The Washington times., 1906-04-29
The Adjournment of Congress.

1 hS ~ Va NSJs
If we may judge by the last two
days, summer is upon US, yet Con-
gress is still on our hands. The
great question in the local mind is,
when will they adjourn?" By
they" the curious refer to the ma
| tional lawmakers.
The Speaker of the House has ex-
pressed the opinion that the ses-
sion will come TO a close between
the 18th of June and the LIST of
August Not very precise predic-
ton. On Friday, Senator Allison
expressed the hope that the legis-
lators will ''get away from the Capt.
toll before the LIST of August" So
the veteran leader is thinking of the
uncomfortable days and nights
which he may-b be compelled to spend
In Washington. 1t is true that the
presence of hot weather often does
more to hasten an adjournment of
Congress than any other factor.
The railroad rate bill. which has
been under discussion in the SEN
! ate for two months now, is with
out doubt near to a vote. In the
absence of Senator Aldrich, an
agreement TO fix a date for begin
ming the ten-minute debate on the
| amendments, a vote on each 10 be
taken at the conclusion of debate
thereon, was almost reached at Fri
days session. A day was actually
suggested-next Thursday-and by
a Senator who is not classed with
the friends of the legislation. In
any event, Senator TiIlman has sery-
ed notice that he proposes to "put
on the screws" next Tuesday. The
Senator from South Carolina an
nounced that, under the rules we
can make Senators talk or we can
vote"
But when the rate bill Is PASSED
by the Senate, what then? Senator
Lodge has already served notice that
he viii attempt to get the Philip
pine tariff bill before the Senate.
by moving to have his committee
discharged from its consideration.
If he should succeed, then there
will be fight on the floor of the
chamber. Another measure which
relates to the tariff question is the
bill to remove the internal revenue
tax on denatured alcohol. There is
wide demand for the passage of
this measure, particularly as there
were only seven votes against it in
the House. Any attempt TO kill II
will be met with stubborn resist
ance. And if a bill to aid San Fran
cisco's rebuilding, by removing the
duty on structural steel, is press
ed for passage, the tariff uues-
ton may be forced on the con-
sideratiOn of Congress. The Demo-
Gratis will not lose any chance of
bringing it to the front.
With every feature of the tariff
question disposed of, there remain
two matters of particular impor
lance The Committee on PRIVILEGES
and Elections is to vote to unsea+
Senator Smoot. This viii launch \
constitutional question, which can
not fail to produce much debate.
Then there is the proposed legisIa-
ton relating to the Panama canal.
is Congress to determine on the
type of the canal? Is the commits
sion to be legislated out of office.
and a smaller commission put in its
place? There will be much discus
sion of this question once it is he
fore the Senate. Senator Morgan.
at least, will submit remarks.
The. ship subsidy bill and the
Statehood measure are yet to be,
acted on: the former by the House
and the latter in conference. More
over, the great money bills are in
very backward state in the Sen
ate. 1t is unusual at this time IN
have so little work done on the an
preparation bills.
Considering the state of the leo
islative calendar. it Is not unlikely
that Congress viii be in session late
in July-perhaps up to the 1st of
August-perhaps even later than
that.