Evening journal., 1903-01-05
CONGRESS WILL
HAVE BUSY TIME
Large Number of Important
Bills VIII BE Brought For
ward for Consideration
STATEHOOD BILL IN THE SENATE
Wlll Cause Much Debate, As FrIenda
Of the Measure VIII Press For Its
conslderation-Ho ls Waiting
On Appropriation Bills.

deratior-House ls Waiting
on Appropriation Bills.
Washington, Jan. 5.-The United
States senate reconyencd to-day with
small attendance, many members
who left Washington for the Christ
mas holidays heing absent. The pre-
diction is very general that the re-
mainder OF the session win be exceed
ingly busy because of the number OF
important questions which will bel
pressed for consideration before final
adjournment The time OF the senate
each day before o'clock will be car
nestly contested for. among the meas
ures seeking carly attention being the
militia bill. the immigration bill the
eight-hour government labor bill and
the Philippine currency bill.
During the present week. and proba-
bly, for some time TO come, the omni-
bus statehood bill will be the chief
topic-of discussion on the floor, but
under the unanimous agreement by
which this bill was made the unfn-
ished business, it cannot be taken M
any day before o'clock. II is the pur-
pose OF the friends of the bill TO press
its consideration and not to allow the
bill to be sidetracked unless under
very great pressure. The present pur-
pose is to give way only for appropria-
tion bills, but there are now no aDpro-
priation bills on the senate calendar.
1t is, however. the purpose OF the sem
atorial leaders. aid especially OF those
who oppose the statehood bill, to press
appropriation bills to the front as rap
idly as possible.
According to the arrangement made
before the holidays, the debate on the
statehood bill was resumed at O'Clock
to-day. Senator Nelson, of Minnesota
was the first speaker on the list. HC
Is a member of the committee on ter.
ritories. and in addition to his opposi.
tion to the admission Of the territorie.
Of New Mexico and Arizona, he Is a
staunch advocate Of the bill for the ad-
mission OF Oklahoma and Indian ter
ritory as one state, which was reported
by the majority Of the committee as a
substitute for the house omnibus bill
He has a carefully prepared speech and
its delivery probably will require the
greater part of two days. Senator
Burnham will be heard next, and he
also probably will speak for two days
or more. Other Republican senators
have agreed to speak in opposition 10
the bill. and It is now estimated that
there will be no less than Is anti-state-
hood speeches before consideration OF
the measure is concluded. Some
speeches in support of the bill are
promised, but the indications are
somewhat against delivery of any Of
them during the present week, though
1t is possible that Senator Foraker,
who is an earnest advocate Of the ON
nibus bill, may be heard some time
within the next few days.
No Programme In House.
No complete programme is mapped
out for the house for the first week Of
thenewyear The leaders are very anx-
ious to force the appropriation bills
ahead as rapidly as possible. The In
dian bill is on the calendar and head
way is making in committee with the
postofice, diplomatic and consular, and
District Of Columbia bills. The latter
at least. will be reported to the house
before the end Of the week. Mr. Sher-
man, Of New York. chairman of the
Indian committee. is III at Hot Springs
Ark, and his absence may delay con-
sideration Of the Indian bill Until
the appropriation bills get into the
hopper. the house probably will occupy
its time with miscellaneous matters