The Press., 1902-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, December, 1

WASHINGTON LETTER.
 Washington, December, 1, 1902.
 Precisely at noon to-day the gavels of President pro-tem. Frye in the senate and of speaker Henderson in the house of the second and last session of the fifty- seventh congress. While there were cor dial congratulations, hosts of fair women in the galleries, and an abundance of flowers in the chambers and Hobbies, there was also note of sadness observable. In the senate the handsome mahoghany desk of Senator McMillan was draped in crepe and laden with flowers, and in the house.the desk. formerly occupied by Rep resentative Russell of Connecticut and those of Representatives de Graffeneid and Sheppard of Texas were similarly treated.
 In addition to the statesman removed by death there were twenty-five men in the lower chamber who were defeated for reelection, and, therefore, condolence mingled with congratulations. Many members crowded about the speakers desk expressing their regret that this was the last time he would call the session to order, and another group gathered about Representative Cannon congratulating him upon having virtually won the highest expression of confidence and the highest honor the house can confer. No business was transacted in either chamber today, beyond the swearing in of General Alger in the senate to succeed the late Senator McMillan. A quiet but heartfelt ovation was given to the ex-secretary of war, whose friends believe he was martyr to unreasoning prajudice on the part of a people flushed and excited with military victory but suffering from the trials and bereavements which the most successful war must ever leave in its wake.
 As soon as General Alger had taken the oath of office, Senator Burrows moved that the senate adjourn as mark of respect to the memory of his deceased colleague. Immediate adjournment was then taken, and the senate will meet at noon tomorrow and receive the annual message of the president In the house, a similar course was followed, adjourn ment being taken out of respect to the memory of the late Representative Russell and other deceased members.
 .'There will be no tariff legislation this session, said Senator Frye, president oi the senate to-day, in answer to an inquiry from your correspondent. "There will be neither time nor inclination in the upper chamber for tariff amendment The regular appropriation bills, anti trust legislation and probably some trea ties will be considered, butsthat is all. regard 1t as extremely probable that con gress will amend the existing anti-trust law in accordance with the recommenda tions of the attorney general. can set no possible objection to such course the legislation would be of a simple character and should require but little time" Senator Frye also expressed ar | enacted into law.
 | The presidents message Is already printed and distributed, and will be made public throughout the land, tomorrow simultaneously with it's reading in con gress. To attain. this end 1t has beer mailed in sealed packages, topostmasters with instructions to deliver to the news papers only when advised by telegraph from Washington that the time for re lease has arrived.
 There is unfortunately no enconragin, news in regard to the Colombian treaty and the friends of the Nicaragnan rout, for the isthmian canal are urging itl claims with renewed energy. In viev of the fact that practically no work hal been done on the. Nicaraguan route, ant thats satherefore, the estimates of th' engineers on a canal built by that rout' are farsmore liable to revision than Is tn, case with the Panama route, in whicl numerous expensive experiments hav' been conducted by the French, engineer and. on which two fifths of the work i already completed, the president is loatl to abandon the latter, and Secretary Ha. still hopes to effect encouragement whicl will prove satisfactory to hls own and t, the Colombian government.
 The first business which will occup, the attention of the senate will be the re port of the territorial committed whicl Is to be made on the 3rd.4 Senator Beve ridge, when seen to-day, ,said that 1t woula be improper for him to indicate througl the columns of the press the tenure of hi Ereport, but it Is regarded as most likel, that 1t will not be favorable to the Iad mission of the three territories which ar applicants for statehood. It Is regarde, as reasonably certain that Oklahom would return two republican senators and two republican votes to the electora college, so that the sentiment in favor o admitting the latter Is strong, and man, there are who would like to see Okla hona alone admitted. On the othe hand, the democrats are unanimousl in favor of admitting all three territor les, and as 1t was the unanimity witt (which the democrats supported the bil