Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-29
CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST.
t6uats Will Give Mo.t Of tho Week to ihs
Puerto Ricsn Qaest,on-AppropriAtioa
Bus ~ House.

Washington, March 26.-1he senate
will give the greater share Of its time
again this week to the Puerto Rican
question and the outlook is for a
continuation of the animated scenes
of last week. Puerto Rico, however,
according to present indications, will
step aside temporarily at the begin
ming of the week in order to afford
Senator Carter an opportunity to Sc
cure consideration for his Alaskan
code bill. The present condition OF
affairs in Alaska and the prospect OF
still greater influx of people into
that territory make the Alaskan leg
islation very important, and the con-
dition of ruerto Rican Legislative Of
fairs is such as to make 1t convenient
TO give Alaska the much desired OBJ
portunity.
The republican caucus will take tie
Puerto Rican question in hand again
to-day and until 1t acts the senator's
having charge ofthe measure will not
desire to press It. The Alaskan bill
probably will not arouse any general
debate, but the measure is a mass OF
detail and it necessarily will call for
more or less explanation from its
trainers, the members OF the commit
tee on territories.
The republican senators who sup
port the house Puerto Rican tariff bill
hope to get the measure out of the
caucus after only one sitting, but
the free traders are not so anxious on
that score and the latter element
may delay matters there, as they are
disposed to do in the senate, with the
hope of receiving still further encour-
agement from the country at large.
Some of the members OF the free trade
republican element declare their pur-
pose to vote against the bill if re-
ported without amendment. They
threaten to offer many amendments
and to make speeches in opposition
and otherwise to do all in their power
to prevent the passage of the bill as it
stands, but the caucus, of course, may
find a means of preventing this open
rupture.
The democratic senators will sup
port free trade amendment when
presented, but they prefer to have
the bill voted upon unamended.
The committee on privileges and
elections will hear the arguments of
counsel in the case of Senator Clark,
beginning on Wednesday. The report
on the case is not expected for sew
eral weeks.
The army appropriation bill will be
taken up to-day in the house and will
serve for wide latitude of discussion
on military affairs in general and the
cost of war establishment under the
new condition of affairs. In anticipa-
ton of this an understanding has
been reached that three days will be
given to the debate. The bill itself
carries no legislation on the organiza-
tion of the army, but is strictly a
supply measure for the army on its
present basis. The latter part of the
week will be devoted to the naval,
the agricultural end the fortitica-
tons appropriations bills, although no
exact order has yet been fixed for
taking them up. The naval bill and
report are ready and Acting Chairman
Foss is rather DESTROYS of having the
naval discussion follow that on the
army. The agricultural bill can be
reported on short notice and the
Notifications bill is already on the
calendar.