Arizona republican., 1902-12-02
Congress at Work.

Since there is no reason 10 eNpect unusual dilegence, it is not likely that the short session of the Fifty-eightn congress, begun yesterday will result in much important legislation beyond the usual appropriation bills. In less than three weeks the holiday recess will occur. and work will not be re- stunned until after the first of the year; so that thereafter there will be less than eight weeks in which to dispose of the great accumulation of business which has been handed over from the last session. Quite fifteen thousand bills are on the calendar awaiting action, but few of these are of more than local importance, and scarcely any, of course, will be advanced to vote.
 There has seldom been a short ses- sion, however, at which so many im- portant measures were pressing for action. The omnibus statehood bill, while of supreme importance locally, is in no sense a local measure. It will have the attention of the senate for some days, at least, to the exclusion of all other legislation, and if it is amend ed and returned to the house, as now seems not unlikely, 1t will again have the center of the stage in that body for a while.
 It is evident that there will be flood of bills covering the trust ques- tion, under the stimulation of the presidents message, and the time available is hardly suffi- ject alone. It appears to be probable that congress, in view of the limited time at it's disposal, will get rid of the trust problem for the time being by making a liberal appropriation for the enforcement of the Sherman law, and let it go at that.
 The labor organizations of thecoun- try will insist that action be had on some one of the bills for the restric- tion of immigra tion, and it is quite likely that there will be new legislation on that question.
 Another subject upon which most of the short session might be consumed, is that of reciprocity with Cuba. If the insurgents" who opposed the presi- dent throughout the last session have become more tractable, or if there have been any important conversions in favor of liberal concessions to the Gu bans, no evidence thereof has been made public. It follows, therefore. that as soon as the reciprocity treaty has been laid before the senate there will be prolonged debate; but the indica- tions are that the president will be able to command a majority. when the vote is reached.
 1t is not unlikely that there will be more or less debate on the tariff, for ii is very probable that there will be a serious effort to provide for a tariff commission to revise the existing schedules. The anti-anarchist bill which has passed both houses and Is now in conference, will doubtless pass without much delay. The senate bil creating new cabinet office, the de partment of commerce, will call fol some discussion, and will probably pass
 The difficulties which the government is finding in arriving at an under standing with the republic of Colombia may perforce lead to a complete recast ing of the programme concerning tn, isthmian canal and in that event, i it becomes necessary to choose agaiI between Nicaragua and Panama lengthy debate is sure to follow.
 The Philippines, and each of the ap propriation bills will of course. call fo more or less discussion.
 Altogether, the outlook is not brigh for great grist of new legislation. AnC should the statehood bill once lose it! position as the unfinished business O the senate. 1t will be practically impos sible to get it up again, for then tn champions of the territories would have to run counter to the wishes O numerous senators who have a more di rect interest in other measures.