East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1904-12-03

Washington, D. c., Dec. 3.-Enact-
ment of necessary approximation
measures. coupled with probable
ship-subsldy legislation in a modified
form and the consideration of 18TH
mian canal legislation. comprises the
present program of the closing ses-
sion of the Fifty-eight congress.
which will open at noon Monday.
Unless all signs fail comparatively
little attempt will be made to accom-
plish anything else of Importance,
unless it be the passage of the bill
of MIR. Hill of Connecticut TO improve
currency conditions or the bill of Mr..
Fowler of New Jersey. permitting ma
tional banks to make loans upon real
estate.
As TO brand new legislation but
little is expected during the short ses-
sion. Congress will be kept pretty
busy getting through its appropria-
tions. and attending TO routine mat
ters. II seems to be understood that
there will be river and harbor bill
and an omnibus public building bill
introduced at this session. Never be-
fore was there a greater demand on
the treasury for money for river and
harbor improvements and for new
public buildings. and it appears GER
tain that unless Speaker Cannon and
Chairman Hemenway, of the house
committee on appropriations, stub
hornly resist the plans members will
nQka m stuaf fr, anil ha
TONS the two bills will carry enor-
nous appropriations.
The unfinished business of congress
is represented by several thousand
bills, some of which have been con-
sidered by committee and reported
favorably; some passed by the house
and held up by the senate. and others
'(the great majority unconsidered in
committee. The unfinished business
In which the country has manifested
greatest interest may be summarized
as follows:
Bill TO confer additional power on
the interstate commerce commission.
The pure food bill.
The Hepburn-Dolliver bill to regu-
Intoxicating liquors.
The bill for the reform of the con-
sular service.
Legislation for the further restric-
ticn of immigration.
The anti-injunction bill.
The eight-hour bill.
Senator Fairbanks bill providing
for a three-department government
building in Washington.
The statehood bill providing for the
admission of the territories of New
Mexico, Arizona. Oklahoma and In
dian territories as two states.
Bill for the protection of the pres
ident
Undoubtedly the friends of these
measures will press them forward for
consideration as opportunity offers,
and some of them will probably be
made into law. Evidently there is
much popular interest in the pure
food bill. The house passed it last
session and it received some consider
alton in the senate, but in the rush Of
the last few weeks 1t was sidetracked.
The so-called labor bills-the anti
injunction bill and the eight-hour bill
did not get out of committee in the
house last session. Hearings that
lasted for weeks were held, but
neither the judiciary committee,
which has the anti-injunction bill,
nor the committee on labor, which
has the eight-hour bill, reached
vote on the question Of reporting.
Among the so-called side issues,
there are several that promise to at
tract much public attention. The
Crum appointment will probably be
removed from the field of serious
controversy by the changed attitude
OF Senator Tillman, who announces
that he will no longer stand in the
way of Crum's confirmation.
Much interest will, of course, cen
ter in the Reed smoot case. The case
has already dragged through a full
year. and the senate committee on
privileges and elections seem anxious
TO get IL off their hands. Undoubted-
ly they win decide to close it up in
short order unless 1t is deemed expe-
dent to send subcommittee to
Utah to take testimony.
Monday, the opening day Of the
session. will be devoted to the read
ing OF the presidents message, which
In expected to be one of the most i'm
portant state papers in recent years.