New-York tribune., 1905-01-19

by the Senate" so that. except as precedents,
the rules afford little indication OF the methods
which Will be employed in the present instance.
The policy OF meeting court each day at
il e. M and adjourning az p. m. the court
session TO be followed by legislative session. Is
being discussed as is also the amount OF time
necessary TO allow for appearance of the ac-
crssd. the preparation OF his case and other de-
tails. The necessity Of completing the trial be-
fore March 4. when the managers for the House
VIII cease to enjoy legislative existence, seems
20 be unanimously acknowledged among une
leading lawyers of both houses Of Congress.
The routine legislation is not particularly ad-
vanced OF the great annual supply bills' ohay
three have passed the House and one mas
reached the conference committee An lIhpor-
tant tariff measure IS under consideration IN
the Ways and Means Committee. il beng the
Curtis bin. reducing the tariff Philippine
sugar and tobacco to 25 per cent Of the Dingiey
schedules and granting to all other Philippine
products free access TO this country. An agree
noent has been reached by which a committee
vote win be taken on this measure. which Is
earnestly advocated by the administration, on
Monday. January so.
The unfinished business before the House is
the Hill financial bin. which appears to excite
lttle enthusiasm on the scene of its nativity
and which will inevitably die OF neglect IL II
Statehood bin is dragging through course OF
tedious debate, but the indications are that II
is losing rather than gaining ground as time
goes on. and some OF the leaders fear the i'm
peachment proceedings Will prove its Waterloo.
although some Senators believe that so much
OF the bin as relates to Arizona and New-MeK-
eco viii be eliminated and single State con-
structed Of Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
Between the upper millstone Of extreme econ
omy and the neither Of lack Of time practically
all private legislation seems destined to failure,
the enactment of a public hearing bill is i'm
probable and a sadly abbreviated River and
Harbor bin. or none at all. IS inevitable
Some form OF Panama legislation is regarded
as essential especially so since the President
has advised Congress that the Canal Commits
sion in its existing form is ''inelastic and
clumsy Aside from this. measure there seems
TO be little enthusiasm for any legislation thus
far suggested.
Arrangements are on foot for a conference
between the leading members OF the Senate and
House committees on Interstate Commerce. Of
which Senator Elkins and Representative Hep
burn are. respectively. chairmen, for the pur-
pose Of discussing the Hepburn Railway Rate
bil It is declared that the House will pass
THIS measure, and some hope that it will meet
with equal good fortune in the upper chamber.
However the prediction already made in these
dispatches. that no railway rate legislation will
pass the senate at this session, reflects the opln-
Ion OF The leading men OF the upper chamber.
Loyal supporters OF the administration who
have given this subject earnest study de-
teTmined that no excess Of enthusiasm the
part Of any Representative or Senator who seeks
TO carry into effect the Presidents recommended
lions shall result in the enactment of a law
which VIII merely pTeciptate tedious and eX-
pensiVe litigation. and finally fan before the
judgment of the Supreme Court.
While, Of course, il is not supposed that any
member OF Congress would support a measure
with the hope OF its proving unconstitutional,
there VIII be no relaxation OF vigilance to pre-
vent such an accident, and If the legislative
situation becomes so crowded to render a full
and sufficient examination of any proposed bill
impossible, il viii be deemed the part of discre-
ton 10 postpone final action until the special
session which the President has said he Will call
for next fall