The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-27
READY TO BEGIN.
congressman Are Preparing for
the Fray.
Big Battle Will Be on Railroad
Question.
FIXING UP THE PLANS.
Preliminary Details Are Now
Being Arranged.
Will OvershadOw All Other Cues
FIXING UP THE PLANS
Will OYershadOw All Other Cues
tiOns in Congress.

Washington, Nov. 27.-Although but
three members of the Kansas delega-
ton have arrived in Washington for the
approaching session of the Fffty-ninth
congress, there is the greatest interest
among the Kansans in the work that
is cut out for the session, and they
share in the general belief that the
coming congress bids fair to be the
most interesting and the greatest of
any in recent years.
At least four great questions will re-
ceive the attention of the coming ses-
sion which will be of interest to the en-
tire country, and some of them of par
ticularly great interest to Kansas and
the west These are:
The railroad-rate question.
The Isthmian canal legislation.
Philippine islands legislation.
Statehood
The first named will of course be the
all-absorbing question while it is up.
The committee on interstate commerce
OF the senate is now wrestling daily
with the kind of bill or bills, to be re-
ported. This is faithfully chronicled
daily in the press dispatches. There
viii be at least two bills, in the judg-
ment of all who are watching the stu
alton. The ma Ority of the committee
will present bill; and whichever way
the majority shall decide, there will
undoubtedly be at least one minority
report, with an accompany bill The
committee began its daily sessions last
Monday, and will continue them, in all
probability. until congress cOuVeneS
within a week. Under the resolution
which empowered the committee to sit
and take testimony during the recess.
the committee must report and present
a bill within the first ten days of the
approaching session. So the committee
probably will not have a bill ready the
very first days OF the session, but will
have one, or more. before ten days shall
have elapsed, or by December II.
There is this to say of the railroad
rate question. Despite any and all as
severations, the battle has not yet be-
gun. The skirmish lines have not yet
been formed. The nearest comparison
to battle of arms that might consist
present time would be to say that the
soldiers were Furnishing their guns;
Frightening their buttons; and putting
their impedimenta in such shape as to
be able to march quickly.
There exists in various parts of the
country the firm belief that the battle
has already been nearly fought out. In
Kansas the statement has been made
that the crisis in the fight has been
reached. Nothing could be further from
the real situation. Until the committee
on interstate commerce has reported its
bill or bills to the senate, and the presi-
dent of the United States has made his
recommendation in his annual message,
that all may know just exactly where he
stands, and until the senate takes up the
consideration of the proposition, there
viii certainly be no battle; but as soon
as these events shall have occurred,
there will be the greatest fight congress
has seen for many year
The canal question is one of far-reach-
ing importance and in which the state
of Kansas is interested. The recent re-
port of the experts, or the board of
consulting engineers, appointed by the
president to confer with the members
of the canal commission and the secre-
tary of war, which report favors a sea-
level canal, has aroused the greatest
ticularly in Washington and the east
generally. OF course the report OF this
board is by no means final The canal
commission, then the secretary of war,
next the president, and finally the con-
gress of the United States viii have, in
gradation, something to say about this
matter But very likely there win be
renewed in congress all the old fight In
regard to the canal
Two objections, and practically only
two. are urged against the sea level
canal: Time; money 1t has been said
that it will take twice the time and
twice the money to dig the canal if the
sea level plan is followed rather than
the block system. This viii be a point
for congress to decide. Great as are the
arguments in favor of sea level rather
than a lock canal. yet, if the time shall
be unfortunately drawn out by reason
TO be enormous it is doubtful If con-