Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-03
PROSPECTS VERY BRIGHT FOR D0OTHC SESSION OF CONGRESS

Washington, Dec. 3.-On the stroke
of IL. Monday, the second session OF
the 5Sth congress will be called to
order by President Pro Tenn. Frye in
the senate and by Speaker Cannon in
the house. When the gaveis OF the
presiding officers summon the sena
tors and representatives to duty near.
iy every member will be in his seat
but only routine business will be trans
acted. The chaplain will pray, the
rolls will be called. the regular reso
lutions of notification will be passed
committees to- inform the president
will be appointed and adjournment will
follow out OF respect for the deceased
members. The presidents message
generally is received and read the
first day but the senate is punctil.
ip.'s in certain matters, and IL il almost
certain ~ adjourn as tribute OF re
spcct TO the late Senator Hoar. of
Massachusetts. and the late Senator
Quay. OF Pennsylvania. The message.
therefore. probably will not be read
until Tuesday.
Usually Flower show.
But there will be enough To- attract
the crowds. which will fill the CALLER
les The opening OF a session OF con
gress has become flower show. I'm
mense floral pieces designed TO typify
the man. or the state. or the district
he represents. are placed upon men,
bers' desks in both chambers. often
are intended to compliment Besides
these huge floral emblems senators
and members are remembered more
modestly by simple lunches OF flow
ers. Admiring constituents. clerks in
the departments. wives and sweet
hears always see that favorites in both
senate and house are favored with
flowers. n fact the custom has grown
to such proportions that those who
are not remembered in the annual gor-
geous congressional floral display fee;
that they have been unconsciously
given greater distinction by the omis-
sion.
steady Grind TIL March.
After the opening day. when the
message of the president is read. the
begin and the legislative wheels will
grind steadily until March 4. 1905.
There is plenty to do. The calendars
Ut both houses are loaded with bills
of all kinds; hundreds of new bills
VIII he introduced and committees
are ready To report enough TO keep
congress busy for IL months. but in
the three months congress probably
will do little more than pass the reg
ular annual appropriation bills. There
has been some talk of a possible extra
session. The result of the November
election was scarcely known before
this talk began. Heretofore extra ses.
sion rumors have been held in abey-
ance 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
reason why such a session should be
called is because there is a demand
in certain quarters for a revision of
the tariff. but many of tho incoming
congressman during the past two
weeks have made It plain that they
DO not want tariff revision. and fur
thcr that they do not want an extra
session.
There is one feature of the tariff re-
vision talk that has some substance.
More revenue must be had or there
must be a curtailment of expenditures.
With the increasing annual appropri
ations. a 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
ternal revenues provide. An intima-
ton has been made that curtailment
will satisfy many congressional lead
ers. but the majority may determine
otherwise. in which event some rev.
enue 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 prob
abilities. according TO the leaders who
are here. are that there will be |