Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-04
RATE BILL RIGHT OF WAY
Action on Conference Reports Has Precs'
denoe in the Senate.
HOUSE TO WAIT ON MOVES OF THE SENATE
VIII Not Act on Either One OF
the Conference Reports Until
the Senate shows It's
Hand.

WASHINGTON June S.-The probabiii-
ties in the United States senate this week
include consideration OF a number OF ap-
preparation bills and conference reports,
the statehood question, the railroad rate
bill, the type Of canal to be constructed
across the isthmus OF Panama and the
right Of Senator Smoot to retain hlh seat
In the senate. The weeks business will
begin with the taking up OF the confer
ence report on the rate bill and It will hold
the favored position until disposed OF.
After action on the rete bill preference
will be given to appropriation bills. the
naval bill coming first among these and the
District of Columbia bill following II. OF
the appropriation conference reports that
on the Indian bill will receive first consid-
Grafton with others following when ready
to be presented.
The sea level canal bill will hold its
place as the unfinished business, but IL will
continue to be jostled out Of position BY
other measures enjoying higher privileges
under the rules Of the senate. II is now
generally conceded that there shall be a
vote on this measure before the final ad-
journment OF the session, and with this
assurance Senator Kittredge, who has
charge Of the bill. is content not to press
unduly for its continued consideration. He
will. however. be prepared to proceed with
II whenever the way IL clear and will de-
mand a vote at the earliest practicable mo-
ment. There are many speeches still to
be made on the bill Among the senators
who are expected to speak on II are
Messrs. Morgan. Millard. spooner and
Hopkins.
Lively Debate on statehood.
The conference report on the statehood
bill will be the subject OF animated dis
cussion. but the belief Is quite general that
the report on the rate bill will be accepted
after comparatively little controversy.
Senator Foraker has already given notice
of opposition to the adoption OF the state
hood bill and he will have. the support OF
several senators who stood with him
against the union of Arizona and New
Mexico. They will make strenuous efforts
10 have the bill returned to the conferees
with instructions to stand for the senate
position coninlng statehood legislation to
the creation OF the one state out OF
Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
The question OF Senator Shoots eligibil-
ity will be raised by the presentation OF
the report OF the committee on privileges
and elections. but It lie not probable that
the subject will be taken up for discussion
tnls week. IL is possible that the discus
sion OF the report on statehood may b
postponed for a week or more.
In executive session the Barnes case will
follow the wickerham case.
House Program.
The program for the week in the house
of representatives. contemplates work or
the sundry civil appropriation bill. There
are several matters. however. which may
interrupt this plan and which injected
themselves into the equation late Saturday
These are the rate bill conference, the
statehood conference report and the Payne
bill, making minor changes In the admin
istration OF the customs laws.
| The regular order Monday is the passaE,
of the bills under suspension of the rules
Thin means a day OF legislation on bill
OF local character. Should the senate TAX,
action on the rate conference report OF
Monday. the house win follow Tuesday
although more than one day may be con
sumed in this connection.
The statehood conference report will b,
taken up in the house just as soon as tn
senate accepts Il. II the senate reject
the report. the matter may not be brough
up in the house, Just what the plan Il
this respect Is in the senate has not beel
determined but leaders predict that tn
statehood bill will not be brought into tn
| house this week