Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-06
57TH CONGRESS.
Both Branches Will Meet, To-
day, After Holiday Recess.
Hepburn Isthmian Bill Special Order
for Tuesday in House.
Panama Canal Co.'S. Offer to Sell May 81
Considered. Today.

Washington, Jan. 5.-After a recess
of almost three weeks, both Houses OF
Congress will re-convene tomorrow.
The principal item on the House pro-
gram for the week is the Hepburn
isthmian canal bill, which is the special
order for Tuesday No limit has been
fixed as to the time for debate on this
measure. but Mr.. Hepburn does not
a prolonged discussion of
it.
1t is surmised in some quarters. how
ever that if the proposition OF the
Panama Canal Co. to sell it's property
and franchise for s40,O00,0OO should be
made, tomorrow, AS promised, this may
have the effect of opening wider field
of discussion than at first seem prob
able and if this should prove TO be the
case the bill may be before the House
for longer time than is now con-
templated.
Mr.. Burton has given notice of a
speech on the bill and it is understood
that there also will be other speeches in
criticism OF special features Of the
measure. but it's friends are very san
guine, not only that the bill will pass.
f'ut tiiit IL VIII pass SPtCuiiS. WI :
Hepburn, the author of the bill. thinks
that only a few days of debate will be
necessary.
It is expected that by the time the
canal bill is disposed of there will be
one or more appropriation bills ready
for consideration by the House. None
of the appropriation bills have yet been
passed on by the appropriations COM
mittee, but both the urgent deficiency
and the pension bills are in a forward
state, and the expectation is that they
will be considered by the committee
during the current week. The present
intention is to give first attention to
the deficiency bill. The estimates for
the bill aggregate $120O0.OOu, and it is
not believed that these figures will be
scaled down materially.
The Senate has no program for the
week and business is very little on it's
calendar, as the re- organization of the
Senate committees did not take place
until just before the holidays. There
are. however, a few bridge bills report
ed and Senator MOrgan's bill for the
acquisition of right Of way for the
Nicaragua canal is among the meas
uTeS III POSITION TO receive attention. Ii
is not probable, however. that the right
of way bill will receive consideration at
this time, the disposition being rather
to await the action of the House upon
the general subject. and then have the
Senate predicate it's action on the
House bill
This of course should be decided on,
the discussion of the canal question in
the Senate will be postponed for few
weeks.
The committee on the Philippines will
take up the Philippine tariff question
very soon, but there is yet no indica-
ton as to how much time the matter
may consume in committee. There is
no probability that the Senate itself
will be able to reach that question for
some time. Senator Frye is engaged on
his report on the shipping BILL but is
not able to fix the time for its compile
ton.
The announcement of Senator
Sewells death probably will be. tomor-
row. in which event there will be an
immediate adjournment for the day
An adjournment from Thursday until
Monday is contemplated.