Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-21
WILL SOON ASSEMBLE
CONGRESS TO MEET TWO WEEKS
FROM TODAY.
Calendars Of Both Houses Well Filled
With Bills Awaiting
Action.

Congress will assemble two weeks from
today at IL o'clock noon for the second
session of the Fifty-eighth Congress, to
close at noon March f. The Congress
which was elected November last will
not meet until December, 1905, unless sum-
moned to extraordinary session by the
President of the United States in the
meantime.
Speaker Cannon is expected to reach the
city not later than December 1. He is now
at his home in Danville, ILL.,, resting from
his long campaigning tour, swapping stories
with the neighbors and seeing that the win
ter's wood is laid in and the smokehouse
we'll stocked.
The Congress has material on hand to
start right off to business If it is desired,
as the calendars of the House and Senate
are well filled with bills that have come
from committees and many of which have
passed one or the other house.
On the two public calendars of the House
are 135 bills, relating in most part to pub
tic lands, Indian reservations rights of
way, establishment of various public pro-
jectS, etc. These measures have fixed posi-
tions the calendars and can be called
up on the regular call Of committees or by
grace of the Speaker and the good nature
of the House.
If time should hang heavy on the hands
of the House there are two measures which
would hold them for awhile, to wit:
III r. 1881, bill to improve currency
conditions; by Mr.. Hill of Connecticut.
III r. 627S A bill permitting national
banking associations to make loans on real
estate as security and limiting the amount
of such security; by Mr.. Fowler of New Jer-
sey."
The bare mention of currency legislation
can stir up more commotion In a minuts
than any other subject before Congress 1t
is not likely, however, that there will be
any lack of material at the short session,
and the boys will begin to tap insinu
atingly upon Speaker Cannons lattice for
recognition the moment he arrives.
1t is confidently-and in a great many
quarters fondly-expected that a river and
harbor bill and an omnibus public building
bill can be shaken down at the coming ses-
sion. The succeeding House Is to be such
lop-sided affair politically, that there will
not be enough pork to go around among
all the faithful, and a determined effort
will be made to tap the barrel at this ses-
sion and before the show opens in the big
tent.
There are about 40 private pension and
claim bills on the calendar of the House,
with twice that number pressing for atten-
ton in committee. The disposition will be
to be very liberal with the old veterans in
the short session and to get through as
many of these bills as possible.
There are a number of labor bills on the
hooks that will have to be taken up or
ana the latter 1ate Will De1all
some of them. The ship subsidy folks will
come to the front again with at least pre-
liminary measure of legislation. although
the main project may go over until the long
session.
Members reelected to the Fifty-ninth
Congress will begin to plan for places
committees in the new Congress, especially
if there is prospect of extra session. The
great landslide of November will make a
number of gaps in committees and the
scarcity of democrats will necessitate either
cutting down the committees or increasing
the representation of republicans on them.
The appropriation bill Will be taken up
early in December and a couple of them
sent over to the Senate before the holiday
recess.