Mexico Missouri message., 1906-12-13
ABILLION DOLLAR CONGRESS-
PASSAGE OF APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS FIRST.
The ship Subsidy Bill May Be Brought.
to the Front, and Currency and
the Tariff Discussed.

Washington--The passage of the
appropriation bills and as little other
general legislation as possible. Such
in brief is the forecast for the short
session of the Fifty-ninth congress.
1t is evident that for various reasons
It win not be possible to do much
on the appropriation bills before the
holidays and this circumstance wis
practically have the effect of con-
densing the consideration of the IA
large supply measures into two
months. Considering that the aggre-
gate of the appropriations to be will
approximate one billion dollars, some
senators and members express the
opinion that congress cannot do bet
ter than give all of its time to these
measures.
The ship Subsidy Bill.
The ship subsidy bill probably will
be an exception to the rule for no
general legislation. The friends Of
that measure have never been more
insistent than now. They are extreme.
ly hopeful and yet very apprehensive.
The bill has passed the senate and
is In committee in the house. The
committee has heretofore been quite
evenly divided, but the advocates OF
the bill believe that they will be able
to get it out in due season, and they
hope for its consideration when once
reported to the house. One incident.
that is very materially helping the
subsidy is the recent speech of Secre-.
tary Root in support of it.
Currency and inheritance Tax.
Not 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 will be efforts to sup
ply this want, but there are so many
plans that even the most sincere be-
levers in the necessity almost despair
of accomplishing anything in that di-
rection during a short session.
The Tariff and Other Questions.
Among the questions slated for a
liberal share of discussion, the tariff
stands at the head of the list, but no
one has the least idea that any seri-
Gus effort will now be made to secure
the notifications which even many
republicans think desirable. The pres
ident, who himself desires some
changes, has recently promised his
congressional callers that he will not
ask to have the subject taken up at
this time. The Japanese question, the
discharge of the negro soldiers, the
desirability of an income tax law, the
result of the late elections AMI the
trusts are also slated for discussion.
Senator Shoots Case.
The senate will give attention to
the case of Senator Reed Smoot, but
what it will do about it not even the
senate wishes now to contemplate.
There has from the first been a dis
position to put the, Smoot matter
aside, but with the report of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections on
the calendar, and Chairman Burrows
quite determined to press considera-
ton, the fact that the matter must ne
dealt with is beginning to impress
itself upon members, and they are
preparing seriously for its considera-
ton. The Michigan senator will set
the ball rolling Monday, the 10th inst
The Panama Canal.
MUCH interest atJacneS TO the prsS1~
dents forthcoming recommendation
concerning the Panama canal espe-
cially because Of his recent visit to
the canal zone. 1t is not expected
that he will ask much legislation be-
yond 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 Dreadnaught
class.