Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-09
Both Houses Reconvened To-Day
After tho Recess.
HOUSE TO CONSIDER The CANAL BILL
After That the Appropriation Bills win
Re Taken Up-The Senate Has Very
Little Business on Its
Calendar,

OF almost three weeks both houses
Of congress reconvened to-day. The
principal item Of the house pro-
gramme for the week is the Hepburn
isthmian canal bill, which is the spe-
cial order for tomorrow. No limit
has been fixed as to the time for de-
bate upon the measure, but Mr.. Hep
burn does not contemplate "A pro-
longed discussion of 1t. 1t is sur.
missed in some quarters, however,
that II the proposition Of the Panama
Canal company to sell its property
and franchises for $4O,OOOOOO should
be made to-day, as promised, this may
have the effect of opening a wider
field Of discussion than at first
seemed probable, and if this should
prove to be the case the bill may be
before the house for a longer time
than is now contemplated.
Mr. Burton has given notice of a
speech on the bill, and it is under.
stood that there also will be other
speeches in criticism of special fea.
lures Of the measure, but its friends
are very sanguins not only that the
bill will pass. but that it will pass
speedily. Mr. Hepburn, the author
Of the bill, thinks that only f,sw
days of debate will he necessary.
II is expected that by the time
that the canal bill is disposed of
there will be one or more appropria-
tlon bills ready for consideration by
the house. None Of the appropria-
tion bills have yet been passed on
by the appropriations committee,
but both the urgent deficiency and
the pension bills are in n forward
state and the expectation is that
they will be considered by the com.
mlttee during the current week. The
present intention is to give first at.
tention to the deficiency bn The
snmates for that hill aggregate sl2,.
'M.0O0. and it is not believed that
these figures will he sealed down
materially.
The senate has no r'ogramme for
the week and very li'lr business
on its calendar. as he REORGANIZATION
OF the senate committees did not
take place until just before the holi.
days. There are. however. A few
bridge bills reported. ana senator
Morgan's bill for the acni,sition Of
rght-of-way for he Nicaragua canal
ia among the measures IN po.ition TO
receive attention. II is no, probable
however, that The right-of-way bill
will receive consideration n, this
time, the disposition h-ing rather to
await the action of the house upon
the general subject, and then have
the senate predicate lis action on
the house bill II this course should
he decided on the discussion of the
canal question in he senate will be
postponed for few weeks. The com.
miiirr on the Philippines will take
up the Philippine tariff question very
soon. but there is yet no Indication
as TO how much fine the matter NAV
consume in commiitee> Hence there
is no probability that thr senate IT, !
self viii be able to reach hat uues.
tiou 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 Sew.
plls death probably viii be made
to-day. in which event there will he
an immediate adjournment for the
lay. An adjournment from Thurs
lay until the following Monday is
contemplated.