The San Francisco call., 1904-12-03

w WASHINGTON. Dec. 2.-On the
stroke Of -; Monday. the second ses-
sion Of the Fifty-eighth Congress will
be called 10 order by President Pro
Ten. Frye in the Senate and by Speak
er Cannon in the House. When the
p gsvels Of the presiding officers sum-
mon the Senators and Representatives
70 duty nearly every member will be
in his seat but only routine business
Will be. transacted. The chaplains will
pray. the rolls will be called. the reg
ular resolutions Of notification will be
passed. committees TO inform the
President will be appointed and ad-
Journment Will follow out of respect
for the deceased members. The Pres
3dent's message generally is received
end read the first day, but the Sen
ate is punctilfous in certain matters
and il is almost sure TO adjourn as a
tribute Of respect to the late Senator
Hoar of Massac chusetts and the late
Senator Quay of Pennsylvania The
message. therefore. probably will not
be rea6until Tuesday.
After the opening day, when the
message Of the President is read, the
regular business of the session will
-hegin and the legislative wheels will
grind steadily until March 4. 1905.
mere II DlentN 10 90 ne calendars
of both houses are loaded with bills
of all kinds; hundreds Of new bills
will be introduced and committees
are ready 10 report enough TO keep
COr~ress busy for twelve Aonths, but
IN the three months Congress will
probably do little more than pass the
regular annual appropriation bills.
There has been some talk of a posi-
BILE extra session. The result of the
November election was scarcely
known before this talk began. Here
1OfQre extra session rumors have been
held in abeyance until the holiday re-
cess OF 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 reason why such a session
should. be called is because there is a
demand in certain quarters for a re-
vision Of the tariff, but many Of the
incoming Congressman during the last
TWO weeks have made il plain that
they do not want tariff revision. and,
further, that they do not want an ex-
ira. session.
TARIFF REVISION TALK.
There is one feature Of the tariff revi-
sion. talk that has some substance.
More revenue must be had or there
With the increasing annual appropria-
tions river and harbor bill, increase
Of the navy, the Panama canal and
other features OF extraordinary dis
bursement there will be need of more
money than present customs and in
1ernal revenues provide. An intimation
has been made that curtailment will
satisfy 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 may be called But
. this is said TO be a remote contingency,
and the probabilities, according to the
leaders who are here, are that there will
be neither tariff legislation nor an ex-
ira session.
Coupled with tariff legislation discus
. sion is the subject of reciprocity A
number Of proposed reciprocity treaties
have been and still are reposing in the
pigeon-hOles Of the Senate. During the
coming three months there may be
some talk about these treaties, but the
indications are they viii not be serious
" considered So strong has been the
opposition to them that il has never
been considered 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 tar
In revision, and the suggestion was
made by several prominent leaders that
eny revision that was necessary could
be accomplished during the short ses-
sion OF Congress, the idea being that
revision would be on the lines of re-
ductiOn and would meet with little or
= no opposition. If more revenue is need
ed and it is found necessary to add
some internal revenue taxes opposition
may be more pronounced. Revenue leg
islation Of any kind is sure to create
considerable talk in the Senate. and
that means delay. In fact. it has be-
come known that under present condi-
tions legislation during the short ses-
sion is enacted by practically unan-
inlous consent. Any half-dozen Sen
atoTs who determine to defeat a bill
have the power 10 do So with the privi-
lege Of unlimited debate. In the House