
thiD- important 10 say. their SuSGeN-
r,on, a-r laid ,,"for" the committed.
She sought society.
REPRESENTATIVE joy of Missouri tells
nm fr.r.....~r,.- story Of 'all b" re-
rciv,d from lady wE"H 30" did h"i
,.io,r auI VIII" -,.:ard 10 hav" "onSid-