Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-23
CONGRESS TO MEET EARLY
President Determined to Convene Special
Session in October.
CUBAN TREATY LEGISLATION DESIRED
Indications Point to the Adoption of
some Kind of a CIoture Rule in
the senate Mt Coming
Session.
tFrom a stan Correspondent)

(From a Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 22-(special)-
President Roosevelt is fully determined to
call congress together in extra session on
or before October 1. All sorts of pressure
has been brought to bear upon him in the
hope Of inducing him to abandon this
project. But the president has decided
that 1t is essential that Legislation must
be enacted to put the Cuban treaty into
effect before the marketing OF the sugar
crop Of the island for this year The presi-
dent has told those who have called upon
him to protest that, in his opinion, the nee
essary work can be accomplished within
two or three weeks, and that nothing need
prevent an adjournment in ample time to
allow senators and members to take part
in the fall campaigns in their respective
states.
There is no doubt that IL the presidents
plan should be carried into effect with
the leaders in both houses in harmony
with him the desired joint resolution could
be disposed Of within a week. But con-
gress is not in the habit OF acquiescing in
the wishes OF the president in matters Of
this kind. Within an hour after the formal
election Of Mr.. Cannon as speaker the bill
box will contain several hundred bills, the
authors Of which will push their favorite
measures with their utmost vigor. The
so-called Aldrich financial bill is one which
will cause prompt discussion. 1t was not
because they opposed the principles laid
down in the bill that the democratic mem
bers Of the house refused to allow IL to
be discussed during the last few days Of
the last session, but they argued with
great deal of force that SO radical a depart
ure from existing law should not be forced
through the house under whip and spur
during the last hours Of a dying congress,
especially as the bill had not been printed
moro than twenty-four hours when the
attempt was made to pass it.
Canal Bonds Involved.
The fact that under the Panama canal
treaty something like $3.50, 900 in 2 per
cent bonds will be put upon the market
within the next few years, may have an
important bearing upon the fate Of the
Aldrich bill. Heretofore United States
bonds, even when bearing the lowest rate
of interest, have always commanded pre-
mium. This is due in part to the fact
that such bonds are the basis Of national
bank circulation, and are also required as
guaranty that United States funds de-
posted in banks will be repaid when
needed. The Aldrich BILL as 1t is we'll
known, provides for the substitution of
! state, municipal and other bonds for such
| purposes, and It is believed that should
| that bill become law and the outstanding
| Indebtedness OF the United States be in
| creased as 1t must be, as soon as active
work begins on the canal, the result will
| be the depreciation in the value of gov
ornment bonds But that the Aldrich bill,
| or some similar measure, will be put
| through congress at the next session is a
| foregone conclusion, and that an attempt
will be made to have 1t enacted into law
! Just as soon as congress reassembles,
whether 1t be In August or December, Is
| equally certain.
Some talk has been heard within the last
| few days of an organized attempt to de-
feat the Cuban legislation, but 1t is not at
all likely that 1t will be successful not
| withstanding the efforts OF the anti-Cuban
lobbyists to this end.
CIoture Rule in Sight.
There were one or two significant in
cidents in connection with the extraordl-
| nary session of the senate which has just
closed which seemed to presage changes
in the senate rules. Some OF the most
persistent advocates OF unlimited debate
among the older senators openly express
themselves as favoring rules which will IA
cilitate business In the upper branch OF
congress. II Is not likely that a cloture
rule as drastic as that of the house will
ever be adopted, but it seems quite prob
able now that within the next year the
senate will wipe out some Of it's ira
ditions, and will adopt some method
whereby the majority can legislate when
so disposed in spite of the opposition OF an
Insignificant minority. In the past Senator
Allen Of Nebraska tied up the senate for
several days until he forced his views upon
the majority. Senator Quay of Pennsyl-
vana spoke for nearly a week in oppo-
sition to the Wilson tariff bill and was
ready to keep it up for another week ii
the majority had not agreed to the amend
ments he desired. At the close of the
Fifty-sxth congress Senator Carter OF
Montana killed the river and harbor bill
| by talking IL to death, because he did not
think his section OF the country had been
properly cared for in the matter OF irri-
CATION legislation. The most recent ex-
hibition of one-man power in the senate
was that given by Senator Morgan, who
forced the extra session because he would
not permit a vote on the Panama treaty
before the 4th of March. Such men as
Senators Allison, Aldrich and Cockrell have
come to the conclusion that the time has
arrived when the senate should be per.
mitted to do business II a majority Of thai
body desires to accomplish something. The
result VIII be that the Fifty-eighth con
gress will see a new order OF things II
the upper branch, and many OF the obso
lete rules will be expurgated
New Public BuIIdinEa.
Within the next year, in all probability
active building operations will be beguI
on both sides OF the park surrounding tn,
capitol Although the omnibus bill. carry
ing $780, 900 for a new ONCE building fo
the house of representatives was not signed
until March 8, three weeks hav,
not elapsed before the first step towart
securing the necessary land for this pur
, pose had been taken. The commission
which has the matter in charge proposes
, to push matters with the utmost speed Il
order that the new structure may be read
for occupancy at the very earliest possible
date.
Almost identically with the appropria
tion OF the first installment OF the none,
, for the congressional once building con
1 gress provided for a new union station 70
/ the railroads entering Washington. Thi
station is to be located Immediately nort]
OF the capitol grounds. 1t will cost. to
l gether with the approaches and tunnel
: | somewhere in the neiRhborhood Of $40, 900,