The San Francisco call., 1906-12-31
CONGRESS AWAITS
A PROGRAMME

Congress will reconvene next Thurs
day at noon, but 1t is not expected that
much business Will be transacted in
either house until the week following
No programme so far has been ar
ranged for either body, and the gem
eral expectation is that nothing will be
done in that direction until the houses
are called together There has seldom
been such an exodus of public men for
brief respite from work as there was
when the recess began, and as the
members are returning very slowly
there is not a sufficient number of
either Senators or Representatives in
the city even to outline a plan of ac-
tion.
The purpose in a general way is to
proceed with the appropriation bills as
rapidly as possible. but as neither house
has one of these measures before it,
both will be forced to take up other
matters of legislation or adjourn from
day to day until the committees can
bring in some of the supply measures.
1t may, therefore, happen that one or
both of the houses may adjourn from
Thursday or Friday until the following
Monday.
It is known to be Senator Foraker's
wish to secure early consideration by
the Senate of his resolution of a Sena-
torial investigation of the Brownsville,
Texas, episode, and he has been devot-
ing much time during the recess to
preparation for the continuance of his
discussion of that subject If, as it
seems likely, the attendance during the
first few days of the renewed session
should be meager, Senator Foraker
may postpone the matter until the Sen
atorial seats generally are occupied
sMOOTs ELIGIBILITY
The question of Senator Smoot's ell
gibility also is in condition to be con-
sidered by the Senate, but as Senator
Foraker is counted upon by the Utah
Senator's friends to lead in his defense
it is understood that the question will
be deferred for a time, IL not indefinite
ly. There is a growing disposition
among Senators to postpone action on
the Smoot matter, and predictions that
the session will be permitted to pass
without vote are not infrequent Mr..
Smoot however Is very solicitous for q
ballot, and his wishes may be permit
ted to prevail
Senator Gearin Of Oregon has a
speech forthcoming on the Japanese
question, but he will not be heard un-
til the second week of the session. By
unanimous consent the Senate will vote
on January IL on Senator La Follette's
bill placing limitation on the. dura-
tion of the employment of railway op-
eratives, and that measure is now in
position to be called up for discussion
at any time. The Senate will give part
of the session Thursday to the consid-
GRAFTON of Senator McCumber's general
pension bill
In the absence of the Speaker and
other members of the committee on
rules no prediction regarding proceed
ings in the House before the appro-
priation bills are reached would be
justified 1t may be confidently stated
however, that no important matter will
be taken up in the interim.
FORTIFICATIONs BILL
The next appropriation bill to be re-
ported to the House will be the forth
fications bill and this will be followed
by the bill making appropriations for
the District of Columbia. but neither
will be ready for consideration before
the 10th of January.
The Senate committee on appropria-
tions will report the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial bill about week
after the reconvening of Congress and
it will soon be followed by the Indian
bin if there should be no effort at spe-
cial legislation on THAT measure. The
legislative bill will receive the atten-
ton of the Senate as soon as re-
ported
trations to take effect this week. much
interest attaches to that in New York,
where Charles e. Hughes becomes
Governor.
The important hearing by the Inter
state Commerce Commission into the
affairs of the Union Pacific Railway
Company will be opened in New York
on Friday. E. H. Hartman will be
one of the first witnesses called. It Is