Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-30

already owned by the government.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Washington Bureau Of the Courier,
Washington, D. c., Dec. 20.
When congress convenes next
Thursday, January d. after its two
weeks vacation, the first thing on
the program will be an adjournment
until the following Monday; at least
the senate is likely to take such &C.
ton. In the first place Thursday is
a poor time of week to start in on
any sort of serious legislation, and in
the second place many senators and
representatives will not have arrived
in Washington. For example, Ne
braska or South Dakota congressman
would be compelled to leave the
morning after New Years day in or
der to reach Washington Thursday at
noon. The chances are the trains
will be an hour or two late, SO that
practically speaking these members,
even If they left home Tuesday fore
noon, could not report for duty until
late in the afternoon of Thursday.
1t may, therefore, be set down that
the actual, serious work of the SEES
sion will begin Monday, January s.
This is not intimating that the pas
sage of the canal emergency bill was
not serious matter, but it was an
urgent measure dealing with a work
which had no politics in it-that is,
the building of the canal is not po-
litical matter-and there was no dis.
position on the part of the democrats
to withhold support for the necessary
money to continue the work.
Program Not Mapped Out.
The program does not appear to
have been definitely mapped out. II
appears to be probable that each
house will operate independently OF
the other in the consideration Of the
railroad rate question. What has
been done thus far in the senate com
mittee has been preliminary. Three
terstate commerce bill 1.-The Foraker
bill and the bill introduced by Sena
tor Dolliver The latter is the sim
pier of the three and probably reflects
the desires Of the administration as
fully as will any bill that is intro
duced in either house. AS a matter
of fact it is very probable that the
bill which will be reported by the
house committee on interstate and
foreign commerce. of which Colonel
Hepburn is chairman, will be in es
sential respects similar to that intro
duced by Senator Dolliver.
House for Rate Legislation.
In the house it requires no seer tc
forecast results. The committee bill
will be given the right Of way and E
definite time allowed for debate; per
haps two weeks, although this would
be very long time for the house tt
give to the discussion of any bill
There will doubtless be many amend
ments offered and perhaps some o.
them will be voted into Tie bill; ther
it will pass and go to the senate.
In the senate it is likely that Sena
| tor Ell1ins, chairman Of the commit
tee on interstate commerce, will i'm
mediately call meeting of the com
mittee to take up the railroad rate
| bills and consider them until some
conclusion is reached. The house
committee will not give any further
hearings and it is believed the senate
committee has all the testimony thai
it requires. Now all that remains tt
be done in the senate is to get the
committee in charge of the legisla
ton to agree on a bill. This is more
easily said than done.
The Senate Committees Stand.
The committee is constituted as
follows: Elkins, chairman; Cullom
Aldrich, Kean, Dolliver, Foraker
Clapp and Crane, republicans, the lat
ter succeeding Willard, of Nebraska
and Tillman, McLaurin, Carmack, Eos
ter and Newlands, democrats.
Of these senators, Cullom Dolliver
Clapp, Tillman, Carmack, Foster and
Newlands are known to be with the
President in his recommendation fol
railroad control. Just how Senator
Crane, of Massachusetts stands is no
definitely known, although he viii
hardly 60 counter to the desires o
the President especially in view o
the fact that his colleague, Senate
Lodge, has declared that railroad rat
| legislation is on the boards and tina
there is no use trying to head 1t of
There is a majority without Senate
Crane.
i Elkins Not Radically Opposed.
1t may be that an injustice is don
Senators Elkins, Aldrich and Kean i
not including them in the list of thos
favorable to the Presidents views
Senator Elkins three weeks ago sal
I'VE must help the President get thi
bill through"
But granted that there is a majo
f., in favor of the administratio
in general, weeks will III
In South Jlv he raouired tn 5ovelpn
will meet the varying view
LAFAYETmbership and senators nc
umittee who will be COZ
Youngstown, IN the bill is finally r
ate car in whic,ime in February, it wi