The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-08
PLANS OF CONGRESS.
Statehood Bill I'm the Senate and the
London Dock Bill I'm the House.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm accordance
with the unanimous agreement of last ses-
sion the Senate will take up the statehood
bill next Wednesday, and ii Is expected to
remain the unfinished business for some
time thereafter. The bill undoubtedly will
provoke considerable debate. and 1t is gen.
orally believed that ii will continue to re-
ceive attention until the adjournment for
the Christmas holidays at least. Senator
Beveridge, as chairman of the committee
on Territories will call the bill up Wednes-
day and probably will make a speech in
support of the report In favor of the SUBJ
stitute bill presented by the committee
Other members OF the committee who agree
with him will follow All of them will give
careful attention to the testimony taken
by the subcommittee which recently visited
the Territories. The committees written
report has not yet been submitted to the
Senate. and this, too, probably will be put
in on Wednesday, The report will analyze
the testimony dealing with the questions of
SOIL mines, agricultural possibilities, edu-
cational facilities and general fitness of
the population of the various Territories
for statehood. 1t is generally understood
that a strong position will be taken in op-
position TO the claims of New Mexico and
Arizona. considerable stress being laid on
the fact that large percentage of the peo-
pie of those Territories do not use the Eng
lish language and that interpreters are
many of the courts. Attention also will be
given to previous reports on the
subject of statehood for those
Territories, many OF which are
severely criticised by the present commit
tee on the ground that they fail entirely to
represent the real conditions. The report
giving the views of the committee will be
accompanied by a transcript OF the testi-
mony taken by the committee, which will
be printed for the information of the Sem
ate and the country. IL Is expected the
immigration bill will continue to receive
desultory attention on Monday or Tues
day. but the proceeding with reference to
this bill will consist largely in the reading
OF the bill and the consideration of amend
ments
The House this week has no mapped-out
programme beyond disposition of the Lon
don dock charge bill tomorrow and the re-
port of the elections committee on the con-
tested election case of Wagner VS.. Butler
from the Twelfth Missouri district on
Wednesday. The London dock bill has
been pressed by exporting interests espe-
cially the milling interests of the North
west and Is opposed by the Atlantic Shin
from its advocacy of the Lumbermen's As
socation. which was supporting the meas
ure, will weaken IL. and its passage is con-
sidered doubtful. The Wagner Butler ca Sc
is somewhat of an anomaly. Mr. Butler
was unseated at the last session and his
seat was declared vacant. He was re-
elected In November TO ill the vacancy
the returns. His opponent now contests
but in order to secure action before the
4th OF March the rules relating to the pre-
liminaries of contest. which NAV be
strung out for months, must be shortened
The committee recommends that the period