Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-05
WORK AHEAD FOR CONGRESS-
Little Expected for Few Days Until Mem
bers All Return from Holidays,
STATEHOOD BILL ON DECK IN SENATE
Many other Important Measures
Pressing for RecognitiOn-COm-
mittee Considers Cuban
Treaty.


Treaty.
! WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Many of the
! senator's who left Washington for the
| Christmas holidays are still absent and
| the present indications are that when
| business Is resumed at noon tomorrow
! there will not be very full attendance.
| Before the week is far advanced, how
| ever, the senate again WIFI be in regular
working order and there will be little ces-
| sation Of work before March 4. The pre-
diction is very general that the remainder
of the session will be exceedingly busy
because of the number of important ques-
tions which will be pressed forward before
final adjournment.
During the present week and probably
for some time to come the omnibus state
hood bill will be the chief topic Of discus
sion on the floor, but under the unanimous
! agreement by which the bill was made the
unfinished business Il cannot be taken up
any day before o'clock. 1t 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 purpose is 10 give
way only for appropriation bills, but there
are no appropriation bills on the senate
| calendar 1t is, however, the purpose of
the senatorial leaders, and especially OF
those who oppose the statehood bill, to
press appropriation bills to the front as
! rapidly as possible.
The senate committee on appropriations
Immediately will take up the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill,
and 1t will be reported to the senate as
soon as possible. 1t is bill which de-
mands considerable investigation. and 1t is
not probable that II will reach the senate
much before the middle Of the month.
When 1t is reported the committee will
seek to secure its immediate considera-
tion.
Debate on Statehood.
According to the arrangement made be-
fore the holidays, the debate on the state
hood bill will be resumed at o'clock to-
morrow Senator Nelson Of Minnesota being
the first speaker on the list. He is a men,
Der OF the committee on territories and In
addition to his opposition to the admission
Of the territories OF New Mexico and Ari-
zona, he is a staunoh advocate Of the bill
fo- the admission OF Oklahoma and Indian
Territory as one state, which was reported
by the majority of the committee as a sub
stitute for the house omnibus bill. He
has a carefully prepared speech and its de-
livery probably will require the greater
part of two days. Senator Burrows will
be heard next and he will probably speak
for two days or more. Other republican
senators have agreed to speak in opposition
to the bill and II is now estimated that
there will be no fewer than fifteen anti
statehood speeches before consideration of
the measure is concluded. Some speeches
in support OF the bill are promised. but
the indications are somewhat against the
delivery of any of them during the present
week, though 1t is possible that Senator
Foraker, who is an earnest advocate of the
omnibus bill, may be heard some time
, within the next few days.
/ other Measures Pressing.
The time Of the senate each day before
2 o'clock will be earnestly contested for,
among the measures seeking early atten-
tion being the omnibus bill, the immigra-
tion bill. the eight-hour government labor
bill and the Philippine currency bill
Senator Proctor has given notice that he
will call up the, militia bill Monday morn
ing as soon as the routine business is dis
posed of, and he will try TO keep this bill
to the front until action can be secured.
Some features of the measure are sharply
antagonized, so that 1t may provoke con-
siderable debate. There also is a DISPOSE
, tion to amend the immigration bill. The
supporters of this measure do not yet seem
inclined to concede the changes demanded.
Senator Lodge. as chairman of the COM
= mittee ON the Philippines. has given notice
J that he will press the currency bill as rap
idly as possible, and expresses confidence
in its passage before the session grows
: much older Senator McComas will urge
consideration OF the eight-hour bill.
The committee on foreign relations, II is
expected, will take up the Cuban treaty at
its meeting this week, but 1t is doubtful
whether IL will be reported dU-ing the
week 1t has not been decided whether
there will be any hearings on the treaty
! Thus far no formal request for them has
been made and probably none will be sought
until after the beet sugar convention
which is TO be held in this city during the
week. Senator Cullom says that he will
ask the senate to give the treaty its at
tention at as early a day as practicable
after It shall be reported
A large number OF new bills and resolu-
tions will be introduced at the beginning
: OF the session tomorrow. among them a
> Joint resolution by Senator Morgan direct
ing the executive department to cease me-
gotiations with the government OF Colombia
for right-of-way for an isthmian canal and
to close agreements with Costa Riea and
Nicaragua for the construction OF a canal
by the Nicaragua route.
On Thursday during the morning hour
Senator Hoar will address the senate IL
support of his antitrust bill 1t is probable
that his speech will give rise to more OF
: less debate, but any discussion on this bill
must cease at o'clock unless unanimous
consent should be procured to delay the
statehood bill for a time.
r No Program for the House.
No complete program is mapped out fol
: the house for the irst week OF the new
year The leaders are very anxious Il
force the appropriations bills ahead al
rapidly as possible.
The Indian bill is on tire calendar ant
A headway is making In committee with hi
: postofice, diplomatic and consular and Dis
n trict OF Columbia bills. The latter. a
. least. will be reported to the house befor,
: the end OF the week.
Mr.. Sherman OF New York, chairman o
Ia the Indian committee, is III at Hot Springs
!. Ark, and his absence may delay considera
= tion OF the Indian bill.
m Until the appropriation bills get int
the hopper the house probably will oceup
x.rfth mil