The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-12-01

Of CONGRESS
{. G. Walkers Letter
on the Legislative
Status.
(Man Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mail Special to the Advertiser)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov 1S.-Lit-
tie or no legislation can be expected
from Congress, soon to assemble, be-
fore some time next January. but the
city is already filling up with legisla-
tors. Nearly a fourth of the ninety
Senators are now here and by the end
of the coming week a considerable
number of members will be on hand.
The early arrival of Speaker Cannon,
who has yet to be reelected, but who,
nevertheless will consult extensively
about committee assignments, is suffi-
cient to hasten the coming of men con-
cerned about receiving good working
places Under the new organization. AS
the New England delegations general
ly remain to pass Thanksgiving under
their own roof trees, most of the Sen
ators and members from that section
will be late in reaching Washington
this year.
There will be a lot of comforting be-
tween now and Monday, December 4,
the day when the session formally be-
gins. There nave already been many
conferences at the White House offices,
in which the President will get into
closer touch with the $50 congressional
constituencies of the country. There
will also be many conferences among
the Congressman themselves. in which
they will get into closer touch with
each other. The sessions of the SEN
ate Interstate Commerce Committee
next Tuesday, will give a decided i'm
petus to general exchange of views on
the railroad rate question, which at
present is far and away the dominant
question with all the Congressional
arrivals.
Senator ElkinS. chairman of that
committee just here to reconnoiter, has
gone away to West Virginia. where his
fight for reelection next year is now
is full swing He will return soon.
Since his visit the impression has gain
ed ground in authoritative quarters
that the President has the whip hand
and will secure some compromise meas
ure from Congress. But that the delib
erations of the committee will be pro-
fencing for advantage, before the COM
mittee makes UP it's report, or reports.
is regarded as certain. That would not
materially delay consideration of the
bill in the Senate, as no measure of
such an important character can be |
considered there till after the holidays. |
What work the Senate does, prior to |
the New Year. will pertain largely to |
executive and routine business.
The making up of committees offers |
some unusual problems in both branch |
es and the Republican leaders will ad- |
dress themselves to that task very |
early. Senators, in recent times, have |
become great hustlers for choice as
signments. Two years ago Senator |
Hale. of Maine, was chairman of the |
Republican committee that arranged |
those matters for his party at the |
north end of the Capitol. There is more |
wire pulling nowadays for one good |
committee place than there was fifteen |
years ago for all the committee places |
in the Senate and the Senator accept |
ng the craftsmanship invites upon him.
self a heap of trouble. The struggle
for some other chairman of the Inter
oceanic Canal Committee than Sena-
-or Mitchell. of Oregon, now under SEN
Eence for land frauds. will be renewed.
1t is announced here that Speaker
cannon will try to announce the House
Committees by December, whereupon
he House could take up an approprla-
ion bill or two and, possibly, an urgent
deficiency bill for the Panama canal
The House Republican caucus. for
of the Speaker, clerk, ser
CONTINUED on Page 81