The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-03
HOLIDAY RECESS over
The Real Work of the Fitty-SiXth
Congress Begins Today.
Earl, Consideration OF the Currency
RiII to he Had In the scnntc-Lcad-
crs of the Majority Believe the
Measure Can he Sent To the Prcsi-
dent by the First of February.

and the real work OF the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress will be inaugurated. il is the under
standing az the Capitol that little business
of national interest will be transacted dur
ing the remainder OF this week. though 1t
is possible that the Urgent Deficiency and
the Pension Appropriation bills may be re-
ported to the House. Though possible il
is not considered likely. The first named
bill carries an appropriation of $4,000. COO.
a deficiency existing mainly in the War De-
partment in consequence of the proionga-
ton of strife in the Philippines.
One Of the subjects to be soon considered
wi / be the report of the se'ect committee on
the case Of Representative-elect Brigham
H. Roberts of Utah, objection 10 whose
right TO scat in The House of Represen-
tatives was raised upon an allegation Of
polygamy The report of this committee.
according TO the Republican legislative pro-
grsmme. viii be made to the House direct
| ly after the passage by that body of the
regular appropriation bills. 1t seems to
be conceded that the report will be ad-
verse to Mr.. Roberts. and that a resolution
will be adopted by the House declaring
that the gentleman crom Utah is not onti
tied TO scat.
The committee with which the Congress
sional fate of Mr.. Rober Is rests consists
of Representatives Robert w. Tayler, Ohio;
Charles b. lands. Indiana; Page Morris,
Minnesota; Romeo II. Freer, West Vir
ginia, Charles Z. Littlefeld, Maine; Smith
Mcpherson. Iowa; David A. DeArmond,
Missouri; Samuel W. I. Lanham. Texas.
and Robert W. Miers. Indiana. II is Se
understanding that the Roberts case will
Monday. January Is.
or the measures to come before the Sen
ate for consideration at an early date. one
will be the currency bill. which was passed
By the House December is. The opponents
OF this bill admit that they will be unable
to defeat it. though they hope to modify
some OF the features which to them appear
most Objectionable. The advocates OF the
bill feeling assured OF its final passage,
will not press it unduly. but vili give to
those members of the Senate who are OPP
posed. ample time to present their views
and register their objections. The ma
jority leaders believe that vote will be
reached on February l.
Ii is the understanding OF politicians
that the Republican programme includes
the passage of bin providing territorial
forms OF government for Hawaii. Porto
Rico, and Alaska. This programme also
conte:nplates the passage OF the Hanna
Payne ship subsidy bill. the ratification
by the Senate Of several treaties and the
approval by the House of Representatives
of certain rccipToritv treaties
One OF the measures which will figure
conspicuously in the Senate. though IL is
not included in the schedule of the ma
iority. IS bill TO create an executive de-
partment OF commerce. Then another mat
ter TO be brought to the front Will be the
bill. introduced on December IS by Sena-
tor Plat OF Connecticut TO establish a
division in the Treasury Department for
The regulation of insurance in the various
States.
In the House Mr. Babcocks bill Gntro-
duced December iSl. proyidi,s for the es-
tablisment Of q food bureau N the De-
partnent of Agriculture. and for prevent
ing the adulteration and uisbranding Of
food in the District of Columbi.: and Ter
riiories. viii be brought TO a vote at an
early date
The friends OF The inter-oceanie canal
viii seek to force favorable action ON that
proposition. Their success 4; doubtful.
The lsthmisn Canal Commission, which
was appointed after the presentation Of The
report of the Nicaragua Canal Commission.
that il might formulate a comparative re-
port On the relative merits of the Grey-
toEr- Brito and Coicn- auama routes. and
the suggested route that would cross the
isthmus. sim farther TO the south will not
make its report for several months. The
advocates OF the plan to make immediate
provision for the construction Of the great
waterway will maintain tat she appoint
meni OF the Isthmisn Commission was only
a ruse 10 delay the work. Some of the
friends of the proposition will hold that as
the Isihmian Canal Commission will render
its report next summer, ii might be well To
postpone action for few months. The adj
vocates of the Panama route will declare
that no complication OF any kind exists with
Colombia. and that the cooperation OF that
Republic is cordial. They will point OF
that over that line the conditions Of traffic
are established and well known: that the
terminal cities Colon and Panama are old,
and that the canal would pass through a
settled country.
The Army reorganization bill will be
brought up, but IL IL considered likely tuat
it win not be put upon its passage during
the first session. Two TeaiOns are urged
against this. The first is that an Increase
in the regular military establishment di-
rectly preceding /. Presidential election
might not be good politics. and the second
is that when the Philippine instruction
shall have been crushed a clearer idea OF
the reed OF the regular service may lie
formed.
Representative Hull. Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs said yes
terday that he felt confident that i'm
portant Army legislation will be enacted
during this Congress. but he was not so
positive that this would come TO pass at
this session.
Opinions differ as 10 the probability of
there being reported al this session river
and harbur bill. There seems 10 be
strong belief that none Will be- and that
the appropriations for work already au-
thorized viii be carried in the Sundry Civil
bill. Representative BAH OF Texas. who
is member Of the Committee on Rivers
and Hsrbors. said yesterday that he could
see no reason why a bill OF the character
indicated should not be brought into the
House and passed.
One of the features OF the Senate pro-
ceedings will be the Quay case There Will |
be 4 meeting Of the Committee on PriYi- |
leges and Elections on Friday. but it is |
likely that very little will be done on |
that day. There will be no more COM |
mittee hearings in the case. A majority |
and minority report will be laid before the |