Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-04
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Matters That Will Probably Occupy the
Attention of Both Houses.

1t may be stated that the Senate has no
program for the entire session beyond the
passage of the appropriation bills. the con-
sideration of the Panama canal treaty, the
determination of Senator Shoots case and
the disposition of some other comparatively
unimportant matters. Only one of the APP
preparation bills, namely, the pension bill.
has reached the Senate, and that has not
yet been considered in committee. 1t is
probable. however, that it will be reported
at an early date. The Panama canal
treaty also is in committee. and 1t also
probably will be reported to the Senate the
present week. The Smoot case will be pro-
ceeded with by the committee on privileges
and elections, but the indications are that
some weeks will elapse before the question
can be brought before the Senate in regular
order.
Notwithstanding the fact that the canal
treaty is not at present in the Senate, there
is little doubt that the canal question will
form the leading topic for discussion dur
ing the week. Senator Lodge will speak on
this subject tomorrow. and 1t Is quite GER
tain that he will be followed by other sem
the attitude of the administration. Sen
ator Lodge will uphold In an elaborate
speech the right Of the President to recog-
nize the independence Of Panama at the
time and in the manner in which President
Roosevelt gave the recognition. Senator
McComas also has intimated his intention
to discuss this subject. No formal notice
has yet been given of other speeches on
the canal question but 1t Is the prevailing
opinion among senator's that many other
speeches will be made Senator Morgan is
prepared at any time to speak. but his
present intention is to walt until the treaty
Is reported from the committee on foreign
relations, and then to discuss 1t in executive
session.
The committee is expected to report the
canal treaty by the middle Of the week, and
10 f1n fnta fn,z nf fhc vi dc nPt he IL
ministration to press consideration OF the
treaty by the Senate as rapidly as possible
with the hope of getting speeches out of
the way and having the treaty disposed Of
as early as practicable in the session. With
the treaty once reported they will make an
effort to conflne the discussion to the exec
utive sessions In the hope that by so doing
they will shorten consideration Of the
question.
The committee on military affairs prob
ably will report the nomination of Gen.
Leonard Wood to be major general at the
first executive session of the Senate. There
will be an effort to secure consideration of
this nomination as soon as possible after 1t
is reported. with the hope of also having 1t
disposed of before the session shall be far
advanced The nomination probably Will
lead to much debate In executive session, as
both the friends and the opponents of Gen.
Wood are quite determined to discuss it at
length.
The House Is confronted by an almost
bare calendar Only few items of legis-
lation have been reported by committees.
and all of these are of comparative inslg-
nificance. 1t therefore will be necessary for
the House to wait for few days upon It's
committees before beginning the transac-
zion of important business. The disposition
in the House Is to take up no matters of
general interest outside of appropriation
bills and there IS no appropriation measure
in shape to be reported from committee
The legislative. executive and judicial bill
will be the first to receive attention by the
htl & M ayr Qr tat iny, hat
will be reported from the appropriations
committee before Friday or Saturday In
/ the meantime the House viii consider pri-
| vate pension bills and other questions of not
much impor.anc unless some matters
should be taken up for general discussion
The week. however, will be one of great
activity in the committee rooms, and the
general understanding is that after the
before the House to keep it's members oc-
| cupied.