The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
RESUMING THEIR Duties
Congress TO Reconvene Tomorrow
at II O'clock.
Important Measures Which Demand
the Attention of the Nations Law
mnlcr>-Thc Fiscal Bills and Party
Measures to He Pushed While
the Private Claims Must whit.

When Congress reconvenes tomorrow the
real work of the session will begin The
many important measures which have been
introduced. and others which are to follow
in their wake will make a busy legislative
season until the conventions and the en-
suing campaign demand the attention OF
the lawmakers Many believe that the ses-
sion will be very long one. while there
are not a few who insist that the perfect
organization in the House and the large
majority in the Senate ensure speedy pas
sage OF the great appropriation bills. pend
ing consideration of which the other meas,
ures of public concern. notably the Hanna
Payne Shipping bill and the caucus Cur
rency bill. which was rushed through the
House, will be pressed to passage and ad-
journment had even before the first con-
venton.
Already some party leaders are demand
ing longer daily sessions and more diligent
committee work to facilitate that portion
OF the business which cannot be slighted-
the appropriation bills-and the passage of
ignated as party measures" AS to the
private bills. there is much reticence; such
bills interest only individuals. and individ-
uals are frequently lost sight OF in quad
rennial years.
In The senate.
One OF the first questions which will be
brought to the attention of the Senate is
the matter of the right of Matthew S.
Quay of Pennsylvania to a seat in the SEN
ate. Mr.. Chandler. Chairman of the SEN
ate Committee on Privileges and Elections,
states that the report in the Quay case
| is ready to be submitted and that ii will
speedily be brought to the attention of the
Senate. Upon the determination of the
case of Mr.. Quay depend three other and
similar cases, as California, Delaware and
| Utah failed to elect Senators at the last
sessions of their respective Legislatures
and in the event of a favorable decision of
| the case Of Mr.. Quay the Governors thereof
viii make appointments.
Senator Aldrfch. Chairman OF the Finance
Committee, will urge an Immediate con-
| sideration of the Currency bill. and every
thing possible will be done to sp7ed its
| passage. The session Is too long to make
flibustering by the opposition profitable,
and even those most strenuously opposed
| to the measure admit that there is no possi-
| bility of defeating It. The votes OF at least
| two Democratic Senators are said to be
, pledged to the support of the bill. and this
| together with the Republicans who are to
be depended upon will give majority es-
timated at IL in favor OF its passage. There
| is no desire on the part of the Democrats
I to prolong the discussion over the meas
! ure, and at the same time its supporters
| have evinced no intention Of pressing 1t to
| the inconvenience of those who have ex-
| pressed themselves as opposed to its pas
sage. Nothing is to be gained the opposi-
| tion say, by prolonging the discussion on
what is recognized as a party measure, and
| the call fol a vote on 1t is expected to te
met with the necessary unanimous consent.
| Debate on the bill will be largely per-
| functcry, IL is now believed.
| The minority. however, will be supported
| in some of the amendments which 1t is
| their intention to propose, by a few Re
publican Senators. and it is said it will be
practically impossible to secure the pas
sage of the bill in the form in which It
will come from the Committee on Finance.
Senators from the South and Southwest
are anxious to precipitate discussion of
| the nations Philippine policy. and it will
be impossible to prevent a discussion at
length of tbs subject, or OF any other, un-
der the rules.
|
| the Samoan treaty will come up for consid-
Grafton, and 1t is believed that this treaty
viii! be used as an excuse for the precipi-
| tation of a discussion on the foreign policy.
Senator Mcmillan. Chairman of the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia. is pre-
pared to champion some OF the important
| local bills that Were introduced prior to
| the holiday recess. and to arrange that
| other measures which have passed through
hal
, be presented and pushed to passage. As
| soon as an agreement can be reached on
the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad bill 1t
| will be put to a vote and with the amend
ments likely to be added there is a proba-
bility of its passage. The provision for
the construction OF memorial bridge
across the Potomac will not be permitted
| to be pigeonholed, and as soon as further
estimates have been prepared the matter
will again be brought up for discussion.
| In the HOUSE Of Representatives.
| When the House responds to the mallet
tap of Speaker Henderson and comes to
order the legislative wheels will begin to
revolve. Nothing OF Importance will be
brought to the attention of the House be-
fore next Monday, as few of the commit
tees have been organized. and consequent
ly none of the many bills already intro
duced have been considered
The first bill of importance the House
| will be called upon to consider is the
Urgent Deficiency. carrying an appropria-
ton of over $50, ,000.0 600. The clerk OF the
Appropriations Committee has been at
work on the measure during the holiday
recess. and hopes TO have it in shape by
Thursday at which time Chairman Cannon
expects TO report It to the House.
The probabilities are that when the
House meets tomorrow it will adjourn i'm
mediately after the reading of the Journal.
1t may be. however that some resolutions
of enquiry calling for information from
the Secretary of the Treasury on the sub
ject Of placing Government funds in certain
banks in New York will be introduced. but
beyond that it is not likely that any other