Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-06
SESSION OPENS ON MONDAY AND
MESSAGE WILL BE READ
TUESDAY.
MANY QUESTIONS OF
GREAT IMPORTANCE

UhEAl lM1Oh i ANCE
Review of the Tasks to Be Performed
Before March 4, 1905, Shows That
congressman viii Have No Time
to Waste-Tariff Revision Unlikely
Outlook for the Session.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 8. -(By AS.
Eociated Press)-On the stroke of IL
o'clock Monday, sthe short session of
the F4fty-eighth congress will be called
to order by President Pro TEN Frye
In the senate and Speaker Cannon in
the house. When the gavels of the
presiding officers summon the senators
md representatives to duty nearly ev-
cry member will be in his seat, but
only routine business will be tran
sacted. The chaplains will pray, the
rolls will be called, the regular reso-
buttons of notification will be passed,
rcmmittees to inform the President
will be appointed and adjournment
will follow out of respect for the de-
ceased members. The Presidents
message generally is received and
read the first day. but the senate is
punctilious 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. will not be read until Tues
day.
But there will be enough to attract
the crows which will fill the galleries.
The opening of a session of congress
has become a flower show Immense
floral pieces designed to typify the
man or the state, or the district he
represents are placed upon members
desks in both chambers, often times to-
tally obscuring the man they are in
tended to compliment. Besides these
huge floral emblems senator's and
members are remembered more mod
estly by simple punches Of flowers
Admiring constituents, clerks in the
departments, wives and sweethearts al
ways see that favorites in both senate
ard the house are favored with flow
ers. In fact the custom has grown to
such proportions that those who are
not remembered In the annual gorge
GUS congressional floral display feel
that they have been unconsciously
given greater distinction by the
omission.
Much Work Ahead.
After the opening day, when the
message of the President is read, the
regular business of the session will
egin and the legislative wheels will
grind steadily until March 4, 1905.
There is plenty to do. The calendars
of both houses are loaded with bills
Of all kinds; hundreds Of new bills
will be introduced and committees
are ready to report enough to keep
congress busy for twelve months, but
in the three months congress probably
will do little more than pass the regu-
lar annual appropriation bills. There
has been some talk Of possible ex'
ira session. The result Of the No
yember election was scarcely known
before this talk began. Heretofore ex
ira session rumors have been held In
allegiance until the holiday recess or at
least until after the election returns
have been digested, but this year the
discussion began before the President
knew how many votes he would have
In the electoral college. The only rea
son why such a session should be
called is because there is demand in
certain quarters for a revision of the
tariff, but many of the incoming con
gressmen during the past two weeks
have made 1t plain that they do not
want tariff revision and further thai
they do not want an extra session.
Tariff Legislation Unlikely.
There is one feature of the tariff
revision talk that has some substance
so several observers say More rev
enue must be had or there must be {
curtailment of expenditures. Will
the increahing annual appropriations
a river and harbor bill, increase of the
navy, the Panama canal and othel
features Of extraordinary dlsburse
ment, there will be need IF more
money than present customs and in
ternal revenues provide. An intima
ton has been made that Curtailmen
will satisfy many congressional lead
ers, but the majority may determine
otherwise, In which event some reve
nue. legislation may be necessary, AM
an extra session for that purpose ma.
be called But this is said to be re
mote contingency and the probabilitie
according to the leaders who are here
are that there will be neither tariff
legislation nor an extra. session.
The Reciprocity Proposition.
Coupled with tariff legislation dis
cussion is the subject of reciprocity
A number of proposed reciprocit.
treaties have been, and still are re
posing in the pigeon holes of the sell
ate. During the coming three month
there may be some talk about thes,
treaties but the indications are the,
will not be seriously considered. 81
strong has been the opposition to then
that it has never been considered
worth while to report them from thu
committees on foreign relations t.
which they were referred There wa
considerable talk during the last ses
sion of congress concerning tariff re
vision and the suggestion wa