The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-03
Adjournment VIII Immediately be Taken Out of Respect
 for Deceased Members
BOTH HOUSES WILL HAVE
 PLENTY OF WORK ID DO.
Numerous Important Questions VIII Come Up and Wheels of Leelsla- ton Will Grind Steadily
 Until March 4.

Ontil MafCn fs Washington, December 2.-On the stroke | of P Monday the second session of the | Fifty-eighth congress will be called to order by President Pro Tem Frye in the senate and by Speaker Cannon In the house When the gavels of the presiding officers summon the senators and repre- sentatives to duty nearly every member will be in his seat, but only routine busi- ness will be transacted. The chaplains will pray, the rolls will be called, the regular resolutions of notification will be passed. committees to inform the Presi- dent will be appointed and adjournment will follow out of respect for the de- ceased members. The Presidents mes sage generally Is received and read the first day, but the senate is puncttlous in certain matters, and is almost sure to adjourn as a tribute of respect to the late Senator Hoar of Massachusetts and the late Senator Quay of Pennsylvania. The message, therefore, probably Will not be read until Tuesday.
 But there will be enough to attract the crowds which will fill the galleries. The onening of a session of congress has be- come a flower show. Immense floral pieces designed to typify the man. or the state, or the district he represents are placeo upon members desks in both chambers, oftentimes totally obscuring the man they are intended to compliment. Be- sides these huge floral emblems senators and members are remembered more moo- estIy by simple punches of flowers. Ao- miring constituents, clerks in the depart ments, wives and sweethearts always see that favorites in both senate and house are favored with flowers. In fact, the cus- tom has grown to such proportions that those who are not remembered in the an- nual gorgeous congressional floral display feel that they' have been unconsciousiy given greater distinction by the omis- sion.
 Wheels Will Grind Steadily.
 After the opening day when the mes- sage of the President is read, the reg ular business of the session will begin and the legislative wheels VIII grlno 1 steadily until March 4 1905. There IS plenty to do. The calendars of both houses 1 hundreds of new bills will be introduced and committees are ready to report enough to keep congress busy for twelve months, | hut in the three months congress VIII | do little more than pass the regular an- n1Ial appropriation bills. There has been 1 some talk of d possible extra session. me 1 result of the November election was 1 scarcely known before this talk began 1 Heretofore extra session rumors nave been held in abeyance until the noloay recess or at least until after the elec- | tion returns have been digested, but this i year the discussion began before Presi- l dent Roosevelt knew how many votes ne would have in the electoral college Ihe only reason why such session should pc called Is because there is a demand In certain quarters for revision or the tariff. but many of the incoming con gressmen during the past two weeks have made it plain that they do not want tariff revision and further that they do not want an extra session.
 More Revenue Must Be Had.
 There is one feature of the tariff revis- ion thattardeltadl ntdlendeltnd ntratrnt i ion talk that has some substance. More revenue must be had or there must be A curtailment of expenditures. With the increasing annual appropriations, river and harbor bill features of extraordinary alsbursement there will be need of more money than present customs and ln- ternal revenues provide. An intimatlon has been made that curtaiment will sat isfy many congressional leaders, but the majority may determine otherwise, In which event some revenue Legislation may be necessary, and an extra session ! for that purpose must be called. but ! this Is said to be a remote contingency and the probabilities, aeording to the l leaders who are here, are that there VIII be neither tariff legislation nor an extra | session. ,,
 Coupled with tariff legislation discus sion Is the subject of reciprocity. mum Der of proposed reciprocity treaties nave been and still are reposing in the pigeon 1 holes of the senate. During the coming | three months there may be some talk | about these treaties, but the indications | arc they will not be seriously consd- | cred. So strong has been the opposition | to them that 1t has never been consid- cred worth while to report them from | the committee on foreign relations to which they were referred. There was | considerable talk during the last session of congress concerning tariff revision and the suggestion was made by several prom. inent leaders that any revision that was l necessary could be accomplished during the short session of congress, the idea | being that revision would be on the lines of reduction and would meet with little or no opposition.
 Revenue Legislation Causes Talk.
 If more revenue Is needed, and 1t 1: | found necessary to add some internal rev enue taxes, opposition may be more pro. nouneed. Revenue legislation of any kino 1 is sure to create considerable talk in the senate and that means delay. In fact II | has become known that under present conditions legislation during the shor' session is enacted by practically unani- nous consent. Any half dozen senators who determine to defeat bill nave the power to do so, with the privilege or nh- | limited debate In the house the stringent rules enable the majority to transact all business it desires. and so far as mat body is concerned there Is no difficulty about any legislation that may be at tenpted. but if the leaders do not want | tariff revision CT change in the revenue | laws nothing will be done.
 The unfinished business in the senate | is a bill passed by the house providing for the construction of railroads in the 1 philinnine islands by a guarantee of 5