The Jersey City news., 1906-12-03
LAWMAKERS GATHER
Short Session Of Fifty-ninth Con-
gress Convenes In the Ma
tional Capital.
MESSAGE FOR TOMORROW.


Will Be Read to Both Houses After
Adjournment to Show Respect For
Deceased Observation-Disclosures Gen.
eral Legislation Expected.
Washington, Dec. 3.-Both houses Of
congress convened, but no business
was transacted on the opening day
other than routine
The proceedings in both houses in
opening the short session of the Fifty
ninth congress were of the most formal
character. The attention of the house
was officially directed to the fact that
four prominent members of that body
Messrs. Hit, Hoar, Ketcham and Ad-
alns-have died since the close of the
last session, and a motion for an ad
journment out of respect to them i'm
mediately followed
The presidents message will be re-
ceiyed tomorrow, and both houses will
probably adjourn for the day as soon
as it is read.
The passage of the appropriation
bills and as little other general legisla-
ton as possible is ia brief the forecast
for the session. For various reasons it
viii not be possible 70 do much on the
appropriation bills before the holidays,
and this circumstance will practically
have the effect of condenslng the con-
sideration of the fourteen large sup
ply measures into two months Con-
sidering that the aggregate Of the APP
preparations to be made viii approxi-
mate $1,000 100000, some senators and
members express the opinion that CON
gress cannot do better than give all Of
its time to these measures.
Friends of Subsidy F4opefuI.
The ship subsidy bill probably will
be an exception to the rule for no gen
eral legislation. The friends Of that
measure have never been more in
sistent than now. They are extremely
hopeful and yet very apprehensiye.
The bill has passed the senate and is in
committee in the house.
The senate has on its calendar two
important house bills, the immigration
bill and the Philippine tariff bill, but
there are snags in the pathway Of both,
Not a few members of both houses
are anxious to meet the demands of
the bankers and others for a more
elastic currency, and it is quite GER
tain that there viii be efforts to supply
this want
Among the questions slated for
liberal share of discussion, the tariff
stands at the head of the list. The
Japanese question, the discharge of the
negro soldiers, the desirabiIity of an
income tax law and the trusts are
also slated for discussion.
Special Message on Canal.
Much interest attaches to the presi-
dents forthcoming recommendations
concerning the Panama canal. especial
" because of his recent visit to the
canal zone 1t is not expected that he
will ask much legislation beyond the
necessary appropriations, and there is
a general disposition to grant these.
The increase of the navy will receive
much consideration, but there is still
opposition to the proposed ship of the
Dreadnought class.
The senate Is not counting on doing
very much the first week of the ses-
sion, nor is the outlook there good for
much strenuous labor until after the
holidays. The reason for this is found
in the fact that the general desire for
the present is to confine the work OF
the session largely to appropriation
measures, and none of these can be
taken up by the senate until sent over
by the house
There is one item Of general iegisla-
tion on the senate's calendar of I'M
finished business-namely Senator La
Follelte's bill limiting the number of
hours railway employee may be kept
at work during each day, and the vote
on it is set for Jan. TO- The report of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tons on the right of Senator Smoot of
Utah to retain his seat will be taken
up during the second week of the ses-
sion
Rehuke For Californian.
1t is reported that President Roose-
welt took a very emphatic position in
.rebuking Representative Hayes of Cali
fornia, who had intended to introduce
in congress a Joint resolution which
would bnva a.lIaJ f,,oI r., 4i,o Ho,,,o of