Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-01-11
CONGRESS At WORK AGAIN
Senate and House VIII Now Go to
Work in Earnest.
THE PROGRAM FOR THIS WEEK
No Work Definitely Planned For Today, But
the House Will Take Up the Canal Bill
Tomorrow Senate Likely to
THE PROGRAM FOR THIS WEEK
Adjourn For the Day.

Washington, Jan. G, After recess
of almost three weeks both houses Of
congress convened today.
The prinipal 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 upon this measure,
but Mr.. Hepburn does not contem-
plate prolonged discussion of it. 1T
is surmised in some quarters, however,
that If the proposition of the Panama
Canal company to sell its property
and franhise for $40, 600, 600, should
be made tomorrow, as promised, this
may have the effect of opening wi
der field Of discussion than at first
seemed probable, and if this should
prove to be the case the bill NAV be
before the house for longer time
than is now contemplated
Mr.. Burton has given notice of a
speech..on the bill and it is understood
that there will also 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, but that it will pass speedily.
Mr.. Hepburn, the author OF the bill
thinks that only few days of debate
will be necessary.
1t is expected that by the time tn
canal bill is disposed of there will b g
one or more appropriation bills ready
for consideration by the house None
of the appropriation bills have bee II
passed on by the appropriation com
mittee. but the urgent deficiency and
the pension bills are in n forward
state and the expectation is that they
will be considered by the committee
during the current week. The pres
ent intention is to give first attention
to the deficiency bill The estimates
for that bill aggregate $l2, 900, 000, and
it is not believed that these figures
will be scaled down materially.
bt 5tiihbp hRS ~ "a oE AZ u AtV
week and very little business on its
calendar as the reorganization of the
senate committees did not take place
until just before the holidays. There
are, however, few bridge bills re-
ported. and Senator Morgan's bill for
the acquisition of right of way for the
Nicaragua canal is among the meas
ures in position to receive attention.
1t is not probable, however, thar the
right of way bill will receive consid-
Grafton at this time. the disposition
being rather to await the action of
the house upon the general subject,
and then have the senate predicate
its action on the house bill If this
course should be decided ON the dis
cussion of the canal question in the
senate viii be postponed for few
weeks
The committee ON the Philippines
will take up the Philippine question
very soon, but there is yet no indica-
tion as to how much time the matter
may consume IN committee. Hence
there is no probability that the senate
itse will be able to reach that ques-
tion for some time.
Senator FRYE is engaged on his re-
port on the shipping bill, but is not
vet able to fix the time for its COM
pletion.
The announcement of Senator Sc
wells death paobably will be made
to-day in which event there will be
an immediate adjournment for the
day. An adjournment from Thurs
day until the following Monday is
contemplated