The Washington herald., 1906-12-03

Hotel lObbies were crowded last night,
and each incoming train brought in a
batch OF national legislators.
! Although the second session Of the Fifty
/ ninth Congress viii Legin at noon to-day,
I there is an utter absence Of the high ten
/ sion that usually marks the approach ot
the event that puts life and ginger into
the National Capital.
| This Is accounted for in a measure by
/ the weI-defined impression that there will
be little legislation attempted aside from
the passage Of the great supply bills.
Here and there, among the lawmakers,
can be heard discussion Of tariff revision,
currency, a greater navy. Philippine tar
If, and the Smoot case, but, in the main.
the talk consists of congratulations over
individual victories in the last Congress
sional election or expressions Of regret
for those who fell by the wayside.
There viii be no railroad rate bin or
Statehood measure to absorb attention. as
was the case at the first session Of the
present Congress. for Congress intends
the Hepburn act shall be given an oppor-
tuHity 10 demonstrate its worth or lack
Of worth before any attempts are made TO
remedy any defects. and there is no pos
sibility Of Statehood for New Mexico and
Arizona being considered.
Philippine Tariff Exhumed-
Nearly every subject that is to receive
serious consideration in the forthcoming
session has already been talked black in
the face. The administration viii again
press for the enactment Of a Philippine
tariff bill. and hopes for success.
That the Senate will vote upon the
right Of Reed Smoot TO retain his seat is
openly conceded. Chairman Burrows, OF
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, declares that he will call the mat
ter up'at the first session. and push il 10
a speedy termination. Behind closed doors.
the Senate viii resume discussion OF the
Algeciras treaty. and, after it is disposed
Of, before the first Of the year will likely
obtain action upon the Santo Domingo
. treaty. which proved such peFPlexing
problem at the last session
Fer the last ten Gays OF two weeks,
the House Committee on Appropriations
! has been hard at work on the legislative
appropriation bin. and now has it prac-
tically completed. II viii be reported
afford some opportunity for the takers to
talk until something else is ready to be
acted upon.
There is promise Of a lively scrap over
the river and harbor BILL the ground
work for which was laid by Representa-
tive Burton and his committee last scs-
sion The amount that II viii carry will
depend TO a large extent upon the apprO-
priation for increase in the navy, and.
perhaps, upon whether or not the ship
subsidy bill is 10 become a law
Il Will be large If the increase in the
{ navy is small and the shipping bill is
permitted 10 die in Representative GTOs-
S yenOr's committee and comparatively
I small if scare over the possibility Of
war with Japan frightens members into
complying with the Presidents demand
for a larger navy and If the shipping
bill is not passed.
Subsidy Bill in Peril.
The prospects are that Speaker Cannon
will not permit the Gallinger subsidy bill
to come out of the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries. The Speaker
has never been friendly to the PROPOSE
ton, and if there is to he a large apprO-
priation for rivers and harbors, and an
other DreadnOught authorized. the ship
ping bill viii stand mighty poor show
> of enactment. despite the threat OF Sem
! ator Gallinger and others that they viii
e knife the river and harbor bill If the
f subsidy measure does not meet with fay-
cradle consideration.
The Speaker is not easily bluffed by the
[ Senate. as has been shown upon several
occasions, and is not inclined to back
l down and yield upon measure which he
has all along opposed, as he has the sub
= sidy bill. Still the friends Of that meas
ure profess to have some hopes for it
this winter.
Contrary TO his usual custom, Speaker
Cannon did not discuss the legislative
1 programme on his arrival here for the ses-
sion. He aid admit that the appropriation
bill would be passed. but further than
$ that he would not commit himself. Sen
ate leaders. as a rule, have been just as
backward as the Speaker in discussing the
work of Congress this winter, contenting
themselves with generalities in speaking
of II.
immigration Measure Promising
The House has before it the immigration
\ and ship subsidy bills, which were passed
I by the Senate last winter. The former
: stands good chance Of becoming a Law,
but the fate of the subsidy measure is
problematicaI Speaker Cannon prevented
its consideration year ago. ana as far
as is known his attitude on the subject
: of subsidy legislation has not changed.
!, Up TO date no pronounced sentiment h2
been discovered among arriving Senators
[ and Representatives favorable TO currency
legislation. The labor bills. namely the
proposed eight-hour law and the anti
injunction measure. promise to precipitate
more or less trouble. They are now be-
fore the Committee on Judiciary. and the
indications are that they viii be reported
and brought 20 a vote
The leaders, it is understood are dis
posed to throw down the gauntlet to Pres
ident Samuel GOmpers, Of the American
Q Federation of Labor, and have the labor
legislation so called, disposed Of once
and for all.
Probably the most interesting topic In
the Senate this winter will be the Smoot
{ case. Senator Burrows. the chairman OF
7 the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
. tions. has declared that il is his intention
to call up the matter early in the session
5 and press it 10 d vote. 1t is not improba-