Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-31
AHEAD FOR The WEEK
Congress Toes Not Meet Until Thursday
and Little in Sight to Do.
FORAKER IS ALL READY FOR A SPEECH
Interstate Commerce Commission
Commences Friday on the Investi-
cation of the Union Pacific
Road.

NAph VI Ane Union racine
Road.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9O.-Congress will
reconvene after the Christmas recess at
IL o'clock next Thursday. but It is not ex-
peeted that much business Will be trans
acted In either house until the week fol-
lowing. No program so fer has been ar
ranged for either body and the general
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 senator's or representatives in the
city even to outline plan Of action.
The purpose in a general way is to pro-
coed with the appropriation bills as rapidly
as possible, but as neither house has one
OF these measures before II. both will he
forced to take up other matters Of lcgisla-
ton 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 follow
ing Monday This will depend upon the
wishes of members who have pet measures
that they desire to press.
IL is known to be Senator Foraker's wish
TO secure early consideration by the senate
of his resolution for a senatorial invcstiRa-
ton Of the Brownsville, Tex, episode, in
which the discharged negro troops of the
Twenty-fifth regiment are accused of par
ticipating, and he has been devoting much
OF the time of the recess to preparation
for the continuance of his discussion Of
that subject. 1t Is understood to be his
Intention to proceed as soon as the senate
Is prepared to have him do so, but II, as
seems likely. the attendance during the first
few days Of the renewed session should be
meagre, he may ask for a postponement
until the senatorial seats generally are
occupied.
Delay in SmOOt Matter.
The question of Senator Shoots eligibility
Is also in condition to be considered by the
senate, but as Senator Foraker is counted
upon by the Utah senator's friends to lead
In his defense 1t is understood that the
question will be deferred for a time, II not
indefinitely. 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, how
ever, is very solcitous for ballot and his
wishes may be permitted to prevail
Senator Gearin of Oregon has a speech
forthcoming on the Japanese question, but
he will not be heard until the second week
OF the approaching session.
BY unanimous consent, the senate will
vote on January IL on Senator LaFolette's
bill placing Limitation on the duration OF
the emDlOyrnant Of rail
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 consideration of Senator
McCumber's general pension bill.
The house is not nearly so well provided
as the senate with miscellaneous subjects
which are in shape for considerations The
house calendar is by no means barren. but
In the absence of the speaker and other
members Of the committee on rules no pre-
dictiOn regarding proc ssdihEs before other
appropriation bills are reached would he
justified. II may be confidently stated
however, that no important matter will
be taken up in the interim.
No Appropriations Ready,
Tho next appropriation to be reported
from the house will be the fertilization
bill and this will be followed by the bin
making appropriations for the District of
Columbia, but neither will be ready for
consideration before the 10th Of January.
The senate committees on appropriations
will report the legislativ,, executive and
judicial bill about a we az after the recon-
vening OF congress and 1t will soon be fol-
lowed by the Indian bill, II there should be
no effort at special legislation on that
measure The legislative bill will receive
the attention Of the senate as soon as re-
ported.
Among the changes in state administra
tions to take effect this week. much in
terest attaches to that IN New York where
Charles e. Hughes. who won international
fame as the probing attorney in the I'm.
surance investigation becomes chief execu-
tive of the state. The situation in New
York, however, is more In!xed in q political
sense that IT has been in years. This year
all the elective state officials except gov
ernor will be democrats. This will be the
first time in thirteen years that the demo-
Gratis have held state Office, except for the
one term OF Cunneen as attorney general
The greater part of the state patronage
however, is still in the hands of the republi-
cans. the governors appointing power
covering a wide range.
Union Pacific Hearing.
Inc important Dy the interstate
Commerce commission into the AFFAIRS OF
the Union Pacific Railway company. post
poned from last week, will be opened I'm
New York on Friday. One Of the first wit
nesses to be called Is e. H. Hartman,
head OF the Union Pacific-Southe n Pacific
system, and II is expected that his exam
nation by the commission will provo to be
very important and interesting.
The japanese training SQUADRON, consist
ing Of the cruisers Itsukushima. Hashidate
and Matsushima, under command Of Rear
Admiral Kateoka, formerly president OF
the naval cadet school at Yokohama and
commander Of the third squadron under
Admiral Togo OF Port ArthTr will start
from Yokohama or a cruise across the
Pacific January 5. The squadron is ex-
pected TO arrive at gan Francisco February
49, and subsequently will VISIT Eeattle and
Tacoma.
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