The sun., 1904-12-05
SHORT SESSION TO BIZ BUSY.
PLENTY or WORK FOR CONGRESS
TO DO BEFORE MARCH 4.

Tarfn Measure for the philippines TO no
Consldereti-May Bring On Demand
for Free Trade-statehood Bill VIII
DO Brought Up-Generai Business.
WASHINGTON. Dec. with the Fifty
ninth Congress about to reconvene TO-
morrow no programme Of business has
been mapped out for tho three months that
the session will last Only one great ques-
ton is uppermost In the minds OF the
national legislators, that Of tariff revision.
and even that does not require immediate
consideration for the reason that no tariff
legislation will be attempted at the short
session. There are, however. q number
OF important matters that will be taken
up, and the prospects are that the session
will be an exceedingly busy one, more 30
than the general run Of short sessions.
Outside of the regular appropriation
bills, including q river and harbor bill,
which must be disposed OF by March
10 avoid the calling Of an extra session to
complete them, there will be some gen.
eral legislation Of an interesting character.
The Statehood bill passed by the House
in the closing days OF the last
session. will be taken up by the Senate
very soon, a meeting Of the Committee on
Territories on Friday having already been
called for its consideration. 1t Is expected
that some legislation will result from Secre-
tary Of War Taft's visit to the lsthmus,
probably to make effective his agreement
with the Panama Government.
One Of the most important measures
will be the bill passed by the House IN this
Congress to carry out Secretary Tafts
proposal to reduce to rs per cent. the Dingley
tariff rates on goods imported from the
Philippines. The Senate Committee on the
Philippines has 90 amended this bill that
il viii 90 before the Senate virtually new
measure. There Ia some sentiment IN
favor Of declaring free trade between the
United States and the Philippines and TINS
may develop into demand wnlcn congress
cannot afiord TO ignore.
" hiie an effort may be made to put
through ship subsidy bill, 1t Is likely tnat
the measure will not pe ready until too late
in the session to permit both houses 70 take
action. Whether there will be antitrust
legislation is probiematical. -.
Ine senate VIII have its hands lun OF
executive business The arbitration treat
les between foreign countries will be sub
mitted early and q new Chinese exclusion
treaty viii also De sent to the Senate.
The nomination OF DR.. William d. Crlm
10 be Collector OF Customs at Charleston,
S. c.. will be again made by the President,
and there Is prospect that it will ultimately
he confirmed, as senator Tillman mas indl-
Gated that he will not continue TO fight it.
There Is likely to be considerable opposi-
ton to the nomination OF COL l. Mills,
superintendent Of the Military Academy,
to be Brgadier-General. The Senate will
have to determine the case Of Reed Smoot,
the Mormon Senator from Utah. who ID
accused OF polygamy.
v Washington presented a lively appear.
ance to-day. The hotel lobbies we're filed
downtown section had larger crowds than
usual on Sunday. Congressmen were
plentiful in the hotels, surrounded W little
groups OF friends and constituents.
iuv gusiest peopie NJ to"n Tough. are
the florists who aIe filling orders for those
who want to compliment their iavorite
Senators and Representatives, on the open
ing day. 1t 10 likely that the floral dis
play in the Senate and the House to-mor-
row will be greater than ever.
Both houses will meet at noon and each
will appoint committees TO notify the Presi-
has been begun. In the senate the cere-
monies, vi be very brief.
After the committees have been ap-
pointed, Senators Penroee and Lodgd will
announce the deaths Of their respective
colleagues, Messrs. Quay and Hoar and
adopted the Senate, as a mark Of respect
TO the memory OF its deceased members
will adjourn.
In the house six new members will be
sworn in. These are Knowland q Califor-
mia, Wood Of New Jersey, Webber Of Ohio
Thomas Of Ohio, Hefiin Of Alabama
and Craft Of South Carolina. The
arst four named are Republi;,
cans. MIR Knowand will succeed
Y. L. Metoalf, appointed Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor, and Mr.. Thomas will
succeed Senator Diok, elected to fill the
vacancy in the Senate caused by the death
Of Marcus A. Hanna. There Is prospect
that the Committee on Appropriations may
present the Executive. Legislative and
Judicial bil, but this will be pro forma
proceeding. requiring not more than a
minute OF time.
Inc Senate resolutions with regard to
the deaths Of Messrs. Hoar and Quay will
then be presented to the house, which will
adjourn out OF re spect to the memory Of
the deceased
The Presidents message will not be
transmitted to Congress until Tuesday.